Removing Instrument Cluster On 2002 Golf V5 To Remove Emissions Warning Light Bulb

[AndyV5]

Hi, Does anyone know how to remove the instrument cluster on a 2002 Mk4 Golf...? The reason being my 'dreaded' Emissions warning light keeps coming on, and I have been told by VW Assistance that there is no major fault logged (i.e faulty lambda(s) etc) so I wish to remove the bulb itself as I wish to sell the car and do not want the warning light to deter any would be buyers.
Can anyone help?? Or does anyone have any better ideas.

Thanks...

Andy

[The Muts Nuts]

Um, get VW to sign and date something like a service report stating there is no problem rather than basically lie to the person you sell it to, thats just wrong really.

[Ben]

i agree with what he ^ said.

[a8 tech]

If there is no fault code and the light is staying on i would disconnect the battery overnight and re connect and check again.You will need to recode the radio and carry out basic settings of engine managment and reset one touch window closure and possible readapt the remotes.There isnt a bulb but there is an led and i wouldnt advise you opening the insert and it is unwise and unfare to sell a defective vehicle and i bet if it was under warranty you wouldnt instruct the workshop to do this.

[Eshrules]

i agree with all of the above. however, if it were me (already having one) i would invest in either a fault reader or a vagcom lead and license. these can be used easily to read and clear existing codes. id make a note of the codes present, clear them and if the light comes on, see which codes return.....

if they return, you have a fault. if they dont, you dont have a fault.

the only issue i would have with disconnecting the battery is the fact that the ECU would return to default maps for items such as the throttle body, you will have to recode the stereo (although not that hard to come by the codes anymore ) and you run the risk of your remote's no longer working with the alarm.

i dont think d/c the battery would affect the immobilser matchings, although i would be prepared for this.

finally, i TOTALLY agree it is underhand and immoral to simply remove the light so as to give the impression of no fault. what happens, hypothetically speaking, if a major fault occurs and you have no warning light?

i very much doubt VW assist advised you to take this course of action, if they did, the technician that did needs re-training as i know full well VW would not advise of such actions.

fault lights are there for a reason, not to be ignored.... my concern would be that you are driving around with a faulty vehicle but choosing to ignore the fault. you could cause long term damage in doing so, so please, be very careful. h

[The Muts Nuts]

I cant see disconnecting the batt doing much as it doesnt when you change them, re-coding keys maybe but again its usually when the fobs batt dies. Trial and error i suppose.

[gteyes]

all your keys will be fine if you leave the battery disconnected
not that it will do much
your light is coming on due to the ecu thinking theres a fault and for the ecu to think this it will have left a fault code in it it might not be a hard fault one that cant be erased but you must have a sprodaic fault logged in the ecu and whatever is logged in there is causing the light to come the next time it comes on get the fault memory read see what fault it is and work from there

[The Muts Nuts]

Yeah, what ^^^^^ he said!