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Hey guys. Was just running my bumper in to see about getting washer jet holes cut when my car started juddering pulling onto the dual carriageway. I was in 3rd doing about 30mph and the emission light came on. So I pulled into the bus stop and checked the engine. Everything ok. So took off again and we got to a speed camera (40mph) limit. I'm sitting at around 43 on the clock in 5th and pull away (car pulls fine at this speed all the time), the juddering started again and the car was loosing power. The light came on and has stayed on ever since. So pulled over again, this time checking the oil and engine mounts. What is wrong with the thing? Here is what I know:

- I cleaned the engine bay yesterday BUT all sensors and electrics were wrapped in cling film AND I dried the spark plugs just to be on the safe side AND I drove to Perth and back (170miles) straight after with no problems

- The exhaust has been sounding very blowy for a while. Not seen right underneath the car but from what I can see there are no holes or anything

- When reversing and keeping the throttle constant, the engine will rev in an oscillating motion, going up then coming down so low that the car even cuts out time to time. This has happening ever since I got the car

- After pulling over the second time the car was juddering on idle and the exhaust was blowing out air in a DUH-duh-DUH-duh fashion. It then started doing this ocasionally then eventually not at all

- Another point after pulling over the engine was moving quite violently on idle. I stopped and started it again and it had gone

- Driving home just now the power delivery was quite lumpy, but nearer the end of my drive home the car seemed normal but the light is still on

Any help much appreciated

Sound like you cat is f**ked!

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Each thread gives a different possible cause.

mk4 glx 1.6 wrote:search result

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Each thread gives a different possible cause.

I use search around 90% of the time so no need to sound pushy

I just took out my HT leads and the hole for the spark plugs had water/grease in #1, and moisture in #2 and #4. No idea how the grease got in #1. I only saw how wet it was by using a torch. Car is running fine now but the light is still on. Do I need to take it to VW to turn it off?

If there was water/moisture in some of them all along, then I'm puzzled why it drove for 3 hours straight after with no fault

I very much believe yours couldn't be suffering the same fate as mine, but when my Emissions Warning Light came on it was the fact that the oil stem seals went

It's a stupid warning light as it is so ambiguous, suppose there is always VAG COM for more detail

Ok it's back again and just as bad as before? What should I do next?

take it to a garage?

Lol, I'm doing that first thing. I'd of taken out the spark plugs next but got work 8-2 tomorrow and just got back home from a night out. Grrr I hope this car is gonna be ok, I got 4 days next week to clean all my door shuts, fit my new sills, fit my new door handles, fit my new bumper, gut my interior, wash/clay/polish/seal the bodywork, get my refurbed wheels back on. Busy busy busy!

The warning light will usually reset itself after 5 restarts, atleast the owners manual says it will. Mine did anyway

Taken out plugs, dried them and let them air. Run the car and it seems 90% ok. The exhuast noise seems to indicate there may still be a slight misfire and the light is still on.

@ J-GTi - I restarted it 5 times and the light is still on.

My car is booked in on Tuesday and they want £57 just for the diagnostic! Then labour is £80 an hour! If everything SEEMS ok then would it be worth the risk not taking it in then something happening on the way down to Northampton? Or should I risk wasting £57 to find out it is ok and they just need to switch off a light?

It's a long journey Mouse so if it was me I'd get it checked, better to be safe than sorry.

It's a shame you haven't got a local specialist though that'd check it for free or less that £57

hi, i had a very similar problem with mine a while back, and it turned out to be the spark leads!!...hope that helps......back then i searched this site too, and the common faults mentioned was the coilpack, spark plugs and leads...i chose the latter two (cheaper option!)...which seems to have done the trick....and yep it is a nightmare when it comes on!!!...drove me crazy too!!!!!!!! good luck anyways

Cheers guys. Well the car was driving fine even though the light was off, and joy of joys the light went off yesterday morning