Help! - Just sold my car, and a warning light has come on.
Discussion
Sold my polo yesterday, and on the way to work in it (its being collected on Wednesday) The 'EPC' light has come on.
The engine management light is always on, it was sold in that condition.
I've done a little bit of research and found it could be the brake lights(the micro switch specifically), But they seem to work fine. There doesn't seem to be any loss of power either.
What does it mean?
I don't really want to splash out to get it on a diagnostics machine as its an expense I don't really want at all.
Is there a cheap easy fix for this? or is it going to be expensive?
Info: Its a 2001 (51 plate) Polo saloon 1.4 petrol.
The engine management light is always on, it was sold in that condition.
I've done a little bit of research and found it could be the brake lights(the micro switch specifically), But they seem to work fine. There doesn't seem to be any loss of power either.
What does it mean?
I don't really want to splash out to get it on a diagnostics machine as its an expense I don't really want at all.
Is there a cheap easy fix for this? or is it going to be expensive?
Info: Its a 2001 (51 plate) Polo saloon 1.4 petrol.
Edited by Grahamr123 on Monday 23 January 13:22
Edited by Grahamr123 on Monday 23 January 13:28
mikeyr said:
Eh? You've sold it but still have it?
Guessing you mean someones agreed to buy it and hasn't collected it yet?
Not much use to you I'm sure but will hopefully clarify your post.
Yes sorry, I was a little vague with that. Its been sold, and its being collected Wednesday. I have it till then.Guessing you mean someones agreed to buy it and hasn't collected it yet?
Not much use to you I'm sure but will hopefully clarify your post.
See if any of your mates have an OBDII reader or if not visit a local garage. Find out what the codes are, write them down, clear them and then see if they come back. Don't pay more than £10 if you take it somewhere, or they're ripping you off (even £10 is a rip tbh)
If they don't come back, keep fingers crossed that the light stays off until you've got shot on Weds.
If they don't come back, keep fingers crossed that the light stays off until you've got shot on Weds.
cragswinter said:
the fickle roulette wheel of still using something you've sold strikes again!
bad luck op, hopefully it'll just be a quick sensor job but i'd always advise on being honest with the guy who's bought it.
perhaps contact him & say you'll pay the diagnostic & any repairs up to £100?
Or take out the bulb, it worked for del boy on only fools and horses lolbad luck op, hopefully it'll just be a quick sensor job but i'd always advise on being honest with the guy who's bought it.
perhaps contact him & say you'll pay the diagnostic & any repairs up to £100?
Grahamr123 said:
Yes sorry, I was a little vague with that. Its been sold, and its being collected Wednesday. I have it till then.
You still didn't explain that one. If you've been paid, what on earth are you doing driving around in someone else's car? If you haven't, then the warning light coming on is less of a problem for the situation - just be upfront with the buyer, and accept that you may need to find another one, or sell for less.Grahamr123 said:
mikeyr said:
Eh? You've sold it but still have it?
Guessing you mean someones agreed to buy it and hasn't collected it yet?
Not much use to you I'm sure but will hopefully clarify your post.
Yes sorry, I was a little vague with that. Its been sold, and its being collected Wednesday. I have it till then.Guessing you mean someones agreed to buy it and hasn't collected it yet?
Not much use to you I'm sure but will hopefully clarify your post.
If you have AA cover or similar call them out and get them to do a check for you. Then can decide on fixing it before the new owner collects or advise and take something off the agreed.
Might feel comfier in yourself knowing it is fixed when they drive off. The AA might even turn up a no fault found error which clearing on a fuse pull wouldn't feel like the wrong thing to do.
Might feel comfier in yourself knowing it is fixed when they drive off. The AA might even turn up a no fault found error which clearing on a fuse pull wouldn't feel like the wrong thing to do.
Grahamr123 said:
I've done a little bit of research and found it could be the brake lights(the micro switch specifically), But they seem to work fine. There doesn't seem to be any loss of power either.
Just to clarify, the brake lights work fine, or the brakes work fine? Check the brake lights do work and check at the brake pedal for a small micro-switch or similar and check it all looks ok.
Other than that you really need to run a diagnostic check to see what it says.
Not a good idea using a car that is 'sold'. at least you didn't crash.
I would say you have a resonsibility to give him the car in the condition he saw it andf bought. If I were the buyer I'd tell you to fix it. I might even ask for a discount as you have added miles and wear and tear.
I would say you have a resonsibility to give him the car in the condition he saw it andf bought. If I were the buyer I'd tell you to fix it. I might even ask for a discount as you have added miles and wear and tear.
being slightly more helpful...
I don't know anything about VWs, but it must have an obd port and lots of people have readers for these and can probably reset the light (although it might just come straight back on). It only takes a couple of minutes for any local garage. I doubt it requires proper VW kit - although I could be wrong.
I don't know anything about VWs, but it must have an obd port and lots of people have readers for these and can probably reset the light (although it might just come straight back on). It only takes a couple of minutes for any local garage. I doubt it requires proper VW kit - although I could be wrong.
Grahamr123 said:
I just drove back home from work, only to realise the whole way the brake lights were stuck on 
. Which means it must be the brake micro switch, so I'll get that changed ASAP.
It may not help but my wife's Fiat has had sticking brakelights in the past. First time, I replaced microswitch. Second time, I found out that by accidentally lifting the pedal (ie catching your foot under it) causes it to reset itself and it thinks that the raised position is "brakes off" (no lights) and the normal position, it thinks is "brakes on" causing the lights to stay on. I fiddled with switch, the middle bit popped out fully and the lights stayed off. . Which means it must be the brake micro switch, so I'll get that changed ASAP.Wow, just called the RAC out. It turned out to be the last thing I expected. I had recently replaced a rear brake bulb, but with a single filiment one, without realising it was meant to be double filliment. It was shorting the connection. It all fixed now 
Such a silly mistake
Anyway, thank you for all your help
Such a silly mistake
Anyway, thank you for all your help
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