Going in for the 90K mile service. CEL came on for first time. Cheaning connectors seemed to put it out, but I came back on again. I am not very happy with VW and their answers on Electrical questions. (or any for that matter.)
In my reading about the glow plugs, and their testing. Bentley's 2003, which I have, tells me to expect 6 amps current through the GP. I overloaded my DVM 20Amp range, and blew the 15amp fuse internal to the meter. Rather strange. So I started to look. They may have changed the glow plugs in 2003 to a Faster Heating unit; Ceramic? Try to look up data on the WWW. to find what different types are out there. I seem to get double talk.
I had 285K on my Rabbit. Had an amp guage off the battery. Gave a good indication that the GPs were lit. (and that one had failed)
Today there is the CEL. How does it Know that #3 GP is Bad?
Now that I am writing this. I have always wanted an Engine Heater. Could an engine warmer fool the computer by warming the coolant, and not let the GPs heat up when it is -10F? They could just say so. While I am wiring up the heater, a push button switch could heat the GPs
At 90K miles it might just be good to get new GPs as like include it with the TB? and a Coolant Dump and Refill?
While I'm at it. Just cleaning some of the electrical contacts on the GPs and the fuses and battery contacts, seemed to Put out the CEL for a while. This is what we used to call "Good Engineering Practice" From what I hear VW would call it trashing the warrenty? By alowing the contacts to get salt and water on them they corrode and make problems for the computer. Now that I don't have to worry about the warrenty, and the damage is already done, I might as well, do my own work. Can't make it worse than it is.
I believe that I have turned the CEL for the GPs back off again, after going over the contacts with Battery Terminal cleaner. I have a trip on in three weeks from Boston to Ohio. Wife does not like the Dash lights come
on.
I found the Rabbit Patch, no fooling! Up here in Mass. Gave me an idea.