Regarding the variable service interval again

Hello everyone,

Does anyone know how a variable service interval is calculated, and what parameters are taken into account?

Best regards,

Jan.

Hello Jan,

Please check the error database under "Longlife Service."

Hi Michael,

Thank you for the hint... I probably could have looked that up myself, but...

... now I'm even more confused

It's like this:

- The "Longlife 506.00" oil is *nowhere* mentioned in the documentation, only the "505.00" is.
- There was no display showing the remaining mileage counting down from 3000. I didn't consciously pay attention to it, but I would have noticed it, just like I'm noticing the blinking "Service" light now. It essentially happened overnight. The option with a 3000 km range is at least mentioned in the manual as a possible configuration.
- I couldn't find the code QG1, but it might also be due to the poor readability of the labels.
- In the database, you wrote: "With extremely uneconomical driving or under extreme operating conditions, the shortest interval is 15,000 km or one year." -> Neither of those conditions has been met, and while city driving often involves short distances, it certainly doesn't usually involve driving at full throttle.

*pondering*

Are there any other things the car is trying to tell me with this message?

I would like to learn a little bit about it first, before I take it to the workshop... I have to go there anyway, because the clutch is making a noise again (this time, it only lasted for two days with the new master cylinder).

Best regards,

Jan.

Hi Jan,
Was ich wissen möchte ist, ob dein Ibiza ein Fahrzeug war, das speziell für dich bestellt wurde und auf das du warten musstest (wie bei mir, wo ich etwa 4 Monate auf meinen Cordoba warten musste), oder ob das Fahrzeug bereits auf Lager war.
If that was the case, it might still be possible that this item has been sitting somewhere (in the Netherlands or with the importer) for a while already.
Because if the 'Service' light is flashing on the dashboard, it means the inspection is due.
The instructions for counting down are located in section 2.10 of the operating manual.
Service interval 3,000 km, described for 5 seconds.

Best regards,
Steffi H.

Hi Steffi,

See the other thread - based on the serial number, the car should be less than 12 months old, even though it probably sat in stock for a while (it wasn't a custom configuration, as the "Signo" package includes everything useful). The serial number indicates a 2002 model year, specifically after 08/02, and the number 024049 probably isn't the first car of that model year either, because our comparisons show that they always start production in batches. Based on the number, I would guess it was September or early October, although I bought it in early November.

I also read about the 3000 km distance, but it definitely didn't go that far. However, that passage in the manual is marked with an asterisk (*), so it's optional.

However, if the 12 months really do count (which contradicts the theory mentioned above), then it could make sense that the distance doesn't show as 3000 km beforehand, because the route would then be unknown.

The question then is, how does all of this fit together...?

Best regards,

Jan.

@ Jan 6 k: MJ 02 starts at Seat in May 01.

As far as I know, the oil change interval is determined solely by the oil temperature multiplied by the time.

Wow, they seem to be quite different from VW... I didn't realize that!

Do you have any sources for that, or have you heard it somewhere before?

Hmm... overall, it might be worth considering whether the service plan makes sense, because the car hasn't been driven much in the first few months, so from a maintenance perspective, it probably doesn't matter whether it's 12 or 8 months.

@Michael: What exactly does the service indicator do when the time has expired, rather than the mileage? Does the information suddenly appear (like it did for me), or is there a countdown of some sort?

Best regards,

Jan.

Hi Michael,
That idea about the model year starting in May makes sense. The new Ibiza was officially unveiled only in May.
At VW, the new models are not scheduled for release for sale until the end of October.

Regarding the service interval display and the oil temperature, I'm a bit skeptical.
The initial adjustments are made at the factory, while the subsequent adjustments are performed by the workshop after the inspection is completed.

Best regards,
Steffi H.

Hello!


Does QG1 or QG2 indicate a variable service interval? In my Ibiza, QG1 is listed in a matrix below the engine code in the service booklet. Exactly 15,800 km and 9 months after the last oil change at a Seat workshop (they seem to reset the oil change interval, although ATU doesn't always do this), the service warning light started flashing when the ignition was turned on.

A variable oil change interval would surprise me, because approximately 12,000 of the last 15,000 kilometers were driven on the highway, with stretches of around 150 kilometers at a time. In that respect, I probably fit the profile of a typical long-distance driver.

What do you think about extending the oil change interval yourself, using a good full synthetic oil? Branded oil (Castrol) for perhaps 20,000 km, with an annual mileage of approximately 25,000 km?

Best regards, Georg.

Hi Georg,

According to the error database, QG1 is the code for the variable service... it's located near the bottom of the second page of the error database.

Did yours have a warning (meaning 3000 km before the failure), or did it just suddenly fail?

By the way, the reset procedure is described in the manual, so you can do it yourself.

Best regards,

Jan.

Hi,
Apparently, the QG1 and QG2 designations don't exist in the Netherlands. The only similar letter combination in my Dutch inspection report is Q1X.
When the service indicator light comes on in my car, I usually still drive about 2,000 kilometers before getting it checked. At the workshop, they will set the new service interval based on mileage and the inspection date.
I would love it if the service interval were extended, as I drive quite a bit (around 30,000 km per year).
Usually, by the time I take my car for its inspection, I've driven about 17,000 kilometers.

Best regards,
Steffi H.

Hello Jan,

I didn't look closely, but I got the impression that it didn't count back 3000 km; it just suddenly displayed "service."


Hello Steffi H.

My Ibiza is from the Netherlands and has the QG1 engine.

How did you configure your Speedbuster P-box? Has your fuel consumption changed with a consistent driving style? What kind of performance gain did you experience (possibly including...? Did you receive the Ulf-Test?

Best regards, Georg.

'Maybe something is broken, which is why you're already seeing a service message. With the A-Class, there were quite a few cars where the service light suddenly came on, even though they weren't due for service yet. In those cases, the combination instrument had a software error and needed to be replaced.'

Hmm... I don't think so. According to the manual, in that case, you would also get the message "Fail," and depending on the system, various indicator lights would flash. I'll check that (have it checked) when I'm back at the workshop for the clutch issue.

Best regards,

Jan.

If the instrument cluster doesn't detect an error, then no failure can occur. In the A-Class, for example, it would simply display 'Service in 10 days.' However, there would be no error code in the error memory, and when looking at the live data, everything would appear to be normal. And you can't even imagine how many different types of errors there are...

Can I already ) (after all, I'm a computer scientist).

In a way, you're right. If there's a bug in the software, then *anything* is possible. The explanation regarding the model year change and the resulting downtime is actually quite accurate.

I still need to decide whether to postpone the service (I haven't driven the car much in the first few months, if that's the case), or not. However, the workshop probably needs to weigh in on this, as the warranty is involved.

Best regards,

Jan.