9th Jul 2008, 16:52

I am also a victim of Emission Control. However, in the state of CA you are an automatic "Fail" when attempting to smog your car (with the check engine light on). I have a 2000 1.8 and am trying to complete my yearly DMV registration. My mechanic is at a loss, after resetting the codes eight times is the last six weeks. A different code comes up every time. Does anyone have any information on how to pass a smog check in CA? Unhooking the battery does not work...it's also an automatic fail.

14th Jul 2008, 21:03

I have a 2000 GLX Passat with 85K miles.

I got the emissions light and couldn't figure it out. You can disconnect the battery but the computer picks it up again. The light originally came on and off on variable trips. I ended up replacing cat converters. Cost like $1500, but the problem didn't come back. This problem happened around 40K miles, and upon VW tune they told me it wasn't looking good. I think VW may just be using a bad manufacturer for their cat converters.

23rd Jul 2008, 21:34

My 2000 GLX has 158k miles on it, and I've got to get it smogged.

The light was intermittent on and off for weeks at a time for the past 6 months, and then sure enough, right when it's time for a smog, I can't get the light to go off, so I brought it in. VW replaced the O2 sensors, and some vaccuum hoses, and now it's complaining about the catalytic converters, which are going to kill me at something like $2500 to swap out. Seems totally nutty.

Do I have any hope? I can't pass smog without getting that light to go away here in California, and all of the aftermarket cats say 'not legal for say in CA...' Help?

30th Jul 2008, 12:47

I am yet another owner of a 2001 Passat (70k miles) where the Emissions Workshop indicator comes on intermittently (and has done so for about 6 months). Based on postings on other web sites about this "glitch," I've chosen to ignore the warning light. I managed to take it in for a CA smog check on a day when the warning light was out, and passed. I have not noticed any performance decline since the light started coming on, but I'll be checking back here regularly to see if anyone has any updates. It will undoubtedly make the car difficult to sell, so at some point I'll need to deal with it!

6th Aug 2008, 18:02

I plan on purchasing a Passat myself, and was doing some research when I came across the site of a Passat owner Scott Hearn. He posted an online service log, and here is an entry below about the CHECK ENGINE light. This may or may not be of some use. Good luck!!

October 1, 2004

57k miles. The "check engine" light came on the other day, and this gives me a chance to share a tip: before calling VW, stop the car, unscrew your gas cap, then screw it back in. Passats (and probably Audis) have a pressure sensor in the gas tank, and if you don't cap up the tank after a fill-up the check engine light will come on (that lesson cost me $80 of needless labor a few months ago). Anyway, that wasn't my problem. I had a bad vacuum hose. Warranty work, no charge. I also got an oil change. And I'm saving up now to get my 60k scheduled maintenance in a few months.

7th Aug 2008, 21:39

My local shop gave me a technical bulletin that applies to Passat, 2000-2001, 2.8L vehicles. The OBD for the catalytic converter system may be set too sensitive causing fault codes with out a defect in the catalytic system. The bulletin covers DTC codes P0420, P0421, P0422, P0430, P0431, P0432. The code descriptions all contain an 'efficiency below threshold' comment. Warranty claims would reference 'As per technical bulletin 2010372'. I think that the emissions coverage has expired, so it should be interesting to see if I have to pay for the update. I had the independent shop verify that the 02 sensors are good, and they didn't recommend replacing the cat's before having the code update. Will see how it plays out, but thought folks might appreciate knowing that there is a TB out for, at least, this model year/engine.

23rd Sep 2008, 22:21

"Emissions Workshop" has been a passenger with me in my 2000 Passat GLX since 2 weeks after I bought the VW back in 06. I was told it was everything to a fuel pump to valves to recalls to my engine misfiring 2 cylinders... I was going to buy a new car in August, but decided to fix the problems in the gas lines (fuel pump, etc..) Now it has been 3 weeks and it is still in the shop.. worst idea EVER considering its going to cost me more than its worth... I was wondering if anyone replaced fuel pumps etc, and it runs better... Hopefully No More Emissions Workshop Ever... I love my car, that why I fixed it ; (

30th Sep 2008, 13:17

I have a 2000 passat same issues, emissions workshop, anyone notice after hard driving the cat. converter gets red hot...?

22nd Nov 2008, 13:17

I have a 2000 passat 1.8 and have all these problems! One of the first problems was my "ABS BREAKS", my solution: unplugged my computer until I found a used computer and replaced it for $200 (including buying the used computer and installation). Second, "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT", First went into a locally owned shop and they said it was my 02 sensors, my solution: They put in a new one. One month later, "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" is back on, took it again to my local mechanic and said that it was some fuel thing, my solution: replaced it! One month later, guess what is back on!? "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT"! I have 96K miles and have easily spent $1000+! Iam thinking that buying the ODBII is going to be the best solution to everyone! This way I can read my own codes and not pay $100 everytime to get them read! ALso it would be nice not to have my car gone every month for a whole day! My car is running fine... and even when I had my old computer in it-my brakes worked fine for a good year (in harsh snowstorms) until I replaced it with the used computer, and still works the same whether I replcaed the computer or not!

HOWever, I want to buy this ODBII, but Iam having a hard time finding one that is compliant with a 2000 VW passat.. anyone know which ODBII works best with 2000 passats?? Iam now opting to fixing my own car by going to the mechanic when I feel my car is NOT working properly, not by going off of the sensors every other day! THEY ARE OVERSENSITIVE PEOPLE! I have had my car 3 years and this is a ongoing thing and yet my car is ALWAYS running correctly. LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE ODBII... anyone please!