What does a blinking "Glow Plug" on a 99.5 Jetta TDI mean?

Question

I have a 99.5 Jetta TDI, 73K. I just purchased in June and it looks like the car was maintained well (a lot of records).

Anyway, I just started seeing a blinking Glow Plug light while driving. It is continuously, and does not blink out a specific code. Does this mean a bad glow plug, or something else. The manual just says "Take it to a VW dealer ASAP (it did not say quit driving immediately or anything like that) but I would like to get an idea is this is user-servicable or if I should prepare to do the "ankle grab" of taking a car to a dealer. I do not like the thought of that because it will be $$$ and I'll probably be without the car for a while. I live in Tallahassee, FL and there isn't a good pool of any specialties in town, let alone a good diesel mechanic even at a dealer. I have heard horror stories.

TIA,

Mike

Woodchuck · Accepted Answer

Here's your FREE advice. It means there is a fault in the TDI engine management system.  Most likely you got a glow plug system problem. But without knowing the fault code it can't be fixed here. Drive up to Pennsylvania and I will fix it!

Tony Bad · Answer

On my 91 Diesel it meant the water separator needed to be drained...but it neverhas actually gone off on mine. I'm guessing it means something else on your hightech diesel!

Rob Guenther · Answer

It can mean a few things... I had it go off (blinking) with a solid engine light due to a rich mixture - the performance shop had to dial back my tuning box to clear the fault, hasn't happened since, but I don't get quite the same kick from it (it was running at max power - the car flew!... albeit with way more smoke then what I would deam acceptable)

northwind · Answer

my '86 means water in the separator. fred's tdi says can be a brakelight or switch in the later models.

Ernest · Answer

When it happened to me it was the "brake light switch" which did not work. With VAG-COM you can get a code which gives the reason for the blinking glow plug light.

Rob Guenther · Answer

I've heard of that one too... Don't know why the brake lights would be tied into it tho... but ya never know. I wonder if my water separators are tied into the glow light like in your car... guess I should read the manual, I assume someone drains them when I bring the car in for service.

Andrew · Answer

IRC, a steady (countinously lit) glow plug light indicates a problem with the glow plugs and a blinking light indicates a problem with the brake lights - one may be out.--Andy

Mike Smith · Answer

You guys were right, none of them are working so I am suspecting aswitch.  Are these things cheap and easy to change out?

Woodchuck · Answer

You will only have voltage to the glow plugs when coolant temperature is under 50*F.

jimbehning · Answer

The switch is about $18 at the dealer with tax.  It takes about 10minutes to change if you know what you are doing. It will not fix yourblinking light problem. Well it may fix your problem but it did not onmine. Is your clutch switch messed up? That is the next thing I needto change. If that does not fix things I may have to sell the car. Mylights in the heating controls do not work either.Mike Smith  wrote:Jim B.

Rob Guenther · Answer

Light for the heating controls costs $1.50 or so... dealer gave it to me for free when mine went... the service guy usually gives me the cheap little running light bulbs for free since I'm a good customer, and my family goes to that service centre as well - Remove the fan speed switch (set the speed to 2, and pull it out with pliers) then pull the bulb out, and put the new one back in.... Nice and easy.

What does a blinking "Glow Plug" on a 99.5 Jetta TDI mean?

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