CHECK ENGINE light

I have a '98 Mk3 Golf and this is really annoying me.

The light comes comes on randomly, and goes off randomly. Overall, I drive around 15% of the time with the CHECK ENGINE light lit. It does not need oil, or coolant, or anything obvious.

Does anyone have any hints to reduce the time this warning light stays on? Prevent it staying on so you actually pay attention when something is wrong? Or is it a common problem I just have to live with?

The check engine light is tied to the Computer on late model cars. Cars build after 1996 have the new OBD computer that monitors about 1000 different functions of the car. Most of these are engine and engine emissions. If the computer reads any problem in the sustem it will turn on the #$%$#@ check engine light. When the light goes out the computer has simply stopped reading that problem, this does not mean the problem is gone.

I am not sure of your location but any Auto Zone car parts store will read your computer for any codes for free. All they will do is tell you what code or codes are stored in the computer, it will be up to you to find out what the code means. That is not a problem with the internet. Hope this clears up what is behind that $^@#%$$ light

The check engine light is tied to the Computer on late model cars. Cars build after 1996 have the new OBD computer that monitors about 1000 different functions of the car. Most of these are engine and engine emissions. If the computer reads any problem in the sustem it will turn on the #$%$#@ check engine light. When the light goes out the computer has simply stopped reading that problem, this does not mean the problem is gone.

I am not sure of your location but any Auto Zone car parts store will read your computer for any codes for free. All they will do is tell you what code or codes are stored in the computer, it will be up to you to find out what the code means. That is not a problem with the internet. Hope this clears up what is behind that $^@#%$$ light

I have the same problem so I can take it to a Auto Zone and they will telling the code that is cool, but how do I find out what the code means and once I fix the problem the light should go away right?

On good place to fine out the codes is www.troublecodes.net. This will get you started, at least find out what is stored in the computer. It can be a little harder to find out what needs to be done to fix the problem. For example I had 16 codes that came up from all 4 injectors short to ground to fuel pump short to ground. To find out all 16 codes pointed to a fuel pump relay that was going out. Once you get the codes and find out what the codes are this forum or any other forum is a good start. To get the light to go out is something else. Some problems, once fixed, will turn to light off first thing, but others take so many "on/off" cycles of the ignition switch to clear the computer. Good luck

TopFuel7 - you are almost right.
Actually, "OBD" has been around since the 80's. Anything built before 1996 was running on OBD1. These systems were very particular to their maker. The Feds mandated a more general, universal system, and beginning with model year 1996 (and newer), all cars sold here anr now OBD2. Any OBD2 scan tool can read any OBD2 car. With that said, lets talk about that light.
When your CHECK ENGINE light comes on, it is simply a warning that something is wrong - an indication that you need to hook the car to a scan tool so it can TELL you what the problem is. Foolproof. Most scanners I have seen (and the 3 types I have) not only give you a code number, they also give a brief description of the error. Early OBD2 cars can keep track of 1000 parameters. There are some new cars now that can track 10,000.
VW and Audi owners can make use of a tool (I just bought this one) called VAG-COM. It is a very sophisticated scanner that will locate & pinpoint problems regular OBD2 scanners would never see. You might be able to find a VAG-COM user to help you on www.TDIClub.com
For your CHECK ENGINE light, there are 1000 things that might turn that light on that are not obvious and you will not see or hear. What you need to do is have a shop, Auto Zone or a VW dealer hook it up and tell you what is wrong. Then, after its fixed, that same scanner or VAG-COM tool is needed to clear the code out of the cars computer and turn the light off - it will NOT go out on its own.

Bought a $71 cable and software - and my laptop told me the fault was "idle adaptation at limit". Basically, I needed to clean the throttle plate of built up carbon. Did that and all is fine again.

The link here: http://faculty.ccp.edu/faculty/dreed/campingart/jettatech/p1582/index.htm describes the procedure.

Thanks to all who responded.

But it was just an annoying 'problem' that wasn't really a problem.