13th Feb 2008, 22:32

My 2000 Pasat GLX 4motion is giving me the EPC warning light on the dash. What could this be? I read a lot of things as to brake lights or the switch. My question is why does the Electronic Power Control have to do with the brakes? The car stalled on me and is also hesitant at times. It seems to lose power. Does not do it all time. Car has 219k on it.

17th Feb 2008, 15:53

I own a 2001 Passat 1.8 Turbo wagon with about 150k kms on it. In the last 4 years the "Emissions Workshop"/Check engine light has come on about 3 or 4 times. My local VW mechanic has no idea what it is, and the warning light has always gone off after a day or so. I think, after reading all the comments that it is most likely an annoying glitch (I've not noticed reduced performance with the car) the result of an over engineered electrical system

. I don't see any clear consensus coming out of everyone's experience, other than the dealer will continue to let you spend money trying to solve the issue, so I am going to monitor the performance of the car and hope the light goes out again and stays off for another year.

27th Feb 2008, 19:21

I have a 2000 Passat GLS 4 Motion Sedan at just about 90K the Emissions Workshop and check Engine light is on and off. Recently had the coolant reservior container changed, and after that iI have been having that problems. Guess I am not alone.

6th Mar 2008, 19:42

I have a 2000 turbo wagon. I have the same problem with the check engine/emissions light as described elsewhere. It seems to go off after I add gas or just by itself. After reading all the comments I think it is a glitch that does not mean anything. No on has reported performance problems.

10th Mar 2008, 20:03

Well well...I too have the dreaded 200 VW Passat Wagon V6 and the state of Ca sent me to a smog station only for a test! I passed the smog test, however the code read failed B1 S2. Bank 1 Sensor 2. The mechanic said it was an O2 sensor behind the catalytic converter. We replaced it and two days later the workshop emission light came on again.

I called VW and the service manager said, you need to bring it in here to the dealership so that we can hook it up to the "Doctor". I said how much does that cost; he said; $100.00" He claimed that our techs know what they are doing. I said what if the "doctor" is wrong? He said we stand behind our work. I said the car passed the smog test fine, the failure is due to the sensor which we replaced.

Why does the great State of California want me to fix a sensor which may not be the problem? Now I have to spend more money and time to go to a dealer! This is just stupid!!! If the problem is a vacuum hose, why don't they have a code for that!!!

This is really irritating me and I am not highly strung, but this is really the fault to the VW people and the BAR for having way too many laws and way too many sensors!!!

Good Luck.

26th Mar 2008, 14:22

Wow, interesting reading. I think I've encountered everything mentioned in this thread at least once.

I have a 2000 Passat Wagon with the 1.8 ATW engine. I currently have 166,000 miles on it.

I first got the dreaded Workshop Emissions warning about 3 years ago, and I then got the BRAKE FAILURE-STOP-STOP problem a little after that. Put up with it until I tried to go through NJ inspection. They failed my car because they couldn't communicate with the OBD system. So I bought a new ABS electronics module on Ebay for about $129. Replaced that, the BRAKE warning went and was able to cleat the CEL long enough to get through inspection.

I replaced the Mass Air Flow sensor to get rid of the CEL - Workshop Emissions. Everything good until about a month ago, EPC light came on, car smokes like the old mosquito trucks and wouldn't go over 15 MPH. I was able to fix the smoke and EPC light by disconnecting the MAF sensor, but that set the CEL Workshop Emissions off again along with the transmission drop issue.

Inspection comes due, I reset the CEL via the ODBII but NJ caught me this time, failed because of Failed Readiness Status on 4 systems (discovered the Failed Ready means that you recently reset any codes). Not sure what to do now, don't really want to buy another Mass Air sensor but car runs fine (other than an occasional transmission shudder). Anyone live in a state where they don't check CEL and in market for a slightly used VW Passat Wagon?

16th Apr 2008, 01:25

I am another victim of "emissons workshop" agony.

2001 Passat GLS, 81k.

Any feedback from the the people who experience it back in 2005? Is it okay to keep driving til you see any change in performance?

6th May 2008, 15:14

I own a 2000 Passat GLX sedan with 90,000 miles and it is in the shop AGAIN because of the check engine light. I have had numerous problems over the past 8 years and will never buy another VW! I have spent hundreds of dollars on repairs and to top that off, my daughter owns a 1999 Beetle. Between the two of us, we have spent tons of money and time without our cars because of repairs. Oh well... next time I will buy a Honda...I'm already looking!

7th May 2008, 23:48

Wow! I didn't know the check engine and emissions control was such a problem with other Passat owners. I've had a 2000 GLX Wagon since it was new, has a $175KM on it now. The light has been coming on forever, fortunately I keep passing the emissions test every two years, I don't even bother to reset it before going in. It's a nuisance but the car runs great and I don't see the point of turning in the keys yet.

16th May 2008, 17:40

Welcome to the emissions workshop. I have a 2000 Passat 1.8 T, and I have received this personal invitation since my car had less than 30,000 miles, and it now has 80,000. My boyfried said it's just a reminder to be sure and attend. It never goes off; my car runs great and gets 30+ miles to the gallon. You'll get used to it.

31st May 2008, 11:40

Hey! I just bought a 2000 passat 1.8T this past November... it had 58k then, last week the famous check light came on.. I was worried but after reading this and other forums I'm relief now... the car now has 63k and the light comes off and on every single day, I've spent like $120 for resetting the computer at a local workshop... the light comes on and off still... the performance of the car is really good.. I think I'll get use to it... thx.