00 vr6 sharan - CAT light on instrument panel

[alay111]

A red light that says CAT has come on on the instrument panel, it's the bottom left light. Can anyone tell me what it means? I've looked and searched online for a while now and cannot find any reference.

[Rob69]

Get a scan and code read done, if you still have the owners handbook it should tell you in there what the cat light means. A red light usually means a problem, stop and check, yellow dash lights are advisories, ie. Low brake fluid level, abs system non functional etc.

[alay111]

Sadly the handbook didn't come with the vehicle. I did buy one off ebay supposedly for a Mk1 Sharan yet no mention of CAT. And I've looked in my Mk1 vr6 Galaxy handbook and on its panel and no CAT there either. The battery is out getting charged now so it will be tomorrow before I can plug the vagcom in, will post a picture of the panel and any codes if it reports any.
Also note this light comes on every time the ignition is switched on and goes off once then engine is running, just like the abs, oil pressure, battery etc.

[Rob69]

If it goes out with all the others then maybe nothing to worry about other than curiosity?

[alay111]

Some background, on xmas night my water pump exploded at 100kph and the pully disappeared into the night. It's taken me 6 weeks to source a pulley and get everything fitted. Car started first time and ran for 30 seconds before I switched it off. The CAT light stayed on this time and didn't turn off as it normally should. I don't think it is catalytic related because a few years ago my drive belt failed and this light came on then.

[Rob69]

Does yours have auto transmission? Is this CAT warning possibly related to gearbox oil cooler flow, (coolant auto transmission) sounds like it is water pump related? Maybe your pump impeller is goosed and no coolant flow. Sorry just thinking aloud, maybe on the wrong track!!

[alay111]

It is electrical related, alternator has also died for some reason so will swap it out and hopefully this will cure the problem. Still don't know what it stands for, panel attached.CAT photo.jpg