Another Check engine light question-can anyone help?

401 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by chleung, Dec 5, 2001

chleung

Discussion Starter · Dec 1, 2001

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the forum but have been driving Jettas since 92- had one for 6 years then changed to the Jetta III in 98. It's been trouble free until this year, when I drove through a huge puddle in Vancouver BC, my check engine light went on, the dealer couldn't even connect to my car to check the fault code, so he told me to keep driving, so I did, and it went away again. Nary a problem until last week when I had a rough start here in Ottawa, my check engine light went on again, and then went away again.
I noticed someone mentioned in an earlier post about common oddities, eg the gas cap being loose- would someone be kind enough to list any other simple solutions?
Also, if my car is running ok, and the light hasn't come on, would you bother getting it checked out immediately or wait until next service? Opinions?

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Fast16v

· #2 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: Another Check engine light question-can anyone help? (chleung)

You may need to pluig wires. Water and or mist is getting on the wires and causing them to arc, thus triggering your check engine light. Had the same problem myself.

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queue

· #3 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: Another Check engine light question-can anyone help? (chleung)

I am surprised they couldn't pull a code, haven't heard of that happening before... If it was just a gas cap or something like a plug wire arcing it shouldn't interfere with the obd2 port.
I would try get a fault code checked again when your CEL is off...maybee some water got into the ECU harness? did this water wash up over the hood? was this a 6 foot deep puddle?

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2LMONSTER

· #4 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: Another Check engine light question-can anyone help? (queue)

check your distributor cap for corrosion. water could have been trapped in there and also check your alternator for corrosion too.

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chleung

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 2, 2001

Re: Another Check engine light question-can anyone help? (2LMONSTER)

hi all, thanx for your input. The puddle was in fact, pretty darn deep-it was raining so hard that day I thought I was driving into the ocean! Well, maybe not that bad. I think the water probably did wash up over the hood. Another question then, do automatic car washes run any risk or getting water into the engine components? thanks,

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bajan01

· #6 · Dec 3, 2001

Re: Another Check engine light question-can anyone help? (chleung)

I drove through some deep water once with my 1987 Golf and about 2 minutes later my ignition quit. I just turned her over until she started up again. This is nothing really...I would worry about water in the intake first before I worry about ignition problems which can be solved by taking off the distributor cap and drying it out. Also, I would not worry about water getting into the motor from a carwash as the shape of the intake should keep it all out

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chleung

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 5, 2001

Re: Another Check engine light question-can anyone help? (bajan01)

awesome- thanks! btw, check out the other thread - think it's in car audio- about not being able to use VAG diagnostic tools with aftermarket head units..... I just learned something new! Also, I took my car to the stealership today cuz I have to have my car working for a long road trip, and they charged me 65$ cdn to get the k-wire clipped.....and at least now they say there's no fault codes left......thanks again!

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