What the hell does this mean?

[MrBounce]

Had the car back from a minor service at the stealers and have only done about 150 miles since.

I get a loud bleep and "EMISSIONS WORKSHOP" comes up on the dash along with the engine light. Why?
Is this to replace the air filter? The particulate filter? What does it mean?

I have no access to VAG Com so can't just "look it up".

[Rhyso]

It can sometimes be related to something non engine related as daft as that sounds i.e a brake light switch

[MrBounce]

Haha - that's "ENGINE WORKSHOP NOW!" - already had that one 

[Agreeable Slick]

Coolant temp sensor.

Or there could be something actually wrong.

[sps]

It can sometimes be related to something non engine related as daft as that sounds i.e a brake light switch

unlikely to be a faulty brake light switch as this would give a flashing glow plug warning on the dash but if ytou want to check your brake light switch,just ask someone to press the foot brake and look at your rear brake lights .

could be a engine coolant temperature sensor(ECT sensor).

best way forward would be to get a fault code read by the hand held tool or from an indespendent specialist.
i bought a VAG405 maxscan tool made by AUTEL from ebay and this tool works well to diagnose vw faults,or you could get a vag.com software and lead from ebay which requires xp and a laptop.

[Rhyso]

It can sometimes be related to something non engine related as daft as that sounds i.e a brake light switch

unlikely to be a faulty brake light switch as this would give a flashing glow plug warning on the dash but if ytou want to check your brake light switch,just ask someone to press the foot brake and look at your rear brake lights .

could be a engine coolant temperature sensor(ECT sensor).

best way forward would be to get a fault code read by the hand held tool or from an indespendent specialist.
i bought a VAG405 maxscan tool made by AUTEL from ebay and this tool works well to diagnose vw faults,or you could get a vag.com software and lead from ebay which requires xp and a laptop.

I gave the brake light switch as an example 

Coolant temp sensor.

Or there could be something actually wrong.

I agree with Mr Slick but until you get it scanned you won't know.  Might be time to invest in a code reader from Ebay

[MrBounce]

Thanks guys. The light's gone out and the warnings disappeared now. Intermittant electrical fault? 

[Agreeable Slick]

Coolant temp sensor.

Scan it, then get it changed.

[MrBounce]

And it's back. Booked in to my local VW specialist next Monday. Poobags.

[sps]

do keep us posted.

my money is on the ECT sensor.