Help

[nickyh]

On Friday when I started my car my after it was sitting out in the cold for 8 hours I had two warning lights on my dash - One was my ASR light, the other was EPC. I did not think to much of the EPC code and since I did not have my owners manual i did not know what it meant, pulled off to go home only I had no power in the engine. went back to the parking lot (only drove the car about 1km or less) and called a dealership.
They told me check your tires that's why the ASR light is on - yes if the car was actually being driven i would accept that, they did not explain the me about the EPC code.
Started the car up again after that idiot did not help me, the warning lights were no longer on - the car was at full power. Went home, the car was fine.
Saturday morning, start the car sitting there letting it warm up and then the ASR light comes back on, the EPC light is now flashing (no longer solid like the day before) we decide to take the car the SFC. Engine power is good, we pull over turn the car off - turn the car on again, no EPC code flashing, ASR light is now off as well.
Later get told - if the EPC light is solid again, call a tow truck.

Since Saturday morning, we have not had a repeat of this.

My question: since no one has really explained to me what the EPC stands for could some one clear this up. Second - how bad is it for this warning light to be on (since all warnings are bad i know dumb questions...) Third - should i be concerened that i have something major wrong with my car......

If anyone knows more about this and can shed some light that would be terrific.

[1.8Trip]

Re: Help

EPC stands for Electronic Power Control. I don't really know its function though.

I had the same thing happen to me on that really really cold day last week. My car was outside and not plugged in the whole day. The ASR light came on then the EPC then the MIL (MIL not blinking). I drove the car part way home and decided that I should open and close the gas cap as I had over filled the tank a few days before. I turned the car off then on again. No luck. I then drove to the dealership to get it checked out and the guy told me that sometimes if the ASR comes on just before you turn off the car, the car throws a code that doesn't get cleared right away. He said the next few starts should clear the code. I was skeptical, but it went away and hasn't come back.

A friend of mine has an A4 with the 1.8T engine, the exact same thing happened to him last week as well. His dealership told him to make sure the gas cap was tight. So he undid it and re-tightened and the light went away.

I'm not sure what the cause of the problem was or even the actual solution to this problem, but I haven't had any issues since.

[Boy Racer]

Re: Help

Sounds like you are in need of the club Vag Com. I am sure the codes will be stored and this will give you the best idea of what the problem is.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Help

The club is no longer in possesion of a VAG com as it never actually worked but some people around here have them that could maybe help out

[bart]

Re: Help

The club is no longer in possesion of a VAG com as it never actually worked but some people around here have them that could maybe help out

huh? ya we are!!

[nickyh]

Re: Help

So this is nothing to get to concerned about then....

I have the car booked in the dealership for Friday, should i cancel it?

[dubjetta]

Re: Help

Here is a link to a similar thread on the vortex:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1185776

Nobody seems to have a definite answer, but it seems like it's related to our recent cold snap.

[R_Ethug]

Re: Help

yup i'll help out those in need with mine.. cable should be here like tommorow or hopefully before the meet.

huh? ya we are!!

[nickyh]

Re: Help

Thanks for all the info. Just a bug in the system by the sounds of it.

[Kor]

Re: Help

I would have guessed that it was the extreme cold also.