Flashing Glow Plug, Engine Workshop

[belfast1888]

In my 2002 passat I got the flashing glow plug and engine workshop lights. It has been put on diagnostics and it says intermittent brake light switch. I've had it replaced twice. The problem is still there. My brake lights work but stay on sometimes.

I have also noticed more smoke from the exhaust and slugde in the engine.

In the mornings when I press the brake it feels hard under my foot and makes noise then after a few miles its ok again.

Once a day I will get the handbrake light come on and it says brake fault.

I got it put on diagnostics yesterday and still the brake light switch.

Are all of these things linked? Does anyone know what the real problem is?

[martin1810]

You need to check all four brakes incase they are seized but this sounds like a faulty servo. Is the exhaust smoke white and is the brake fluid level going down.

[belfast1888]

Yes the smoke is white. I have not checked the Brake fluid. Another thing I forgot to mention was that if I drive the car a bit is stops as opposed to rolling.

[martin1810]

Jack up car and check all wheels spin freely to make sure it's not siezed brakes. If brake fluid goes down and got white smoke it is servo problem. Even if fluid level is ok I think you have servo fault. It's very important to get this sorted because if the brakes go solid when you need to stop in an emergency....you won't stop. This could be an abs controller fault.

[Panzerdriver]

Maybe worth checking for the old flooded plenum chamber chestnut???

This is typically a problem that will cause damage to the servo and in extreme cases damage to the engine itself, there have been numerous posts regarding this so it may be worth while checking it out.

[belfast1888]

I checked the wheels they seem to be ok as they are rolling ok. I got the plenum chamber cleaned out, it had a good bit of water in it. The car is still flashing glow plug indicator, it used to stay on but now it comes on and off. The car still has smoke for the first 3 miles of the day. Will the lights and smoke clear themselves or will I have to get a new servo?

[martin1810]

Check the passenger footwell is not soaked. You might be lucky and drying everything out may fix things.

[belfast1888]

The footwell has been dry even though we have had a good bit of rain here.
Martin thanks awfully for your advice by the way, everyone here has been stumped even a former audi technician.

[Panzerdriver]

I'm afraid if the servo has got water in it then it will very likely have started to corrode. If this is the case then you will need to change it.

As to the smoke this could possibly be several things

Head gasket (check your water levels) white smoke is an indicator of water ingress into the combustion chamber.

Does the engine run rough with the white smoke showing ( my tdi sport on start up does kick out a small amount of white smoke but this is unburnt fuel and does clear very quickly)

Do have a good search on the previous posts regarding water in the plenum chamber as this may well lead you tot he answers to your problem.

[belfast1888]

Ive read an awful lot of the posts. My engine has sludge but runs ok. I think I will flush it out and maybe just sell the car.