VW Golf MK4 engine warning light.

[300tdi]

Engine warning light has come on on our golf, are there any tests we can do before I put it in. I have removed the oxygen sensor and had a look at it ( don't no what to look for ) but the light has gone out now, probably because i had the battery disconnected and has reset ?
Thanks Ian.

[HellDiver]

Mysterious engine management faults. Like a Golf.

[vincec79]

Expensive Option (Though handy in the long run) - Buy VAGCOM license you'll be able to do everything with it including error checks and resets.

Midrange Option - Take it to a dealers

Cheap option - Pick Up one of the Fault Code Readers (OBDII) it'll just give you an error code which you can look up on a VAG forums for the answer. These are pretty handy, and will work on most cars

My Leon came up with the CEL which if you believe the handbook is an emissions problem which I instantly thought was the O2 sensors, but plugged mine in and the error code was actually the coolant temperature sensor.

Edited by vincec79 on Tuesday 12th October 12:58

[mk1matt]

An eleven quid OBD2 cable from eBay and a shareware copy of VagCom (included with the cable!) has been very useful to me so far. The functions are restricted on the software, but you can read/clear fault codes, and perform simple data logging.

When a lot of garages charge £50 for a scan, even the full version of the software (£100 ish I think) pays for itself in no time (especially on a mk4 golf!).

[Matt_N]

U280 OBDII code reader off of ebay for £10-£15 also works, brings up VAGCOM codes that can be read across from the RossTech wiki page.

[morgrp]

what petrol do you stick in it?

[Ved]

Check your brake lights.

A broken brake light switch (located behind the pedal) has this exact symptom.

[AndrewW-G]

Where in the country are you (your profile lists your region as C of E ) if your near Chester, your more than welcome to use my full version of VAGCOM

[bazking69]

Ved said:

Check your brake lights.

A broken brake light switch (located behind the pedal) has this exact symptom.

I'd also check the airflow meter. Another common issue on Golfs. My old mk4 had both these issues, and both time it brought on the EM light.

[SteveC123]

As others have mentioned, VAG-Com is the st for this kind of thing, shareware or otherwise.

[300tdi]

Hi thanks for all the advice, will get a look at the brake light switch at the weekend, also I use Shell petrol, I live in a place called Heswall,
thanks Ian.

[300tdi]

have stripped out the brake light switch, made sure the connections where good and fixed the cable back with some ties, and so far so good.
thanks very much, Ian.

[AndrewW-G]

Ian, you live in the same place that I do if you havent got a copy of Vagcom, please feel free to borrow mine