Volkswagen Golf IV - flashing exhaust emissions warning light golf mk4

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Sun 15 Dec 2013 23:19
Volkswagen Golf IV - flashing exhaust emissions warning light golf mk4 - complexmark

Hey honest john

i recently got a exhaust emissions warning light - the light stays on but does flash at times. when it does flash i lose power in my car and it shudders (it kinda feels like you're in a higher gear than you should be)

now i have been reading topics on this that others have posted and it seems to be a coilpack issue?

im pretty useless with cars so have no idea what that is or more importantly how expensive?! :(

im going to take it to a garage this week but dont want to get ripped off, when i asked friends etc they advised me to take it to a garage that deals with exhausts? - rather than a general garage?

im a bit confused;

-> could the problem ive described be a big job? be expensive?

-> do i need to take it to a garage that can use the diagnostic probes or take it to a exhaust garage like friends have suggested?

my car is a mark 4 golf 2003 1.4L petrol, done 60,000miles

thanks guys

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Sun 15 Dec 2013 23:34
Volkswagen Golf IV - flashing exhaust emissions warning light golf mk4 - Wackyracer

Take it to a good independant garage, They will be able to use a diagnostic scanner to see why the light came on and they will be able to advise you what needs doing to solve the problem.

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Sun 15 Dec 2013 23:53
Volkswagen Golf IV - flashing exhaust emissions warning light golf mk4 - Big John

I had this same issue on an Octavia 1.4 a while ago - same engine. Every time it misfired it tended to re-log the fault and flash the light.

Be careful of diagnostics as coild packs can show up with strange fault codes. Changing coil pack is fairly cheap - also don't hang about as when in fault condition you will be damaging the cat with unburnt fuel from two cylinders. Whilst parked with engine running on tickover in neutral - briefely floor the throttle - does it stutter/sound like a 2cv, if so change the coil pack!

I carried on driving mine for a while with a faulty coil pack and thought I had got away with it - however when I recentley had the cat replaced anyway (rusted through) the car drove much much better afterwards - may be related - who knows.

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Mon 16 Dec 2013 13:11
Volkswagen Golf IV - flashing exhaust emissions warning light golf mk4 - complexmark

so i got some quotes today for the diagnostic tests and they seem to be around £45

seems excessive just to read a code, but i know a friend who will do this for free

ill keep you posted on what fault shows

the mechanic did say you can lose power due to the car trying to protect from further damage

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