Well, this is quite a sad story.. I feel like I have been cheated and that the car does not love me :( (tl;dr provided)
I have purchased a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T some time in Aug of this year.. I believe it was Aug 5. The dealer was, ya..
The car costed me $6.2k and had 169k km on it. The dealer was unable to fix the AC, even though he said it would be an easy job. (But that will do for next summer, heater works all good)
Anyways enough about the lying dealer. (lied about oil change) 5 days ago I ran over a small nail with my back right tire and well popped it.. Thank god someone knew how to change wheel to a spare (now I know :S ), and the patch job for the tire was about $40 plus I needed to windshield wipers so total was $80. Not bad really, but still..
2 days I was hit by a red bucket! Some prick didn't secure his shit in his pick-up truck and it flew out on the highway. Well I was boxed in so I just had to destroy the bucket and pray for the best. When I got home I examined any possible damages didn't see any.
Yesterday, my car told me something very scary.. A light on the dashboard turned on: EPC. What the fuck was EPC? I didn't so I continued to drive... Wait, why is it that when I press on the gas my car isn't moving? Whats going on?
Thankfully I was at a parking lot was able to freak out in peace. Turned off the car popped the hood (not a mechanic didn't know jack what I was looking at). Turned the car back on EPC light was off car was moving normally again. I got home and Google'd what EPC could possible be: Electric Power Control.. So, it went from: Your back stop signal lights aren't working -to- Your transmission box isn't getting power.
:psyduck:
Today, I was driving from the college orientation on the highway and well the EPC light lid up again.. Awesome just what I need a dead car on a fucking highway, thankfully I had enough speed to get to a shoulder and well park my car, then turn it off-- and turn it back on.. Got home without it happening again.. I got home called the first Volkswagen dealer around me I could find and asked them about my EPC light. First one told me "I can't tell you anything about it, bring it in we will do a scan for $105 to see whats wrong"- Ya, ok.. Second one told me (different dealership) "It might have to do with the traction of your vehicle, but it sounds like something else because you said when you added gas car didn't move" - "So, bring it in for a scan for $110" Well fuck me.
[b]tl;dr[/b] : I got a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T Automatic from a lying dealer. Popped my tire 5 days ago, patched the tire 4days ago. Red plastic bucket hit me 2days ago (no damage from what I could see). Yesterday EPC light first turned on on me on a parking lot (Wasn't accelerating even when applying gas). Today EPC light went on on a highway. Volkswagen dealership (2nd) told me it had something to do with the traction. Will cost $105 - $110 just to get a scan.. Ya..
So, any Volkswagen owners or mechanics or just people who know what EPC could be. I would seriously appreciate the help.. I'm saving up for winter tires.. Its sad if I have to pay so much money just to fix my car.. Already in so much debt :'(
Please and thank you
Your EPC light is coming on to tell you something's wrong, not that your car is going to explode. Have a mechanic check your fault codes, or do it yourself. You can buy an OBDII code reader for around $30 at most auto parts stores, or buy one online.
Every car has a computer, or an ECU, that's constantly monitoring all electrical activities within your car. The ECU tells the car how it should be functioning to maintain a normal driving experience (fuel/air ratio, timing, temperatures, etc.). When the ECU notices that a particular sensor is not giving normal readings, the ECU throws a fault code that is logged in the ECU's memory. The ECU is also responsible for displaying check engine lights or any other dash lights your car may have when it picks up these faults. A code reader will allow you to see the particular code being thrown and an accurate description of what the EXACT problem is.
[editline]31st August 2011[/editline]
Most mechanics will check your codes for free, unless they're complete assholes. It takes all of 5 minutes.
[editline]31st August 2011[/editline]
From what I've researched when your car pops up that EPC light, it's due to an issue in your powertrain, more than likely your automatic transmission. Other owners have reported that it could be your coil packs (ignition related) or the MAF (mass air flow meter). Both of those are plug and play parts, and they'd be easy to replace.
Again, check your codes and find out for sure what the issue is.
[QUOTE=Durabeam;32046408]Your EPC light is coming on to tell you something's wrong, not that your car is going to explode. Have a mechanic check your fault codes, or do it yourself. You can buy an OBDII code reader for around $30 at most auto parts stores, or buy one online.
Every car has a computer, or an ECU, that's constantly monitoring all electrical activities within your car. The ECU tells the car how it should be functioning to maintain a normal driving experience (fuel/air ratio, timing, temperatures, etc.). When the ECU notices that a particular sensor is not giving normal readings, the ECU throws a fault code that is logged in the ECU's memory. The ECU is also responsible for displaying check engine lights or any other dash lights your car may have when it picks up these faults. A code reader will allow you to see the particular code being thrown and an accurate description of what the EXACT problem is.
[editline]31st August 2011[/editline]
Most mechanics will check your codes for free, unless they're complete assholes. It takes all of 5 minutes.
[editline]31st August 2011[/editline]
From what I've researched when your car pops up that EPC light, it's due to an issue in your powertrain, more than likely your automatic transmission. Other owners have reported that it could be your coil packs (ignition related) or the MAF (mass air flow meter). Both of those are plug and play parts, and they'd be easy to replace.
Again, check your codes and find out for sure what the issue is.[/QUOTE]
Well thank you Durabeam! I have gone to a few places so far.. All of them are charging on average $120.. Maybe I asked them the wrong thing, I don't know.. But only one mechanic checked my codes for free and even then I don't think he actually checked them. He plugged it in, turned on the car, looked at the screen. (less then min later) Turned car off unplugged the device. He went inside- when he came out he told me that EPC is the actual computer on-board the Volkswagen and he won't be able to read the errors from it.. That I needed to go to a Volkswagen dealership and get it checked there..
So, seeing as you mentioned something to do with the powertrain; my warranty covers it.. I will have to call them tomorrow and see if its 'ok' to get it checked by their mechanic.. Otherwise driving from about 50km the EPC light didn't turn on.
Thanks again
[QUOTE=peepin;32048711]Well thank you Durabeam! I have gone to a few places so far.. All of them are charging on average $120.. Maybe I asked them the wrong thing, I don't know.. But only one mechanic checked my codes for free and even then I don't think he actually checked them. He plugged it in, turned on the car, looked at the screen. (less then min later) Turned car off unplugged the device. He went inside- when he came out he told me that EPC is the actual computer on-board the Volkswagen and he won't be able to read the errors from it.. That I needed to go to a Volkswagen dealership and get it checked there..
So, seeing as you mentioned something to do with the powertrain; my warranty covers it.. I will have to call them tomorrow and see if its 'ok' to get it checked by their mechanic.. Otherwise driving from about 50km the EPC light didn't turn on.
Thanks again[/QUOTE]
look up car places that dont. I would say none around the US charge unless it is a dealer but you are in canada. Look around. A lot of shops will diagnose for free hoping you will get it fixed there.
Check the laws in your state most state that you can take a car back to the dealer (place you bought it) within 30 days if something bad is wrong with it and tell them to fix it or your going to return it.(they have to if your within you days)
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