Glow Plugs Warning Light

[joko]

This light pops up occasionally on my car, then sometimes just goes off again.
this also happened a years ago, nothing was changed, and it just stopped happening

recently I also have other warning lights for brake pads - which i have had replaced ... but it still pops up - not every time i drive, but often - it also occasionally just goes off again.

and could i have a problem with the warning lamps?

and is the glow plug thing a big issue? i have looked in the book an it isnt very helpful
thanks

[tonyav]

Do you mean that the glowplug warning light comes on while your driving ?.

[Iggle Piggle]

What make/model age of car? sometimes the glow plug light doubles as an engine fault light.

[joko]

yes it does, but only sometimes.

its a vw passat diesel estate 2002

[jake-the-peg]

Similar case with a slightly later model seems to have been an injector failure

http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?112847-Engine-Fault-GARAGE-Glow-plug-light-starts-flashing

Somewhat bizarrely a brake light bulb (or switch) failure seems to cause this on some

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=137539
http://passionford.com/forum/general-car-related-discussion/455356-help-vw-passat-2-0-tdi-glow-plug-light-flashing.html

[Iggle Piggle]

Do you notice the engine hesitate or change at all when the light comes on ? Does the rev counter needle drop?
Could be many things, best to have a check-over at a local garage, maybe a fault scan to read any logged faults in the ECU.
On one Golf it was a dirty Lambda sensor, another one was a relay starting to fail.

[joko]

thanks all

i have always noticed a sort of engine 'drop' more or less since i have had the vehicle. it will seem as though the whole car has just gone dead for a few seconds, before it picks up and it ok again... usually when i have stopped or are going very slowly and try to speed up again - like waiting to enter roundabouts or coming out of side roads etc.
i tried to find out what that was but couldnt find anything out.

i haven't noticed it get any worse when the light comes on though... but then i wasnt looking for it - i will try to look next time

[tonyav]

joko, has the engine management light been on at all ?.

[joko]

which one is that tony av?
what comes on as well as the glowplug lamp are an ! in a triangle, and the ABS light
the words 'engine workshop come up too

[tonyav]

Right then joko, I'm guessing that 'Engine Workshop' is the engine management light on your car, has Iggle Piggle says you need to get your plugged in ( diagnostic computer ) at a garage to read whatever faults are logged on your engine ECU.

[joko]

thanks i will sort that on saturday then.

i assume its safe to drive though?
am i wrecking the engine by driving it?
or in any danger?

thanks

[tonyav]

Don't think that you would be in danger, but couldn't say whether the car will pack up on you or not as we don't know what the fault is yet.