1999 Jetta check engine light question

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saxman - 07 Feb 2007 13:59 GMT

I have a 1999 (new body style) Jetta I just had a quick question about
my check engine light. It was extremely cold here a few days ago, and
I don't think I let the car warm up enough before I took off. As such,
the car ran a little rough at first, and the check engine light came
on. I stopped, let the car idle for a bit, and since then (2 days ago)
the car has run perfectly fine - but the check engine light is still
on. I'm planning on taking it to get the codes read, but my question
is this: Does the check engine light remaining on mean there could
still be a problem? Or does the light remain on after an error code is
stored (at least until the code is cleared)?

The reason that I ask the question is that the check engine light
seemed to come on because of a specific event (starting when too
cold). Since it runs perfectly normally now - my first thought is to
get the code read / cleared, and see if the light comes back on. Does
this sound reasonable?

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al - 07 Feb 2007 09:23 GMT

> I have a 1999 (new body style) Jetta I just had a quick question about
> my check engine light. It was extremely cold here a few days ago, and
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> get the code read / cleared, and see if the light comes back on. Does
> this sound reasonable?

Pobably the oxygen sensor getting tired...no matter the outside temperature.

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Lost In Space/Woodchuck - 07 Feb 2007 23:14 GMT

or maybe 100 or so other reason that can turn a mile light on. That's why
you need to post the fault codes, and I bet it's not the O2 sensors. "the
car ran a little rough at first"... my money is you have a few misfire
faults and if that's the case the MIL will turn itself off in a few more
days.

>> I have a 1999 (new body style) Jetta I just had a quick question about
>> my check engine light. It was extremely cold here a few days ago, and
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Pobably the oxygen sensor getting tired...no matter the outside
> temperature.

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Matt B. - 10 Feb 2007 07:25 GMT

>I have a 1999 (new body style) Jetta I just had a quick question about
> my check engine light. It was extremely cold here a few days ago, and
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> get the code read / cleared, and see if the light comes back on. Does
> this sound reasonable?

I'd wait a little longer and see if it clears. If it ran rough the system
probably just detected a misfire and when it's "happy" that the misfire is a
random thing and not a constant recurring item it might go out.

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Jem Berkes - 28 Feb 2007 04:07 GMT

> I have a 1999 (new body style) Jetta I just had a quick question about
> my check engine light. It was extremely cold here a few days ago, and
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> still be a problem? Or does the light remain on after an error code is
> stored (at least until the code is cleared)?

Sometimes I have observed this if the car sat unused for a long time. I
haven't been able to reliably reproduce it because it happens under those
conditions only, for instance after such a period of non-use, the car will
not idle smoothly or idles at a higher rpm than normal until the condition
clears.

The light generally has to do with an emissions failure/warning and will
clear itself if the car is started without that condition recurring a few
times (might last a few days).

If the problem is recurring however this definitely requires attention.

Signature

Jem Berkes
www.sysdesign.ca

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