[insomniak123]

As I was driving in to work this morning, a light popped up that looks to me a bit like an engine. I can't get to the manual at the mo as I'm in work all day, but can anyone tell me what it means.

Quick search on google didn't really reveal anything

I've attached a photo of the dash with the offending icon showing next to the "20" on the speedo (i know, I need some petrol too )

Cheers in advance

[FazerThou]

Looks like the engine management light, usually means consult your dealer

[kam05]

Yes, that's the engine management light, basically, the ECU has recorded a fault- you will need to have the fault code read, this doesn't mean that you have to take the car to a main dealer/agent, a local auto electrican with a fault code reader should be able to retrieve the fault code for you.

Once you know what the fault code is you should be able to fix the problem, whether you are able to fix the problem cheaply that's another thing...

[insomniak123]

Nice one, well not nice one, but thanks for the heads up

Can the AA do it, do you know? I read somewhere that RAC will read the code for free...

here's hoping

[GGTVBD]

Bear in mind the dealers will charge for plugging in to diagnose... Some charge an hour's labour.

I have VW dealer level diagnostic capabilities.

[insomniak123]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Old Troll

Bear in mind the dealers will charge for plugging in to diagnose... Some charge an hour's labour.

I have VW dealer level diagnostic capabilities.

you're in West Yorkshire, I'm in Devon

I'm going to try and avoid the dealer if possible, the yearly services so far have been less than impressive, two years ago they tried to flog me a £300 bit of kit (can't remember now what it was); I went out for a chat in the mechanics bay, one of them told me my car didn't have one to replace

At it's last service, my back wiper came away so it's wiping fresh air, and the brake fluid needed topping up a month later.

Cowboys

[GGTVBD]

My leads aren't long enough!

Good luck.

[Ayub]

Whopps just realised your in Devon!

try resetting the ecu and see if the same error comes up again...

The error can be something very minor but **** happens and we all live in a world of super car sensors

RESETTING THE ECU

1) Remove Neg - off battery for 3 minutes.
2) Leave drivers door open and reconnect battery.
3) Leave bonnet open and switch car ignition lights on ( ANOTHER 3 MINUTES) DO NOT START THE CAR.

When the times is up remove keys put keys back in car and start car.

This will removal all error codes on vags and audi's unless its Crash data will can only be removed by vag coms.

[insomniak123]

Ayub, so you're saying if i reset the ECU, and there really is a fault I should look into, then the ECU warning light will show up again?

It won't just delete the code, and then not tell me about it again, if there actually is a problem?

(confusing post over... )

by "switch car ignition lights on", I presume you mean turn the ignition on but don't start the car yeah?

[Ayub]

Originally Posted by insomniak123

Ayub, so you're saying if i reset the ECU, and there really is a fault I should look into, then the ECU warning light will show up again?

It won't just delete the code, and then not tell me about it again, if there actually is a problem?

(confusing post over... )

by "switch car ignition lights on", I presume you mean turn the ignition on but don't start the car yeah?

If you reset your ecu ( no harm in this) it will delete all the error codes you have if any.

By clearning the code its starts a fresh. If then the fault does show up and you have to "vag com" the car the fault code will relate to ONLY the fault.

What i am trying to say it will not give you a fault from another item which may of been fixed.
Pity your in devon

[insomniak123]

so what you're saying is that if there really is a fault, and I wipe the ECU now, it will show up again when I start up the engine again.

basically I'm concerned that I wipe the error from the memory, and then it disappears but the fault is still there, and I won't know about it, and an engineer won't pick up on it

Originally Posted by insomniak123

so what you're saying is that if there really is a fault, and I wipe the ECU now, it will show up again when I start up the engine again.

basically I'm concerned that I wipe the error from the memory, and then it disappears but the fault is still there, and I won't know about it, and an engineer won't pick up on it

Well if the fault code goes away and does not reappear (ie the light doesn't come up again) then there is nothing to worry about, it could have been a electric gremlin or a bad bit of fuel.

If there is a legit fault then it will flag up again as soon as you reset it or within 24/48hrs. Then it's time to get a specialist/vw involved.

I was unaware there is a 'easy' way of resetting the fault code by hand without the diagnostic equipment (I have) so if it works let me know

[insomniak123]

well, in the end I gave the AA a ring, he confirmed what I thought and what some of you posted, the dealer would've charger £50 just to get his laptop out

turns out it the "fault" it was reporting was in the coolant management system, basically after a bit of a fiddle, nothing to worry about a slightly loose connection. problem solved

rather glad I didn't drive 20 miles to be charged to be told that. Good ol' AA

[Ayub]

I would also check near the coolant bottle for any leaks etc. Its a very common fault and its the last thing you check.

Glad to hear its sorted out.

[AndyCott]

Originally Posted by insomniak123

As I was driving in to work this morning, a light popped up that looks to me a bit like an engine. I can't get to the manual at the mo as I'm in work all day, but can anyone tell me what it means.

Quick search on google didn't really reveal anything

I've attached a photo of the dash with the offending icon showing next to the "20" on the speedo (i know, I need some petrol too )

Cheers in advance

Hi, just browsing though the net & i saw ur quest & i thought i just had to register as the very same light came up on my car last night. I only bought the car two days ago aswel. Anyway, the light means engine malfunction with the engine management system. it all sounds foreign to me - i'm not really to what means what. Anyway, last night, I spent ages on the net - (not that I'm very good on here either ) & i found a site called ( THE AA.COM) & that gave me warning light meanings. I took the car in this morning & it took the guy all of 60 seconds, actually he could have been about two minutes sorting the problem out - with his little computer thingy. Anyway, really hope I've been some kind of help to you.

HAPPY & SAFE MOTORING TOO!






Andrew

[Chrisoldinho]

Not sure if this works on the latest VAG range cars (Ibiza/Polo/Fabia II) but it definately did on my old 54 reg Fabia vRS. When the engine management light comes on, press the button to reset the mileage on dash window for 2 seconds and then turn it to the right and hold, after a few seconds the light disappears and it resets the warning light, this also works for resetting the ABS warning light & service reminder and more.

Saves taking it to a dealer and plugging it into VAG-COM only for them to erase the error message.

Chris.

Hi there, Just read through your problems!
I have the same problem, but with a little more too it.
I got a 2004/54 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 55HP in April with 18000 on the clock, its now done 30160 or numbers along those lines. Last week from today, the Engine Management light had come on, and stayed on for two days, it then went off on the third day, so i decided to phone Arnold Clark, the dealer who it was bought from to get some info. They told me to refer to the VW Inch Engineering in Bathgate, so I went up to them to see what was what. They told me it was/could be the Emissions and the LAMBDA sensor is effected? So the cars booked in for wednesday, but just yesterday after turning it on it started to chug, and shudder (there was petrol in the car). It WAS worst when the car was moving at around 40MPH but now is worst today whilst stationary, and today it has started to lose alot of power, I had my foot to the floor in 3rd at around 35MPH and the car slowed down, i had to then put it into fourth to get it to move as in second the problem was also happening, it also happens when pulling away, but as you press the accelerator for pulling away it nearly stalls, not to clutch control or such, this is with the accelerator down half, but it was chugging and about to die, so i had to floor it to get it to move, should it be driven? Its only a 5 min drive to work, should it be ok, also im expected to get to bathgate from broxburn on wednesday in the car, but im not sure it'll make it, im concerned as its an ex-disability car, with only 30160 on the clock and was never rally driven by myself, how could this have went wrong?
HELP!

[M4T VW]

Hi there.

The engine management light could be lots of different things. Thankfully its rarely the engine (touch wood). Its more likely to be a sensor somewhere.

It could possibly be the lambda sensor which is located in the exhaust. It tests for the emissions of the engine and adjusts the fueling to meet its needs. If its started to play up this could be your problem. The only way to find out would be to read the fault codes.

I have vag-com and can scan cars if anyone is near me, I'm located just outside of Bristol.

If its a 54 did you extend the warranty?

Hey There.
Thanks for your info, but i got my car fixed
It was the lambda sensor, was £155 part and labour so less than I expected
but just yesterday the emissions light on my Astra, which I only got 6 months back! has came on, GOD when will it end?
Safe and Good Luck motoring to you all

[Hitby]

For what its worth I had the CEL (check engine light) lit on my 2005 Saab, I bought a U480 OBD2 CAN car scanner from ebay for less than £30 which read it and cleared it. It works with all 2001on Petrol cars and all 2004on Diesel cars and was less than a single code read from Saab, delivered the next day!

[M4T VW]

Originally Posted by Hitby

For what its worth I had the CEL (check engine light) lit on my 2005 Saab, I bought a U480 OBD2 CAN car scanner from ebay for less than £30 which read it and cleared it. It works with all 2001on Petrol cars and all 2004on Diesel cars and was less than a single code read from Saab, delivered the next day!

They are good for some things but its best to see what code you have and whats at fault.
If its somthing more then a sensor then you would need to look into it further or it could be causing more damage.
They put a light there for a reason you know..

[Hitby]

indeed I did read the code - and fixed the EGR valve! I didn't just clear it lol

[farhakam]

Hi,
I'm having the same problem, please help me out.
how did you sort the problem out? did you take it to a local garage? im a new driver so pls help me out.
thanks

Originally Posted by insomniak123

well, in the end I gave the AA a ring, he confirmed what I thought and what some of you posted, the dealer would've charger £50 just to get his laptop out

turns out it the "fault" it was reporting was in the coolant management system, basically after a bit of a fiddle, nothing to worry about a slightly loose connection. problem solved

rather glad I didn't drive 20 miles to be charged to be told that. Good ol' AA

[alexs2]

You've already opened a separate thread on this,so I'm closing this old thread.