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VW GTI 1.8T EPC Trouble


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case
New User

Jan 17, 2011, 11:53 AM

Post #1 of 3 (6485 views)
  post locked   VW GTI 1.8T EPC Trouble  

I am having a recurring problem with my 2003 VW GTI 1.8T pertaining to the EPC. The light first came a couple weeks ago after there was a noticeable shift in power, light tug, feeling of a slight down shift. I preceded to drive the car home and left it parked for the night. The next day the light was off. However after driving maybe 15 miles the next day the same thing occurred, in addition my vehicle began stalling at stops and the EPC light switched to the check engine light. Again once parked the lights both EPC and Check Engine switched off. For the past week this is recurring every time i drive and again the lights turn off when parked.

I have taken it to two mechanics whom state they cannot help because the lights do not stay on.

Any suggestions??


Inkbuddy
New User

Mar 25, 2012, 11:37 AM

Post #2 of 3 (5744 views)
  post locked   Re: VW GTI 1.8T EPC Trouble  

I have a 2003 VW Jetta VR6 with the same problem. CEL (Check Engine Light), EPC (Electronic Pedal Control) light, and some other lights come on and the car goes into "limp mode" and creeps along at 10-20 mph and shifts like sh*t. I took it to a mechanic (on a tow truck) three days ago. He got too many codes to list here. I told him to change out the Coolant Temperature Sensor because the temp gauge had not been getting to operating temp for about a month. That cost $30 for the part and $169 labor. Car ran better than it had in years!! Temp went to operating range in 4 miles. I drove 23 miles home and it all went bad again; EPC light, ESP light, CEL light, and of course, "limp mode". I put my CarMD on it and got about 5 new codes and the old ones again. I took it back the next day on a tow truck again. The mechanic got the same dozen or so codes, but we settled on the MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor. That cost me around $210 and $40 labor. All the codes went away and lights went off. Test drove it - it ran great. Drove it home 23 miles and just one block from home it happened AGAIN, limp mode, EPC light, ESP light, etc., etc,. etc. Put CarMD on it and got a dozen different codes; throttle body, coolant temp, electronic control module, too lean, too rich, over rev, low oil pressure, and MORE! The list went on and on. I have been an electrician for 40 years and I got to thinking. Sounds like a bad ground to me or some other wiring problem. I went out and lifted the battery ground and replaced it. All the lights (except the CEL) went out and it drove like a dream again. The next day I went looking for a home with my wife and after 15 miles and about 1½ hours, the same thing - EPC light, ESP light, CEL light, limp mode. I pulled over, removed and replaced the battery ground. Car ran PERFECT and after 3 miles, even the CEL light went out! Tomorrow I will take it back to the mechanic and have him check for a bad ground. I think it's a bad ground at the ECM (Electronic Control Module) There are thousands of posts on the internet about the same problem and NO SOLUTIONS. People have even changed out throttle bodys up to five times - WHY? Do you really think you could get that many bad throttle bodys in a row? There is one post that said they changed a white wire at the ECM and that fixed it. I am sure that wire was the ground. I will keep you posted if it is fixed and runs at least 150 miles with no repeat performances.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Mar 25, 2012, 11:40 AM

Post #3 of 3 (5741 views)
  post locked   Re: VW GTI 1.8T EPC Trouble  

If you have a problem, then you need to start a new question of your own. Don't tag into someone else's old question.

Also don't post duplicates. I deleted your other post that was also on someone else's question.



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(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Mar 25, 2012, 11:43 AM)






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