2008 Golf TDi, glow plug light flashes

BailMeOut

Happens about once every other week. Will be driving and notice power is slightly reduced. On dash glow plug light will be flashing and ESP light will be on. I switch car off and on and all is good again, both lights will be off and car runs at normal power.

Going to take to garage next week to check out but worried I will get the "we cannot emulate the problem" from them as it does not happen very often.

Anyone have any idea what this might be?

George Dalton

Even when the problem is not there at the time of scanning the fault code will be recorded in the ECU and can be retrieved by the diag tool.

The problem is likely to be a faulty brake light switch but the scan will confirm one way or another.

Plug

George Dalton wrote: »

Even when the problem is not there at the time of scanning the fault code will be recorded in the ECU and can be retrieved by the diag tool.

The problem is likely to be a faulty brake light switch but the scan will confirm one way or another.

Software issue with them is it?

Chimaera

GP light flashing like that is the check engine light. Sounds like the engine is temporarily going into limp mode. Scantool will tell more anyway.

alo1587

Sounds like your brake lamp switch is faulty.This throws up the glow plug light (flashes).Is it the same loss of power feeling as you get if you drive with the brake pedal slightly depressed with your left foot? The ecu thinks you're braking and cuts power to the engine,going into limp mode momentarily

BailMeOut

alo1587 wrote: »

Sounds like your brake lamp switch is faulty.This throws up the glow plug light (flashes).Is it the same loss of power feeling as you get if you drive with the brake pedal slightly depressed with your left foot? The ecu thinks you're braking and cuts power to the engine,going into limp mode momentarily

This sounds about right and sounds like a pretty simple repair.

Thanks everyone. I will post a follow-up later after I attempt to get fixed.

BailMeOut

quick follow-up question.

Could this fault cause the break lights to come on and off by themselves while driving?

Plug

BailMeOut wrote: »

quick follow-up question.

Could this fault cause the break lights to come on and off by themselves while driving?

A faulty brake light switch could possibly cause that all right. With brake light switches sometimes the lights won't work other times the brake lights are on the whole time. I suppose its just down to the design of the switch and how it goes faulty.

BailMeOut

Plug wrote: »

A faulty brake light switch could possibly cause that all right. With brake light switches sometimes the lights won't work other times the brake lights are on the whole time. I suppose its just down to the design of the switch and how it goes faulty.

this explains a lot then! In last few weeks I got a couple of beeps and light flashing from what looked like angry drivers behind me.

alo1587

Yep,the brake lights stay on sometimes while you're driving,sometimes you'd park up at home and walk away from the car and the brake lights would be on.Its def the brake lamp switch.Easy diy fix to change

BailMeOut

I am sitting at dealer waiting for them to replace this brake light switch. They confirmed it is indeed faulty.

Thanks everyone!

George Dalton

How much did they charge you just out of interest?

BailMeOut

George Dalton wrote: »

How much did they charge you just out of interest?

Car has warranty so I did not pay anything however the pro forma they gave me showed €170.07. €25.34 for the switch and €124.50 for labour + VAT.

sean1141

BailMeOut wrote: »

€124.50 for labour + VAT.

:eek::eek:

how long had they the car??

im not sure about the mk5 golf but you would change one in less than 30mins on a mk4 and you wouldnt be under any pressure. i reckon if you were use to doing them 15mins would do it

Row

Thanks fo the update BailMeOut...if every memeber came back to us with the fix for there op then alot of other people would benefit from the forum...;)

Sadly the €70-€90 per hour the main dealers charge only €15-€20 of that goes to the tradesperson/technician that actually fixes the problem..:(
The other €65-€70 per hour goes to keep managment and other staff in a job......

BailMeOut

Row wrote: »

Thanks fo the update BailMeOut...if every memeber came back to us with the fix for there op then alot of other people would benefit from the forum...;)

Sadly the €70-€90 per hour the main dealers charge only €15-€20 of that goes to the tradesperson/technician that actually fixes the problem..:(
The other €65-€70 per hour goes to keep managment and other staff in a job......

They did have really nice Italian coffee and snacks in the waiting room!

When the warranty expires I will definitley be taking the car to one of my local small garages.