4th Mar 2006, 18:36

Wow - exactly same sequence -

1. First time the dealer said - it may be the gas tank.

2. The next time, they changed the vacuum hose under recall.

3. Third time, I paid between 300-400 for new O2 sensors.

4. Now they want Cat Converters replaced for $3800.

10th Mar 2006, 11:21

Have you tried the battery disconnect option?

If the check engine light don't go off what happens if you keep driving with the light on?

I want to know cos mine ain't come up yet and I'm at 45K miles.

4th Apr 2006, 16:30

Hi everyone - I too have a 2000 Passat 83k miles - I just bought it and I love the car, but the Emissions Workshop light is now coming on. if you have these later model VWs I suggest going to Ebay and buying an ODBII hand held code reader. It cost US$35 - I bought mine from a big ebay seller out of the UK. Look up seller "alpha-bid". No connection to me just this is where I bought mine.. It turned up faster than most local purchases. It connects under the dash - drivers side foot well in a second. NO TOOLS!!! You can clear the codes in another second. So it's a very easy fix. It also allows you to read the actual codes the dealers use. Search Google with "vw codes error" and goto Bentley - should be first on search. They have good DIY manuals too. This gives you most of the codes out there. NB: Make sure your car is warmed up well before you check otherwise you'll give yourself false-cold catalytic and sensor codes. You can then troubleshoot your own faults. Not bad for $35!! I am about to find out my issues here so I'll try to keep you posted. I'm an old mechanic who hopefully knows how to really fix these issues... make a post here if you want further info.. PS:I have seen old VW cars hit on the drivers side at 60mph and the driver walked/limped away - not bad for a car that's a lot cooler than a Volvo!!

5th Apr 2006, 09:18

People are wasting huge sums of money on this problem!!!

First of all the catalytic converter and other parts are covered under a 8 year/80,000 mile Federal Emissions Warranty and will be replaced free of charge by the dealer when they fail (not the 02 sensors though). Volkswagen USA has extended this warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles for most of it's 1.8T cars (4 cylinders).

If you have the Check Engine/Emissions Workshop! pop up, do yourself a favor and take it first to the local corporate auto parts chain and have them scan the codes for you. The emissions codes are NOT proprietary VW codes (big stupid myth) - they are GENERIC ODB II codes that anyone can scan for including your $8/hour friend at the parts store for free.

If it's the oxygen sensors then take it to your independent mechanic and have them changed. If it's anything else, take it to the VW DEALER!! The local independent guy will probably chase faults and replace sensors, hoses, cats, control modules... charging you exorbitant prices that the dealer will charge you.. Get this.. NOTHING for. There is an emissions recall to reprogram the Emissions Computer that will get rid of MOST of the Check Engine faults. Your indy shop guy can replace everything and it will still pop up until the Computer is reprogrammed. by the Dealer free of charge. Also the dealer will do the cats for free (up to $3500 range!!) under the Fed emissions warranty.

In summary - have the parts store scan the codes - Get the small shop to change the sensors if needed - and get the dealer to do the rest of the emissions system which will probably cost you nothing. If you're over 80K or 100K miles that sucks, but go to a generic muffler shop and have weld on universal CATs installed (this will save you $2000 or more $$)

Hopefully this saves you TONS of money and lots of headache.

17th Apr 2006, 13:36

I am experiencing the same "Emissions Workshop" problems with my 2000 Passat. I also want to know if the check engine light reset proposed earlier causes any problems with the anti-theft features of the radio.

21st Apr 2006, 02:27

I just bought a 2000 GTI VR6. The "emissions workshop" light came on, had it checked, nothing wrong, and the car just passed smog. Can anyone tell me if I choose the battery disconnect option, will I have to find the code for the radio?

Thanks.

10th Jul 2006, 22:37

Hi All:

Don't worry about disconnecting the battery and your radio needing reprogramming. Check your manual, but mine stated that the radio was mated to the car, and as long as you didn't remove the radio from the car, disconnecting the battery would not result in the radio needing the codes.

Hope this helps and check your manual!

1st Aug 2006, 10:46

I am considering the purchase of a 2000 Passat GLS 4 cylinder turbo, automatic. It has 70,000 miles and appears to be in very good condition. The asking price is 8,300$. Is this a good investment?

3rd Aug 2006, 12:47

The radio in my passat does lose the security codes if you disconnect the battery, but as long as you have the owner's manual you should not have to pay the dealer to re-enter the codes. My 11 year old son just got my radio working again after I replaced the battery. If you don't keep the owner's manual in the glove box, then maybe you should think about doing so.

3rd Aug 2006, 19:28

Is there really an emissions recall to reprogram the emissions computer in the 2000 VW Passat? Where would I find the information on this? Thanks.

4th Sep 2006, 16:49

I had experience the check engine light / emissions workshop problem with our VW 2000 Passat (6 cylinder). After reading the comments in this forum, I called my dealer and asked them about any re-calls that apply to my car. They stated that there is a computer re-program recall. I reset the “Check Engine Light” by disconnecting the battery then I took it to the dealer. They re-programmed the computer. So far I drove the car for 550 miles and the light did not come back. This may have fixed the problem!! I hope. Samir.

5th Sep 2006, 17:05

I was experiencing the "Emissions Workshop" message with my 2000 Passat. Had my mechanic check the message codes first. The catalytic converter code showed up. Took it to VW service dept. They said the message was an issue with the computer program and an upgrade to the program was necessary. It was covered under a recall--$0. Haven't had a problem since.