In this article, we will show you how to fix the EPC light on a VW vehicle such as the Jetta, Golf, Passat, Polo or Beetle. Before we jump to the practical information, we will explain what the EPC warning light means. The EPC light is one of the 64 warning lights in a Volkswagen.
Table of contents
- What is the EPC light?
- How to fix the EPC light on a VW
- Detect problems with an OBD2 scanner
- VW EPC light reset
- Can you drive with the EPC light on?
- What causes an EPC light to come on?
What is the EPC light?
The VW EPC warning light, also known as the Electronic Power Control warning light, is a vehicle warning indicator that indicates a problem with your Volkswagen’s throttle system.
When the EPC notification comes on in your Volkswagen dashboard, your car needs to be repaired as soon as possible. Under normal circumstances, your car should definitely have enough power to drive to the VW repair shop.
The VW EPC warning light indicates a problem with the throttle pedal, throttle body, traction control, or cruise control.
How to fix the EPC light on a VW
To fix the EPC light on a VW, we advise you to visit a local Volkswagen repair shop. In the repair shop, they will be able to diagnose the problem.
The first possible solution for you would be to have your engine sensor replaced or reset to see if this turns off the EPC light.
If you want to fix the EPC light yourself, you can try the following: first, start the car normally. Then, start the car for the second time and push the gas pedal to the floor when the engine starts. In some cases, this works.
It is also a good idea to check the electrical connections on the throttle body. The Volkswagen EPC light might turn OFF after you clean the connector.
Detect problems with an OBD2 scanner
An OBD2 scanner is a very cool device. It is the easiest and fastest way to find the problem when your EPC lights appears on your dashboard. The device reads the trouble codes from your vehicle. These codes are stored in one of your control units. You should definitely scan these units:
- ABS control unit
- Steering control unit
- Engine control unit
- Transmission control unit
The cheapest OBD2 scanners can only read the engine control unit. As the problem could appear in multiple control units, we recommend you to buy a more advanced scanner.
We highly recommend these OBDLink scanners for iOS, Windows and Android. The bluetooth scan tool is easy to install and completely safe to leave plugged in without draining your Volkswagen battery.
VW EPC light reset
To reset the VW EPC light, you need to access the Engine Control Module, also called EMC. To complete this process, you’ll need diagnostic equipment to connect with the data link connector of the vehicle in order to pull out all DTC’s (also called Diagnostic Trouble Codes) memorized. Once you have all the data, you will be fully informed about the root cause of the problem. This will allow you to repair and replace the bad pieces and reset the ECM. When this is done, the EPC warning light will turn OFF.
Can you drive with the EPC light on?
Yes you can. However, we strongly advise you to have your EPC light fixed as soon as possible. When the VW EPC light is on on your dashboard, it means that there may be several limited functions to your car. Your car might lose power, could have engine damage, limited brake or steering functions.
What causes an EPC light to come on?
There are several different causes for an EPC Light to come on. The most common causes are because of a faulty engine sensor, malfunctions with the air sensor and brake lights. However there can be many other causes:
- Wiring issues
- Internal engine problem
- Malfunction of the steering sensor
- Malfunction of the ABS sensor
- Throttle body failure
- Power steering failure
- …