30th Nov 2007, 10:50

I have a Passat GLX 4Motion and the EMISSIONS WORKSHOP light came on recently (at 89k mile). The comments posted make me laugh. Not one of you posted any problems or related issues to this ANNOYING message. Did you notice a difference in the performance since the message appeared? I haven't! If the car runs fine, why would you pay $500 dollars for someone to fix a phantom problem? When the message board shows a snowflake, do you slow down? Enjoy your ride and know that every vehicle has its own eccentricities. This vehicle has more wiring than the Apollo 7 spacecraft had. Hmmm, I bet that had a few ANNOYING messages flashing from time to time.

~~~ Keep it Groovin ~~~

16th Dec 2007, 15:40

I have an '01 Passat with the same emissions workshop light. It seems like no one (including VW mechanics) have any concise answer to this seemingly widespread issue. I've had my check engine light cleared several times by indie mechanics who say it's probably the 02 sensors. Volkswagen tells me that it's "probably" the purge valve and canister. Has anybody tried this particular fix and had positive results?

22nd Dec 2007, 14:45

I have a 2001 GLX 4 motion and yes... the emmissions workshop light comes and goes. Dealer wants to replace temperature sensor at $300. I have noticed hard starting if it does not sit for at least 15 minutes before restart, and smells like it is flooded when restart. I appreciate the comments, but am cautious about the dealers and VW regarding diagnosis. They also found leaking head gasket, questionable serpentine belt ($2200 for both) and $500 rear brake job. I will do the brakes!

28th Dec 2007, 11:40

I have been bothered by the Check Engine light for several years, starting at about 50K miles. It has been intermittent, and therefor difficult to fix. Last summer, at 69K miles, the VW diagnostic recommended replacing the coolant temp sensor and the front O2 sensor (there are two, one on either end of the catalytic converter). This appeared to fix the problem for several weeks, but then the Check Engine started again. Recently the Check Engine light has been on all the time, so I am hopeful the problem can be identified and fixed. Today the car is at VW again, where they are replacing the rear O2 sensor. As others have stated, the car seems to run fine, but the sensor light is very bothersome.

Some good news for 22nd Dec 2007. I also had the trouble starting when the car was warm. However, that problem disappeared (for good apparently) after VW replaced the front O2 sensor and coolant temp sensor. I have no way of knowing which sensor was the problem, since I replaced both at the same time. Perhaps your dealer is correct that the temp sensor is the cause of not starting. Good luck.

11th Jan 2008, 10:26

I have a 2000 VW Passat and I have had the same emissions workshop problem with my car for over 2 years. They reset it and there it goes again. Now I have another problem. It is saying brake fault, STOP< STOP.

I took it to the dealer and they said they could not find anything wrong, so they reset it and then it happened again. They said maybe the ABS fault box was loose or maybe it was just a sensor. They want $775 to look at it and maybe it is the ABS fault box. I have been driving the car for 3 months like this and do not notice any difference in the way it performs.

Has anyone else had this problem?

16th Jan 2008, 16:03

Men, I am worried. I just purchased a 2000 V6 Passat my check engine just came on. I am currently having the ABS and flashing brake system on my passat right now. I do not want to spent extra money on these needless probelms that their seem to be no solutions. Could someone please tell me what they did in similar situation and what worked?

16th Jan 2008, 18:53

I had the same issue with my 2000 Passat. Most likely your ABS sensor is bad and needs to be rebuilt. Google BBA-Remanufacturing or go to their website http://www.bba-reman.com where they give you instructions to remove it, cover the base (it's still drivable, you just don't have the ABS feature) and send them the module to rebuild. Less than $200 and you're back in business. The dealers want $1800 to replace it with the same cheaply built Bosch part. The Reman guys use better components.

Now if there was a clear fix for the "Emissions Workshop" / Check Engine light issue. Mine just came on again after some major engine work. Better than the Stop! Oil pressure notice...

17th Jan 2008, 15:37

Man, I just purchased a 2000 VW GTI GLX VR6. Mileage was about 125k. I bought the car in Washington DC and I drove it back home to Oklahoma (about 1300 miles) and nothing happen. After 2 days in Oklahoma, the coolant sensor said it was low. I read the manual and it says put a cold water and bring it to the dealer as soon as possible. So, I brought the car to Fast Lane to get oil change and coolant anti freeze (G12AD) put in. Unfortunately, Fast Lane doesn't have the G12AD and refer me to Cable Volkswagen. By the way, the oil has already changed. By the time Fast Lanes finished changing my oil, the VW dealer was already closed. So, I was thinking to bring the car to the dealer this friday (Oil change on Tuesday). Unfortunately, 5 miles after the oil got change, the engine check light came on along with the emission workshop light. What should I do? just bring it to the VW dealer to get scan or just bring it to Auto Zone? THX.

26th Jan 2008, 00:08

Same problems

Changed both cats at about 65k, replaced suspension at about 100k, engine mounts at about 110k,

Now at 150k, and check engine light keeps coming on.

Need to get the car inspected this month. Hope it passes!

In addition to check engine light (emissions control etc), I also have a hard time with warm restarts. I have to let the car idle after a restart in order to drive away without stalling. I read here that some have fixed this by having coolant temp control fixed. I will try suggesting that to my mechanic who wants to change the cats.

11th Feb 2008, 17:18

I have a 2000 VW Passat GLX 4Motion wagon. The emissions workshop! light came on today. When I checked the recalls for this model only two come up, both of which had to do with the fuel tank assembly, but neither said anything about the emissions computer needing to be reprogrammed. Does anyone have any information where I can find out if this is really covered before I start trying to get it fixed? Thanks.