CEL + flashing Glow plug...

psd1

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2011
Location
OR
TDI
2006 Jetta 2013 Passat SE 6Man
Sunday I was driving and had a CEL illuminate. Understanding that a solid CEL wasn't an Emergency situation I checked things out and continued on my way. A few miles later I was trying to get home with the Cruise set at 65 MPH and noticed that I had lost speed as I was climbing a hill. I turned off the cruise and down shifted and the Glow Plug Light started flashing, I had a noticeable decrease in power and had to shift into 4th gear to pull the hill. Of course I thought of the dreaded turbo failure. I was looking for a plume of smoke, etc as I departed the interstate and pulled into a fuel station to check things out.

Nothing on the gauges besides the two lights, no plume of smoke and no loss of oil. I put some fuel in the car and read the manual. Of course flashing glow plug light means instant death. I restarted the car and NO flashing GPL. No VW dealership for 70 miles so I traveled the 15 miles home. On the trip I could hear air swooshing as I demanded power (boost leak) I pulled the small hose that everyone else has problems with (Charge air hose) and it doesn't appear to have any holes.

~Does anyone have a diagram of the rest of the boost tubes that may be shot?

~Does anyone have any other thoughts where I should look?

~Will the extended warranty that VW recently offered cover this failure?

Thanks in advance.
 

Vince Waldon

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Apr 25, 2009
Location
Edmonton AB Canada
TDI
2001 ALH Jetta, 2003 ALH Wagon, 2005 BEW Wagon
~Does anyone have any other thoughts where I should look?
Although it certainly sounds like you have a boost leak a great first step would be to have the car scanned for codes. The ECU knows something is wrong and is trying to tell you.. in some detail. :):) There's hundreds of codes, and dozens that are serious enough to trigger the "fix me now" CEL that is the flashing glow plug light.

Without a scan you're just entertaining internet guesses, and that can get expensive. :D
 

psd1

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2011
Location
OR
TDI
2006 Jetta 2013 Passat SE 6Man
I don't think that I have seen it related to the CEL or glow plug light, but it reminds me of this post: http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=420659

Post #4 points to another post and Post #11 has a link to the diagram that I think you are looking for.
Thanks for you leg work. I pulled the top hose and it appears good. No way to bench test without a little work. I will pull the bottom I/C pipe tonight.
 
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