EPC & ESP Lights on Golf R

[orkers]

Picked up my Golf R yesterday, and right now it is sitting 200 metres from my house as it doesn't have enough power to get up the hill.

Yesterday the ESP light and the symbol of the car with the skids lit up and it told me there was an ESP error. I parked up the car and when I got back into it a few hours later the error had gone.

Today i've been driving it normally but as I was nearing home the same two lights came on but also the EPC light, and the car then basically refused to function - idling erratically and not providing enough power for me to get up the hill leading to my house.

The car has done 270kms and I thought I was running it in fairly carefully, with only the very odd drop into sports mode and a bit of acceleration (can't resist a little bit).

Has anyone seen this error or this type of thing before?

Also, any thoughts on what to do from here - the dealer is a 50 mins drive away and isn't open on Sundays - should I call VW Assist to come and have a look?

Bit miffed. Just want to get back in my beloved R.

[brimway]

I can't imagine your pain, R would be my dream car. Call them and tell them to sort it. Probably a minor fix for the dealer, hope all ends up OK

[peedman]

Yeah mate call the roadside assist, if the car cant move then they will tow it. If i remember correctly the dealer said up to 50km for free.

[orkers]

Ok, VW Assist (which is just RACV here in Vic) can't do anything. The computer said it is something wrong with the throttle system.

I'll have to ring the dealer on Monday and get it towed back there. Hope they give me a loaner.

[Capercat]

Sounds to me the car is in limp mode. It's like an internal protection for the engine due to a faulty sensor or system.
Feels similar to a disconnected O2 sensor. Dealer will run a scan & pinpoint the fault, usually it's only minor.

[Corey_R]

Ok, VW Assist (which is just RACV here in Vic) can't do anything. The computer said it is something wrong with the throttle system.

I'll have to ring the dealer on Monday and get it towed back there. Hope they give me a loaner.

So Volkswagen Assist won't tow it back to the dealer for you? Or did they say that the dealer will arrange that?

In any case, although I can understand your disappointment and frustration, I wouldn't worry too much. As Capercat has mentioned, it's more than likely a faulty sensor, or maybe even something that has just come loose. It'd be extremely rare to actually have a "serious" (i.e. engine) failure so early. There's practically nothing you could do to do that (well, not with a DSG version anyway).

[Corey_R]

Oh, something I just thought of from previous "warning light" threads....
Check your battery terminals. Make sure that they're both tight (refer to manual if necessary).

[robby_jai]

im surprised.... with VAG cars... if your car will not move or is not driveable under its own steam... VW Assist MUST arrange for a towie to tow your car to the closest VW Service Centre.

IT SHOULD NOT BE DONE AT YOUR COST. The fools at VW Assist have no idea.

call them up and follow this item up with them.


personally i'd be pretty ticked off my brand new car carked it.. just like that.. i'd be returning the sucker and saying keep your stinking pile of crap

[REXman]

Hey mate crap to hear that experience.

I am not just trying to make you feel better, I am sure that it will most likely be something minor to fix. Hopefully you'll get it back in less than a week.

And don't for a sec think it happened cause of how you drove it. I have driven my car very well and it's behaving just as it should.

Quick and painless for you mate.

[orkers]

Thanks for all of the advice.

Just to confirm, VW Assist did offer to tow it to the dealer, but as it was 9pm in the evening and the dealer is also closed on Sunday, they said it is probably worth ringing the dealer 1st thing Monday and seeing what they wanted to do - i.e tow it themselves or get VW assist to do it.