dieselgypsy
Member
I have a 2000 Beetle (TDI, manual transmission, made in Mexico) that has 98,000 miles on it. Last month, the check engine light came on. I used my Actron OBDII diagnostic tool to check the code: Bad glow plug.
A few days before I could change out the glow plug, my wife was driving it and she complained that it lost power (won't go up hills, takes a mile on the highway to get up to speed, etc).
On Saturday, I found the bad glow plug and changed the fuel filter (since it was due to be changed).
I started up the car. It ran beautifully! While it was running I thought I would check the diagnostic tool to see what code(s) shows up. The code indicating a bad glow plug showed up and another code: P1556. (I know there is a wealth of info on this forum concerning this code, so I'll figure that out when I get this other problem solved!)
I thought to myself that I'd erase the codes and let them come back on their own. As I told it to ERASE the codes, it SHUT MY CAR DOWN. This is when I realized that I shouldn't have had the engine running when I did this.
Now the car won't start. When I try to start the car, the motor will turn over, but it never fires up. Sometimes the indicator lights on my instrument panel go crazy while I'm trying to start the car. Sometimes my "low oil" light comes on but my oil level is fine.
On a whim, I disconnected the positive battery cable from the positive terminal and let it sit over night. This morning, I reconnected the battery, put the key in the ignition, and it still would not start.
For the record, I read the FAQ about "my car won't start" and nothing on that list (check anti-shutter valve, etc) seems to correct my problem.
Did I fry my ECM? Will this cost me a lot of money?
Any ideas? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
A few days before I could change out the glow plug, my wife was driving it and she complained that it lost power (won't go up hills, takes a mile on the highway to get up to speed, etc).
On Saturday, I found the bad glow plug and changed the fuel filter (since it was due to be changed).
I started up the car. It ran beautifully! While it was running I thought I would check the diagnostic tool to see what code(s) shows up. The code indicating a bad glow plug showed up and another code: P1556. (I know there is a wealth of info on this forum concerning this code, so I'll figure that out when I get this other problem solved!)
I thought to myself that I'd erase the codes and let them come back on their own. As I told it to ERASE the codes, it SHUT MY CAR DOWN. This is when I realized that I shouldn't have had the engine running when I did this.
Now the car won't start. When I try to start the car, the motor will turn over, but it never fires up. Sometimes the indicator lights on my instrument panel go crazy while I'm trying to start the car. Sometimes my "low oil" light comes on but my oil level is fine.
On a whim, I disconnected the positive battery cable from the positive terminal and let it sit over night. This morning, I reconnected the battery, put the key in the ignition, and it still would not start.
For the record, I read the FAQ about "my car won't start" and nothing on that list (check anti-shutter valve, etc) seems to correct my problem.
Did I fry my ECM? Will this cost me a lot of money?
Any ideas? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.