Golf MK4 with recurring ESP and Emissions workshop lights + temperature fault!?

[attic127]

Our car is a 53 reg'd golf automatic 1.6 SE

Recently we've had recurring warning light issues which remain unsolved by our local independent VW specialist.

It started with the Traction control/ESP light coming on and automatically bringing on the engine fan whilst the temperature guage dropped to zero.

Next the Emissions workshop light came on.

Both lights stayed on and engine fan ran despite cold weather and continued to run for a few minutes after use.

The VW garage replaced a sensor which stopped the errors for a brief time before they then reoccurred. The garage then replaced another sensor within the same circuit with the same result.

They then replaced a relay with the same result. Then they replaced the first sensor again and another relay and after a short time the faults recurred again. Apparently this amounts to a whole new circuit but each time the computer system is reset, it doesn't take long for the faults to recurr.

The garage have spoken to VW during the course of their efforts and apparently this is a common fault but effectively nothing has changed apart from our bank balance!:(

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

[lucycampbell]

Has this problem been fixed yet or are you still having recurring problems ? I have a MK5 which has the ESP and emissions lights on. The car actually drives ok apart from running slightly rough when idling. The garage says that they need to change the activated carbon filter and manifold pressure sensor but they seem a bit vague about whether these will cure the ESP fault !

[lucycampbell]

Sorry - I've been a bit slow and have realised that you only posted your query today not last month as I had previously thought ! so your problem won't yet be solved !:o

[attic127]

Seems to have now been solved by replacing the temperature guage. I found that the car seemed a bit less sluggish when pulling away (it's automatic) but it may be my imagination.

If you have a similar sitauation check your temperature readout and if it's right down even after driving a while then it may be the same thing and a fairly simple solution.