GTI - Exhaust Gas Warning Lamp

[Getti]

I drive a 2007 Golf GTI that has done about 43,000kms and is booked in for its 45,000kms service next Friday. Today while driving the "Exhaust Gas Warning Lamp" showed up on the dash ... this has never happend before and the car has been faultless since purchased new 2.5 years ago.

I was within 2kms of VW dealership when the light appeared so thought I would drop in and ask what was wrong and what needed to be done. The service guy advised that if it was still driving "normally" than there was no action necessary and it could wait until the service next Friday (he described normal as - not misfiring, not overheating, changing gears normally and no loss of oil pressure).

After I reached my destination I read the manual which stated "if the warming lamp lights up, a fault has developed during driving which has reduced the quality of the exhaust gas. Reduce your speed immediately and drive carefully to the nearest qualified workshop to have the engine checked. Failure to observe teh warning lamps and the associated descriptions and warning texts could result in injury or damage to the vehicle"

I phoned the VW dealer service centre later on and advised them what the manual said and they reassured me that checking this at next Friday's service would be fine. I have also phoned a VW service centre in Brisbane (I live in Townsville) and they advised exactly the same. Neither place seemed too concerned with the fault as long as it was driving "normally".

Has anyone else had a similar problem? Or anyone with greater mechanical knowledge than myself able to offer some advice? Should I demand they check it sooner or wait another week?

Thanks for any advice!

[G-rig]

That warning light shouldn't be anything serious, probably an O2 sensor fault.

[Gene]

I drive a 2007 Golf GTI that has done about 43,000kms and is booked in for its 45,000kms service next Friday. Today while driving the "Exhaust Gas Warning Lamp" showed up on the dash ... this has never happend before and the car has been faultless since purchased new 2.5 years ago.

I was within 2kms of VW dealership when the light appeared so thought I would drop in and ask what was wrong and what needed to be done. The service guy advised that if it was still driving "normally" than there was no action necessary and it could wait until the service next Friday (he described normal as - not misfiring, not overheating, changing gears normally and no loss of oil pressure).

After I reached my destination I read the manual which stated "if the warming lamp lights up, a fault has developed during driving which has reduced the quality of the exhaust gas. Reduce your speed immediately and drive carefully to the nearest qualified workshop to have the engine checked. Failure to observe teh warning lamps and the associated descriptions and warning texts could result in injury or damage to the vehicle"

I phoned the VW dealer service centre later on and advised them what the manual said and they reassured me that checking this at next Friday's service would be fine. I have also phoned a VW service centre in Brisbane (I live in Townsville) and they advised exactly the same. Neither place seemed too concerned with the fault as long as it was driving "normally".

Has anyone else had a similar problem? Or anyone with greater mechanical knowledge than myself able to offer some advice? Should I demand they check it sooner or wait another week?

Thanks for any advice!

I had the same problem just 2 weeks ago. When the warning light came on, I didnt feel that the car was acting weird or anything. I had it scanned before I brought it in to the dealer and found out that the problem was the thrust sensor. Read this The low fuel pressure sensor failed and that caused the warning light to come on. So my guess is that we might have the same problem and if the car still drives normally, you should not need to worry and wait till VW scans the car.

Since my car was still under warranty, it was replaced when I brought it in. After that, all is good.

[Getti]

Thanks G-Rig and Gene for your replies! I will drive as per normal and watch out for anything out of the usual incase it is not either of the problems you mentioned.

I guess after driving the car for 2.5 years and having absolutely nothing go wrong ... to see an engine light on the dash and the car manual saying to stop driving immediately .... I was confused why the dealer seemed did not seem at all concerned.

Gene, my car is still under warranty also so any problem I am sure will be fixed cost-free.

Thanks again.

[Gene]

Yeah no prob! Let us know the outcome after the fix.

P/S: I went bonkers too when I saw that warning light came on.

[Getti]

I had a the car serviced on Friday and after running the diagnostics it was unable to identify any problem. Apparently came up with a fault for emmission control system and when the test was run it was ok. They have reset the system to see whether the warning light reappears. Has only been 2 days, but all ok for now.

[Getti]

Digging up an old thread here...

My VW has an ongoing issue with the engine light on the dash. The car still drives and performs normally with no change to performance, fuel economy, temperature, etc. The only problem from a drivers perspective is the light on the dash.

The car has now been to VW countless times. If I remember correctly, on each visit they have done the following (1) reset the fault (2) suggested a bad batch of fuel (3) replaced a sensor. I understand that they are not able to identify what to replace. For the last visit, VW were sending some parts that were hopefully to fix the issue but when the parts arrived they were different. My car was at the dealer overnight with no work done as the dealer said the parts from VW would not solve the problem.

The dealer is now in contact with VW to see what to do next as they are not sure. VW have asked whether the problem only occurs after fueling as the pressure with a full tank of fuel may affect this. Although not 100% sure, I don't beleive it only comes on during a full tank of fuel.

The main problem is that the light does not appear all the time as it may come on for 2 days and then not be on again for 2+ weeks. Part of the problem has also been getting it to the dealer when the light is on and fault appears.

The car is now under extended warranty and the problem started before the factory warranty ran out, so I am not too concerned about the cost ... just frustrating.

Wondering if anyone can offer advice or have had similar problems.

Thanks

[Adamg]

I had a simmilar problem about 12 months ago. Under warranty the VW dealer replaced the air mass sensor, engine light re appeared after 1 week. One of the two wires to the MAF looked kinda burnt, so took the car back to VW and now its only one wire to the MAF and the car is fine now. Get VW to check this connection I think its a common fault , I know how frustrating this is.

[7164]

Hi All,

I have searched all the forum regarding the exhaust gas light but you all seem to have no real car trouble. About a kilometre from home today the car started shuddering and the exhaust light flicked on and off until it remained on. It didn't sound like it was missing but it sure did feel like it. Limped it home at 30kph. Anyone had this issue???? There was no smell or leaking of ay fluid.

[buzuki]

The PCV on the rocker cover are quite common, they can give the feeling of a misfire as they create a mass air leak and lean mixture.

[7164]

Thanks Buzuki. It's showing any lights at the moment when i tried this morning. I'll limp it to the dealer only 1 k away. Hopefully the PCV is not an expesnive fix.