Coolant Sensor

[SharonH]

The exhaust emissions lamp came up on the dashboard of my VW Gold mk4 yesterday on my way to work.  I took it into Kwikfit who ran a diagnostic check on it.  They said that it was the 'coolant sensor' but that they didn't deal with that there. So I had to pay for the diagnostic check but the problem wasn't solved.
 Im not sure if this just means that the coolant needs topping up or if there is something more wrong with it.  They didnt really tell me much!!  I have checked the coolant level and it sits just a fraction above the mimimum level.  My handbook also states that only G12 A8D additive can be used or else serious functional failures or damage to the engine can result!

Not really sure if its safe to drive.  It hasn't been overheating or aything.

[topher]

A coolant sensor fault wouldn't cause an exhaust emissions check light. I don't mean to sound patronising but are you sure it wasn't the coolant level warning light?

It's a known problem with the mk4 Golf, the level sensor is a little temperamental. On my old car it used to flash the warning lamp on most cold mornings but would go out after 5 minutes. If the level is only just below the min marker you can top up with tap water without worry (sometimes that is enough to trick the sensor back to normal behaviour). The only permanent fix is to replace the coolant expansion tank which has the sensor built in, but to be honest most people just live with it.

If it really was an emissions fault, did the kwikfit monkey clear the code and has the light stayed out? Pleeeease avoid letting those untrained eejits anywhere near your car if at all possible, they honestly don't have a clue. If you give us an idea of your location I can probably point you in the right direction to some decent VW specialists.

[SharonH]

Hi there,

Thanks alot for your reply.  When the light came up on my dash board i looked it up in my handbook.  The symbol is 'Exhaust Emission Warning lamp'.

I took it to Kwikfit as no where else was open on bank holiday monday and i was desperate to get it sorted incase it was something major wrong with the car.  They basically ran a diagnostic check and they said that the result of the check was that there was something wrong with the COOLANT SENSOR but they couldnt do anything about it and pretty much to take it somewhere else.  They also started saying that i needed all my tyres replacing, front & back brake pads, an exhaust ... pretty much everything you can think of!! 
Took car into a reliable garage today ... one i've used before.  He said that it was an electrical fault.  All sorted now though thankfully.  Lots of people i've spoke to have all said that Kwikfit try to con you... they are all on commission so tell you that you need just about everything and charge alot for it.  I had booked my MOT & Service there as they had quite a good offer on but am definately going to cancel it now!!

[Rmachines]

Exhaust emissions light is usualy flagged up if the lambda sensor is out or the readings are to far out.  Never come across it on a MK4 but my old celica gt4 would flash up the emissions light if either the measurments were wrong or the sensor was faulty,  oh and if the cat over heated.    If its not come on since and no faults came up its worth waiting to see if it happens again, Saying that, there are other sensors that will cause the emissions to drop out of range,  Just a thought,  does the Engine coolent temp sensor not cause running issues?  If so it could be that one?