CheesyRider
Well-known member
Hi! This is my first time ever posting on the TDI Club forum, so please forgive me if these questions have been asked before.
Okay, so here's the story:
Last week the check engine light on my 2002 Golf TDI went on. I called the dealer and was told to take the gas cap off, put it back on and drive the car for a few days to see if the check engine light would go off.
Well, two days later (with the check engine light still on), I took a short drive to the shopping mall (only about 3/4 mile, the temperature was 30 degrees). After spending about 2 hours at the mall, I tried to start the car. The engine would just turn over, but would not start. I wondered if the fuel filter could have been clogged, but I changed it myself just 3000 miles ago. I decided to leave the car there overnight and try the next day.
The next day (the temp was about 38 degrees) I tried to start the car again, but it still just turned over and wouldn't start, so I called a tow truck. Right before the tow truck arrived, I tried again, and the car started right up.
Even though the car seemed to be starting and running fine, the check engine light was still on, and I was worried about the car not starting again. I decided to call the dealer and bring it in so they could take a look at it. Just before I was about to leave, I decided to check the air filter (even though are supposed to check this at Quick Lube every time I get my oil changed). Sure enough, the air filter was filthy! I guess I shouldn't have trusted the Quick Lube guys.
I decided to replace the air filter and see if the check engine light would still come on. The engine light still went on, so I proceeded to go to the dealer.
When I arrived at the dealer and explained everything I mentioned above, the guy there thought that the dirty air filter was my problem all along. He went on to say that after 15 normal starts, the check engine light would reset itself if it was indeed the air filter.
So finally here are my questions:
Would a clogged air filter cause the check engine light to go on?
Would a clogged air filter cause the starting problems I described?
Is the dealer right that the engine light will reset itself after 15 normal starts if the new air filter soved the problem?
THANKS!!
Okay, so here's the story:
Last week the check engine light on my 2002 Golf TDI went on. I called the dealer and was told to take the gas cap off, put it back on and drive the car for a few days to see if the check engine light would go off.
Well, two days later (with the check engine light still on), I took a short drive to the shopping mall (only about 3/4 mile, the temperature was 30 degrees). After spending about 2 hours at the mall, I tried to start the car. The engine would just turn over, but would not start. I wondered if the fuel filter could have been clogged, but I changed it myself just 3000 miles ago. I decided to leave the car there overnight and try the next day.
The next day (the temp was about 38 degrees) I tried to start the car again, but it still just turned over and wouldn't start, so I called a tow truck. Right before the tow truck arrived, I tried again, and the car started right up.
Even though the car seemed to be starting and running fine, the check engine light was still on, and I was worried about the car not starting again. I decided to call the dealer and bring it in so they could take a look at it. Just before I was about to leave, I decided to check the air filter (even though are supposed to check this at Quick Lube every time I get my oil changed). Sure enough, the air filter was filthy! I guess I shouldn't have trusted the Quick Lube guys.
I decided to replace the air filter and see if the check engine light would still come on. The engine light still went on, so I proceeded to go to the dealer.
When I arrived at the dealer and explained everything I mentioned above, the guy there thought that the dirty air filter was my problem all along. He went on to say that after 15 normal starts, the check engine light would reset itself if it was indeed the air filter.
So finally here are my questions:
Would a clogged air filter cause the check engine light to go on?
Would a clogged air filter cause the starting problems I described?
Is the dealer right that the engine light will reset itself after 15 normal starts if the new air filter soved the problem?
THANKS!!