'02 Jetta VR6: Check Engine Light - Make it stop!

[mbMike]

Four months ago, my Check Engine Light came on. I took it to the dealer and he said the code was a Catalytic Converter Failure. So he ran some checks on my catalytic convereter and the readings were fine. He reset the light and charged me 45 Euro for his trouble. I'm in Germany, and my mechanic says he's never seen anything like it before (and he's pretty reputable).

But whatever, no problem, better than replacing the Catalytic Converter.

Two weeks later, the light comes back on. I ignore it and a couple weeks later it goes out.

I don't know if it was exactly two weeks that it was on, but basically I've been playing the on/off game with the engine light for 4 months.

Saturday it goes out, Sunday it comes back on.

I'm sick of it. I want to reach into my dashboard and rip the damned light out. My car is showing no symptoms of trouble. But it makes me nervous since at some point, I actually want the light to explain to me that there is trouble brewing.

What's the story here? And what advice can you give me? Should I take it in to get checked everytime? That's gonna get expensive quick.

I asked the mechanic if it was the 02 sensor and he didn't think that was the case at all...

Anyway, I'm lost and this is frustrating the hell out of me know. Please help.

[bobinkski]

mbMike, I dont know if I can help,but if you can find out what the code number is and post it on this forum or may be another forum, someone may help.I am hear in the states out side of Chicago, Ill.,or you can check on cars on this forum about the code.My other car is a Ford Windstar and there are a lot threads going on all the time. Good Luck. bobinkski

[mbMike]

Thanks, I'll ask for the code next time I take it in, but I believe the machanic when he said it was a CC failure code, even thought the CC failure is fine.

The light is back out now. Saturday it went out...Sunday it was back on....Monday it's off again....

Grrr! But, that's life with a complicated computer system in your car, I guess.

[veedubmechanic]

There is an update for the ECM for cat. failure from vw... see if it applies.

Also the #1 cause of the cat eff. code on a vr6 is a arcing coilpack. Mist water on the coilpack when the engine is running and if it chugs or dies replace it. (its at the end of all the red ignition wires.)

[mbMike]

Originally Posted by veedubmechanic

There is an update for the ECM for cat. failure from vw... see if it applies.

Also the #1 cause of the cat eff. code on a vr6 is a arcing coilpack. Mist water on the coilpack when the engine is running and if it chugs or dies replace it. (its at the end of all the red ignition wires.)

I'm not really sure what that means but I think you got it. I can tell you that about 10 months ago, the engine light came on and the engine was chugging. I took it in to the VW dealership and they replaced a singular failed "coil". (I use "coil" because I can't remember exactly what the problem was.) The code was a "misfire" problem at that time.

The dealer originally wanted to replace the entire "coilpack" but then replaced only one part connected to the failed/misfire (I'm guessing it was with regards to the sparkplug?)

I do live in Germany and there is lots of rain around here. But I tell you, I just made a 400 mile round trip this weekend with the light off (two beautiful blue sky days in Germany) and today, driving around town...the light came back on. No rhyme or reason...

If I take it back to my mechanic, is there anything I can tell him? Should I have him check the "coilpack"? Can a dealer check the coilpack?

Thanks for the responses, I'm listening.

[veedubmechanic]

You can check the coilpack and spark plug wires yourself at home. Take a spray bottle of water and when your engine is running mist water on the large red wires on the top of the engine. If nothing happens your ok. Then where all the wires go to on the side of the engine that is your coil pack. Spray water on that and if the engine chugs or dies than it needs to be replaced. It is a spendy part, arround 500 USD, so problably more euros.

[mbMike]

Work has been killing me....dead tired, but I haven't forgotten about this. I'll let you know what happens when I try this...