What is this warning light?

snicdhonn

My diesil Passat 1.8, 2000 jsut had its service. its got 151,000 miles on the clock. Anyhow a spring light originally came up and the mechanic told me springs and suspension need doing. Which I will sort soon as I can save money but since the service that sping light isnt coming up and a new light has come up and as I have no manual I have no idea what it could be. Here is a description: Its a circle with a few dash/dots either side of it. Doea taht make nay sence to you. The light is situated at the very top of the area where engine light etc come on. PLease help. This is a new mechanic I am with as I have moved and so not too sure how reliable he is. He was reccomended by a friend who dated him so not exactly has any car experience with him.... :S

Eric Cartman

any of these ?

snicdhonn

Eric Cartman wrote: »

http://www.mustangmogul.com/files/warning_lights_lexus.jpg any of these ?

No none of them. it looks a bit like the abs canada one only nothing written on middle where abs is and the lines around it are broken up. And its not abs cos i know that light. It says abs lol

snicdhonn

drunkmonkey wrote: »

the red light with the dots means your flux dispersal is all wrong, you should take it to a mechanic and ask him to check the flux capacitor.

This is to do with fuel then, is it? am i doing much damage by driving it? If i shut off engine it will go off but return after a few moments driving. And comes on when ignition turned. Is this gonna cos alot. I am due nct

smcgiff

Isn't this the heater thingy (possibly not the technical term) in Diesels

Anan1

Sounds like it might be the brake pad warning light. OP - do you have a handbook for the car?

snicdhonn

Anan1 wrote: »

Sounds like it might be the brake pad warning light. OP - do you have a handbook for the car?

no hand book no manual unfortunatly

alias no.9

Anan1 wrote: »

Sounds like it might be the brake pad warning light. OP - do you have a handbook for the car?

Sounds like the same to me.

smcgiff

Re your original problem (spring warning light) - did it look something like this...





if so it's your glow plug and nothing to do with the suspension. It's your glow plub

polyfusion

Like this?



If yes, then this:

http://www.justanswer.com/questions/1x0n7-what-does-a-warning-light-with-a-circle-and-arched-lines-around

JHMEG

http://www.haynes.co.uk/Press/Releases_HTML/060320_WarningLightsPR_haynes_press_release.htm

Glow plug warning light (on diesel engines). This is just to tell you that the glow plugs are heating up in readiness for a cold start. You should wait for the light to extinguish before starting the engine.

snicdhonn

smcgiff wrote: »

Re your original problem (spring warning light) - did it look something like this...





if so it's your glow plug and nothing to do with the suspension. It's your glow plub

Yes exactly that.

snicdhonn

polyfusion wrote: »

Like this?



If yes, then this:

http://www.justanswer.com/questions/1x0n7-what-does-a-warning-light-with-a-circle-and-arched-lines-around

THATS IT!!!

smcgiff

snicdhonn wrote: »

Yes exactly that.

As a couple of wits on here have been trying to tell you it appears you have been had by the mechanic.

snicdhonn

snicdhonn wrote: »

THATS IT!!!

Dam so brake pads.. now i bought the car from a dealer 7 months ago and he said it had all new pads.... full service al the things you wud expect. Am I to expect that i will need new brake pads every 8,000 miles

snicdhonn

Wow guys thanks for all the help... my bf said too he didnt trust the guy..... cheers for help! and erm is the flux cap thing a bit of a joke here?

snicdhonn

bmw535d wrote: »

wait a second, 3 weeks ago you were posting about how your ex took the car when you broke up and how your stranded in a rural area. are you having us on here?:D now you have a 1.8 diesal passat for 7 months?

i know we got back together lol have asked how to delete them threads (embarresment)

bmw535d

snicdhonn wrote: »

i know we got back together lol have asked how to delete them threads (embarresment)

orite i see,well avoid that garage man anyway hes trying to con you,

freighter

snicdhonn wrote: »

Dam so brake pads.. now i bought the car from a dealer 7 months ago and he said it had all new pads.... full service al the things you wud expect. Am I to expect that i will need new brake pads every 8,000 miles

Anyway all the snipeing aside brake pads should last 50/60k rouughy defo not 8k:)

tossy

snicdhonn wrote: »

Anyhow a spring light originally came up and the mechanic told me springs and suspension need doing.

Can you name your Mechanic please,i think the whole country should be warned against going near this cowboy!

The orange coil (spring) light was your glow plug light,it could mean a few things from brake light switch failing to glow plugs failing,only way to know for sure is next time it comes on check your brake lights are working,if the are then the car will need to be scanned for faults.

mickdw

freighter wrote: »

Anyway all the snipeing aside brake pads should last 50/60k rouughy defo not 8k:)

More lik 20k miles for me. 8k is certainly too short though. Having said that, when you bought the car, the pads would only get changed if they were worn. Nobody would change pads with about 10k miles left (yours will probably do another couple of thousand miles yet).

The biggest problem you have is your current mechanic, the springy thing meaning you suspension if f*cked! Thats one of the more crazy things Ive heard from a cowboy. You should present him with a cowboy hat the next time you see him

snicdhonn

The thing is I got my bf to sort car... as he knows this area better. And so i was livid with what he came back with. He is new to driving. Turns out this "mechanic" is more of a handy man.. and he was only guessing about suspension etc.... he does serivces oil change and basics thats all. But I warned bf to be aware in future. Te car was OUR car but we split and are now back together and so I let him know what I know. I have 10 yrs experience driving and dealing with mech. he has none. So its a learning curve! Thank s all for help. And hey Im still looking for my own car BMW so feel free to post!

Anan1

Constructive posts only from now on, thanks. Final warning.

jimmyw

snicdhonn wrote: »

My diesil Passat 1.8, 2000 jsut had its service. its got 151,000 miles on the clock. Anyhow a spring light originally came up and the mechanic told me springs and suspension need doing. Which I will sort soon as I can save money but since the service that sping light isnt coming up and a new light has come up and as I have no manual I have no idea what it could be. Here is a description: Its a circle with a few dash/dots either side of it. Doea taht make nay sence to you. The light is situated at the very top of the area where engine light etc come on. PLease help. This is a new mechanic I am with as I have moved and so not too sure how reliable he is. He was reccomended by a friend who dated him so not exactly has any car experience with him.... :S

Ah for crying out loud :eek:. How did the "mechanic" think there was anything wrong with it? The spring light is probably the glow plug light alright as others said, and the other one is probably brake pad wear .Some mechanic:rolleyes:

cormie

Hi,
my brother just rang me up and said this light is showing up in the van and I remember reading about a similar light on this thread :P



The website says "Glow plug warning light (on diesel engines). This is just to tell you that the glow plugs are heating up in readiness for a cold start. You should wait for the light to extinguish before starting the engine."

but it's coming on and off when the van is running

The van is out at the moment but on a very low mileage job. Any immediate steps to take to resolve this?

Any feedback appreciated

macrubicon

It can indicate a fault with the rear brake switch, or that both rear brake bulbs are gone.

You will need to plug it in and scan it for faults to get a true answer, but that light coming on while driving is not great - can be something small though.

Last time I had it go on me was due to water damage from a blocked pollen filter causing the wiring loom to rub and fray a cable giving a false problem reading. Bugger of a thing to find though.

Henry Ford III

snicdhonn wrote: »

Dam so brake pads.. now i bought the car from a dealer 7 months ago and he said it had all new pads.... full service al the things you wud expect. Am I to expect that i will need new brake pads every 8,000 miles

If the dealer told you the truth then yes :rolleyes:

knifey_spoonie

cormie wrote: »

The van is out at the moment but on a very low mileage job. Any immediate steps to take to resolve this?

Any feedback appreciated

Yeah replace the glowplugs, that will sort it and No it aint going to make the van blow up if you don't get it done right away, just do it when you can.

cormie

macrubicon wrote: »

It can indicate a fault with the rear brake switch, or that both rear brake bulbs are gone.

You will need to plug it in and scan it for faults to get a true answer, but that light coming on while driving is not great - can be something small though.

Last time I had it go on me was due to water damage from a blocked pollen filter causing the wiring loom to rub and fray a cable giving a false problem reading. Bugger of a thing to find though.

I probably should have started a new thread, I'm not sure if you're replying to me about the warning light I showed? What would I need to plug in?

knifey_spoonie wrote: »

Yeah replace the glowplugs, that will sort it and No it aint going to make the van blow up if you don't get it done right away, just do it when you can.

Ok cool, how much are glowplugs typically and are they make/model specific or is it like fuses, universal as long as it's the right fit?

Is replacing glowplugs an easy DIY or a mechanic required task?

Thanks!

macrubicon

cormie wrote: »

I probably should have started a new thread, I'm not sure if you're replying to me about the warning light I showed? What would I need to plug in?

Ok cool, how much are glowplugs typically and are they make/model specific or is it like fuses, universal as long as it's the right fit?

Is replacing glowplugs an easy DIY or a mechanic required task?

Thanks!

Was replying to you all right! A diagnostic computer would be the thing there - I think a few on here have a VAGCom and might be willing to do a read out?

If the van has no issues starting up it might be worth having the diagnostics done first - no need to spend the cash on the glow plugs if it's something else. That light can mean a lot of different things - esp when it comes on after the van/caris started.

cormie

Light has stopped coming on now

It kept on for about 10 minutes after it first came on and hasn't come on again since which is strange I guess?

D_murph

freighter wrote: »

Anyway all the snipeing aside brake pads should last 50/60k rouughy defo not 8k:)

It can all depend on the driver too. If you keep jabbing at them like some of the idiots I see at times, they will not last long.

When I was getting my car serviced recently, the guy in the office told me that 60K was not bad at all for my car as he knows of a particular owner of the exact same make/model that has to get them changed every time the car is in for a service. Must be using the brake pedal as a foot-rest :rolleyes:.