VW Beetle exhaust emission light coming on on dash

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bluecalico, Jan 31, 10:33pm
Anyone else have this problem, exhaust emission light keeps coming on, cars seems sluggish, mechanic/s turn it off, scan the car and say running ok, drive it home, next day, same warning light comes on. any suggestions. I would have thought the scan would pick up the error?
VW Beetle 2004
thejazzpianoma, Jan 31, 10:56pm
Your mechanic is useless, not only should there be a code stored but there are also tests that can be done. Take it to a VW specialist, ideally a third party one but if need be a dealer. Emissions related faults are usually pretty easy to sort and there should be lots of evidence to go on.
intrade, Jan 31, 11:19pm
yes you need to find soonest a professional diagnostic technition not some moron cowboy with no clue professional aftermarket vag vw-audi-gruppe mechanics have and use rosstech vcds diagnotic equipment
i am downloading as we write the latest automatic update from rosstech version 14.10.1
intrade, Jan 31, 11:37pm
what engine have you got ? carjam.co.nz will list engine
cammey, Jan 31, 11:52pm
My wifes VW Golf does this so often I have stuck a "bonito" banana sticker over the light.

It was on so often I thought it was the indicator indicator flashing at me.

She used to stop the car every time it came up and was late everywhere.

Its eaten a pile of fuel pumps relays and one pump, a window fell out of the window rail, the compressor thing to open the doors has broken, (but as the window won't wind up we don't lock it anyway) and it has the worlds hardest seats.

On the other hand, if its going its bloody fast and goes around corners like its tied down.

I'll keep the Landrover.
intrade, Feb 1, 12:09am
you just posted a prime example of why you dont let morons work on it. replacing relays yes why do you think it poos relays might be wise to actuarly fix the real problem befor and then fixing the symptom.
and these morons will nuke toyotas just the same as any vehicle manufacturer runs similar electronics with no room for error available if anything goes wrong it goes like domino effects blup--plup blup untill everything is nuked even on toyota , seen a fielder toyota just the other day smoking like 1990s mitsubishi oil ot the exhaust.
intrade, Feb 1, 12:14am
door lock module are a knowen issue of the mk4 vag platforms like golf bora beatle there is diy fixes for this for a few $$ like new microswitches and a soldering iron to fix broken solder joints. to put this in prospective the same problem exist on p10 primera nissan where modules for windo winder also fail and the cause i would say is the same dry solder joints.
cammey, Feb 1, 12:24am
Yeah well, it goes back to the VW man, its still under warranty. And his efforts to blame wifey and extract money from her have been fruitless.

But I'm told the fuel pump fails as its too small, and it needs at least 1/4 tank of fuel over it or it overheats.

I was also told, but I am a little sceptical, that VW fixed a hardware design issue around stratified injection pumps with a software fix.

The problem being that the GDI pump is driven by the cam, but lubricated and cooled by the petrol. If petrol migrated away from the GDI pump while the vehicle was parked, the pump would start dry, and they were failing before they were out of warranty. So VAG simply told the computer to run the fuel pump periodically even when parked. So that poor old relay runs its heart out.

Id be interested to know if this is an old wifes tale or if it has a bit of truth to it. maybe you can help intrade.
thejazzpianoma, Feb 1, 12:38am
It would be a good idea to post version/year/engine and how many km's it's done if you want some help with this, and ideally in a new thread to save confusion for the OP.

I would also be interested to know when the fuel filter was last changed and what fuel you have been running. In particular whether you have been using any ethanol blended fuel (Gull 98 or Mobil 98).

I am more suspecting a fault with your individual vehicle as opposed to a general fault with the model. I haven't come across the problem before.

Also, do you happen to have access to an ammeter capable of handling say 10 amps? Do you own a multimeter?
msigg, Feb 1, 1:23am
As suggested above take it into a decent mechanic, a good auto sparky should be able to resolve it, these are all common problems with these vehicles, the beetle may need a good thrashing to clean out the exhaust, run a good fuel in it. You do need to speed some money unless under warranty, push the mechanic or auto sparky for a good explanation. All the best.
intrade, Feb 1, 1:23am
well so you say your one is a fsi vw poster 8 or a tfsi
the claim they write" could be true" the thing is there should be a no return fuel divises so the mechanical gasoline high pressure pump dont runs dry
i do not know for sure but this could be a mix of facts and bullox because All you write is true but not in the order it was put.
Any euro4 upwards vehicle must have a 100% functioning fuelpump to be capable of supply of fuel with small windows of correction
So yes it is advised to have more then 25% fuel because the fuelpump gets cooled by the fuel this applys to any car even 1990s and older vehicles. the thing is on older cars, a partial destroyed fuelpump would not be showing up for years and years as a symptom, as where a 10% damaged fuelpump on a euro 6 emission vehicle will set noumerous error codes for al sorts of things even a slight faulty battery will cause error codes , this affects any make and model as the only way to meet emission is to tightly controll every last single electronic divise and it must function 100% so the other components can be within its minimal possibel corrections also.
so loads of problems existed in the same form for a long time you would just not notice them as the system simply stopped using the components with minimal affect to the driver to notice anything .
Like a 1 wire lambda sond on a 1990s corolla . Its a imput signal to get the catalisator working. if it died the cat melts down sooner or later but mostly just drives another 300,000km as if nothing ever had happened fuelconsumption will go up like from 7.5 to 7,6 liter per 100km so no chance a toyota driver would even remotly be bothered by what went on.
msigg, Feb 1, 1:34am
Yes as above intrade is correct, all the new mod cons mean slightly cheaper running and better for the enviroment but it comes at a cost because you have a computer that is monitoring many different parameters through different rev ranges correcting and altering as is programmed, if a parameter goes out on a limb then you have a dash light come on, this means take it in to the tech. These events piss of the motorist as the cars don't seem as reliable as the old, some make and models are worse than others, that's where good research comes in.
stevo2, Feb 1, 1:57am
How do you tell who is a Moron and who is not?
I would assume if you took it to a garage that the mechanic would NOT be a moron but a technician qualified in his trade.
Life would be so much easier if everybody had "MORON" or "NOT A MORON" tattooed on their forehead.
bluecalico, Feb 1, 8:04am
Interesting replies Thanks.
2 litre engine, manual.
always run it on premium petrol.
Just returned from Chch vw agent service who said running within specifications.
Light came on again within 24 hours.
ema1, Feb 1, 8:07am
So much for VW service eh, could end up being a money pit until problem is finally located and "fixed"?
jmma, Feb 1, 8:33am
Need to stop smoking in the car (o:
bumfacingdown, Feb 1, 8:35am
Heard of an Audi owner who recently had probs, limp mode in 2nd gear etc, the cure, check washer bottle and top up.
Why the hell would that be linked to the 'puter in such a way?
ema1, Feb 1, 10:31am
Naff electronics design, perhaps it thinks it's driver can't see when washer bottle don't have water to squirt on screen.
That's funny as hell !
franc123, Feb 1, 11:00am
Well clearly its not is it. You need to find someone who has a decent scanner and not only can determine what codes its logging but also if the ECM data looks normal, particularly 02 sensor and fuel trim data. These fault codes can take some time to relog and have to be put through specific drive cycles and operating conditions first.
franc123, Feb 1, 11:10am
Like with Golfs (and possibly others) that disable the front wipers because the bonnet is open, even though when it is open they don't contact the rear edge of the bonnet. Which would be real fun when its raining and the cheap and nasty switch decides to signal that the bonnet is open when its not because of moisture or crud interfering with the contacts I suppose its useful when VW recall number XYZ on the faulty bonnet catch hasn't been carried out and the bonnet flies up and over the windscreen and roof at least the wiper arms won't get damaged.
intrade, Feb 1, 8:48pm
You need to find somone professional you now know the vw agent is a moron there is no wonder that loads of vw blow up in this country when morons run main dealerships . now the thing is a professional is just somone whom does things correctly and knows what they are doing
Must know diagnostic skill is fueltrims , and then vw do things complete different to most other makes it dont mean they do it worse its just like metric and imperial screws they both hold things togather but with a metric cocket you can damage the imperial bolt heads and the other way.
This is about how vw is electronically different to other makes , in the end its doing the same thing but one needs to know and people with rosstech diagnostic will know vw even diy guys.
intrade, Feb 1, 9:02pm
here is one "newzealand-diagnostic-tr-
aining" does do professional training for electronics and he hates vw showed us how mutch extra protection vw relays have , Well if you dont hate vw you actuarly think that is a good thing extra protection!
The problem is tis can throw your diagnostic off basic is the more crap there is the more can fail electronic wise! its why i got a dacia sandero for my family in europe.
Now if there is more crap inside a reley your diagnostic with a scope can lead you down a wrong path when a zener diod fails , as suposed a reley who dont even use zeners . its all about knowhow , if you start off with i hate this crap and the way they do things you dont get anywhere . its actuarly what newzealand-diagnostic-class also teach ,but he did not realise . I was not going to argue with him as i was there to learn what he teaches not knowing things better , or i would not have had to go there.
intrade, Feb 1, 9:31pm
write down exactly when the light comes on
ike is it driven since a while, or is it just been started? what day is it nice and hot .moist and hot what. rpm speed your doing are you doing cruising accelerating . anything does it drive differently when light is on for how long does the light stay on?
all this information can help professional diagnose it
if they dont want to know this information then you know you found another moron.
anything even things you do wrong and dont want anyone to know , hiding them only makes diagnostic more difficult and expensive for you in the end. Your task is to find a professional and it can be a diy backjarder who is professional about things , like the most unprofessionals i ever came across are a big vw agent in auckland and no its not gilltrap its the other. in the south island i dont know but you can cross out the agent you just went for professional. as whn the light is on there is a code stored 100% and codes are symptoms not a cause , you will be told this when you found a proessional guy.
also the first thing i be doing is confirming the light you see is what you think it is. thats number 1 thing to start with.
ema1, Feb 1, 10:21pm
All the more reason why I sure as hell won't be buying one anytime soon.
bumfacingdown, Feb 1, 10:26pm
Why the heck should an owner have to do all that, write this down exactly when/as/where and even supply a plurry weather report, is the magic box that runs the show really that thick?
Brings to mind KISS, which the programmers obviously never heard of.