Engine Management Light? HELP

1. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #1 18th July 2007, 12:44

   Hi
   
   My engine management light suddenly came on today on the way to work. I looked under the bonnet and no obvious wires etc are loose or broken. The car drives fine and the engine temp is normal. I did notice however that there is a thick white residue over the battery terminals that was not there yesterday. I have my amp running off the live terminal but this works fine.
   
   I realise the fault could be anything but i just wanted some info on what to check before going to a garage to get a diagnostic check.
   
   I am worried something could go bang while i am driving the 70 miles to work and back. I assumed the engine management light only came on for electrical faults and not mechanical, but could be wrong?.
   
   I dont wanna drive home later and have the cam belt snap on me.
   
   Cheers
2. whazza22 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2006 Exeter, Devon Posts: 270 Blue 1.6 vtr

   #2 18th July 2007, 13:02

   Hi mate
   
   I had this problem when my mum tried jump starting her car with the leads, using my car as the battery provider.
   
   I went to my local garage so they could do an engine diagnostic on my car as the light was on.
   
   It turned out that when she connected the leads, she must of touched one of the battery terminals with the wrong lead lol. This caused a surge of power going through the wrong terminal on the battery, which confused the ECU.
   
   Maybe your amp wire had touched the negative terminal and caused the same sort of problem.
   
   Might not be, but just a thought.
   
   Cheers
3. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #3 18th July 2007, 13:37

   Cheers for that. Will check this before i leave later today,
4. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #4 18th July 2007, 18:15

   Terminals all seem to be fine, Have cleaned up the battery terminals and reconnected. Also left without powe for 30 minutes to reset ECU but light still comes on.
   
   any ideas?
5. Ryanp Super Moderator Joined: Feb 2004 Tonbridge United Kingdom (England) Posts: 38236 Vtr, 172, throttle bodied track slut

   #5 18th July 2007, 18:18

   get a diagnositcs check
6. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #6 19th July 2007, 19:25

   Had diagnostic today and found two old codes and a new one P1544, which ia apparantly a throttle sensor. Cleared the codes and the light went out. Mechanic said it might have missfired at some point and caused the light to come on.
   
   Cost £47 for the test but worth it to find nothing is wrong. Cheers for the help
7. whazza22 Regular Poster Joined: Aug 2006 Exeter, Devon Posts: 270 Blue 1.6 vtr

   #7 20th July 2007, 07:12

   Nice one mate glad its sorted out!
8. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

   #8 20th July 2007, 17:13

   Spoke Too soon. EML's come back on!!!.
   
   I think its something to do with the idle control sensor thing. It has lost power on the motorway, like i have to put my foot down hard to build up speed now. Also it seems to be tearing through the fuel.
   
   It doesnt sound like its misfiring but sounds different when idling than it did a few days ago. Does anybody know if these valves are easy to replace yourself? if you are fairly confident.
9. andyvts98 Infrequent Poster Joined: Oct 2006 darlington, Co Durham Posts: 156 mk1 & mk2 vts and leathered mk2 vtr

   #9 20th July 2007, 23:41

   sounds more like the cat has callaped this would give poor performance and make it drink more fuel. the light only comes on for emmisions and little running problems but dosen't come on for anything major
10. devilsadvocate Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2006 Maidstone Posts: 8210 Golf TDI

    #10 21st July 2007, 10:12

    The cat is brand new.