Preheating system warning light flashing ( 1.9 TDi SE )

[blizeH]

Hi guys,

Was just driving my new car home when the preheating system warning light started flashing (the one with the two coils--centre left) - it was around a 60 mile journey home, some motorway, some country roads, and it was flashing the entire way.

The actual car seems to drive like a dream so I don't think/hope that it's nothing too serious, but I'm just wondering if this is common, if there's anything to check, should I be driving it until it's fixed etc

Any tips or suggestions would be ace, I've cancelled the insurance on my old car, so ideally it'd be great if I could still drive it, even if it's just to work tomorrow (20 miles) and then straight onto a SEAT garage afterwards.

On a side note, I think the car has been parked up for the past three weeks without being started up, not sure if that'd have anything to do with it?

Real shame, as I really love the car and would of been dead chuffed had this light not started flashing!

Cheers

 

[blizeH]

D'oh - I'm so sorry for posting this, just done a search on here and found out it can also indicate a break light problem, and I have a brake light out which I'll sort asap tomorrow.

Such a relief! Bit of a shame that the manual implied it was an 'engine management system' fault and 'to take the car to a service centre immediately' making me really worried and spoiling my ride home in my new car

(bolded in case anyone else searches for this thread)

 

[Muttley]

Glow plug light flashing anytime after startup indicates a fault with one of the sensors in the injection system. Could be one of the sensors in the injection pump, the throttle position sensor, engine speed sensor or the brake and clutch pedal switches - all of these have an effect on the injection quantity (brake and clutch switches signal the system to reduce the injected quantity to enhance braking and/or gearchanging). It just happens that having a brake light out gives the same effect as a faulty switch.

 

[blizeH]

Ah, that's brilliant - many thanks for the explaination Muttley, fingers crossed I won't see it again after tomorrow, but if I do at least now I'll have a good idea of the sort of things to check, or the things that are likely to be causing the problem.

Apologies for my rant above, I literally just read the manual and assumed it was something really bad

 

[blizeH]

Right, the light's back (three times in total now) but I have noticed that it only comes on when the lights are on - I've had a quick check and think all of the front/rear lights were working okay but I'll have a closer look tomorrow.

Anything else worth checking?

Cheers

 

[blizeH]

Okay, figured out what the problem is: when the lights are off, the brake lights work just fine, but when the lights are on, if you brake, the brake lights stay on - so I've been driving around with no brake lights! :/ Assume it's like a switching problem or something, will take it to a mechanic asap. Are the regular dealerships usually good for stuff like this, or are they super expensive?

 

[FR+TDI]

Brake light switch is a common thing, happened to my Toledo TDI years ago.

 

[blizeH]

Ah that's cool, cheers. Should be an easy fix then, will get it sorted asap!

 

[dan24786]

Glow plug light flashing anytime after startup indicates a fault with one of the sensors in the injection system. Could be one of the sensors in the injection pump, the throttle position sensor, engine speed sensor or the brake and clutch pedal switches - all of these have an effect on the injection quantity (brake and clutch switches signal the system to reduce the injected quantity to enhance braking and/or gearchanging). It just happens that having a brake light out gives the same effect as a faulty switch.

Great info, mines just got the same problem. cheers

 

[jim_bling]

yep change the break switch on the break peddle and jobs a gud`un

 

[JamesL]

When mine went, I had to get the fault code cleared off. Ended up using the GF's car for work, and she took the Leon up to the SEAT garage and got them to clear it for me. She's a good girl