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Flashing Glow Plug light + Limp Mode?

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 7:38 pm
by Kpowell911
Good Evening. I have a 2012 Scircco Blue Motion Diesel 2.0 TDI 140bhp model. The car has just ticked over 55k and is due a service (long life) in 2,000 miles. I do circa 1000 miles a month, with at least three or four 40 mile return journeys of motorway a week.
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Today, I was on a 60 mile round trip to Coventry, mainly M6. I was travelling in the fast lane when a Flashing (not solid) Glow Plug Icon came on the dash, and I lost pretty much all power. If I floored it, something happened, but very very very minor. I was 3 miles away from coming off, so I limped into the slow lane and stayed behind a lorry at 50 mph. I came off at next junction and realised how little power there was. The lights were on red. I came to a standstill turned the car off and took the key out. Restarted the car and its been perfectly fine ever since. I've done around 50 miles since with no issues.

Now the icon was Glow Plug according to the booklet (well Solid is a glowplug. no mention of flashing), but with my limited knowledge of diesels, I thought they only affected starting, to which I have never had an issue with even in cold weather when I was up in Scotland in December??

Any ideas? Potentially, this could have been dangerous considering where I Was at the time!

Thanks

Re: Flashing Glow Plug light + Limp Mode?

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 7:48 pm
by Cuprabob
The glow plug light doubles up as the normal engine management light on the diesels. You need to get the car scanned to see what triggered it and if any fault codes have been stored.
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/warn ... ement-lamp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Flashing Glow Plug light + Limp Mode?

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 7:51 pm
by Kpowell911
Makes sense, a google even suggests even blown brake bulbs can do it, but mine are fine.

Hmm, is that a VAGCOM or will any garage be able to do it?

Re: Flashing Glow Plug light + Limp Mode?

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 7:54 pm
by Cuprabob
Best would be VCDS but most garages will have a generic code reader.

Re: Flashing Glow Plug light + Limp Mode?

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 10:48 pm
by Kpowell911
Thanks, getting looked at Sunday.

Im now worrying its DPF Related...... That has a seperate warning light doesnt it?

Re: Flashing Glow Plug light + Limp Mode?

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 10:49 pm
by Cuprabob
Yes, DPF has it's own light.

Re: Flashing Glow Plug light + Limp Mode?

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 10:51 pm
by Kpowell911
Hmmm, It just scares that crap out of me the DPF does! Ive already had the Dual Mass Fly Wheel replaced!

A Search is showing this is quite common. a Turbo Actuator or some sensor?

Re: Flashing Glow Plug light + Limp Mode?

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 8:55 am
by CleanDiesel
Can I just take a minute here to point people to a £5 vcds cable off ebay?

They're useless for doing anything substantial with but they read fault codes absolutely perfectly, they hook up to VCDS lite. A lot easier and cheaper than taking it to any garage for a single scan.

If you don't hve a laptop/windows tablet you can also get cables that connect to all sorts of mobiles or even Bluetooth plug ins to link to anything, android, Apple etc whatever you've got and there's cheap apps for fault reading/live reading of measurement blocks etc.

Always worth everyone having one. They cost bugger all and you never know when it'll come in handy.

Re: Flashing Glow Plug light + Limp Mode?

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 6:56 pm
by Kpowell911
Any links?

Re: Flashing Glow Plug light + Limp Mode?

Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2016 8:37 pm
by timc
Possibly Turbo Actuator. Mine just went on a '59 70k miles 170 tdi. Flashing light on dash as per the original post, no real power until 3,000 RPM then seemed normal. £388 fix... fortunately warranty covered mine. Now drives beautiful again..

Re: Flashing Glow Plug light + Limp Mode?

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 4:10 pm
by Kpowell911
Did your light go off and car was fine after? I've done 470 miles since with zero issue or return of the light?