V6 4Motion Passat 1999 - Warning Lights concern

[lil'missleadfoot]

My lovely car is sick and I don't want to get fleeced by the garage, so I am asking for advice. I know my car needs coil packs as it keeps popping and missing and makes pedestrians jump when I drive by! BUT TODAY the ABS and Brake warning lights can on and told me to STOP in large letters. The service book suggested I check the brake fluid level - this is fine near max mark and they were bled less than a year ago when I had new pads fitted. Another thread suggests it could be a sinple brake pedal sensor. I don't know how to fix that or if it is the problem. My MOT is in 10days and I am dreading it, any easy (cheap) fixes that I could try would be appreciated. I am going to change the coil packs before the MOT but it's this brake thing I'm now worried about.

Please help...anyone!?

[vee]

Do a search on www.uk-mkivs.net for a brake light switch.
Simple DIY change costing <£20 I think.

As for your coils, get to Eurocarparts and change them yourself before your catalyst gets ruined and you fail an MOT on emmssions.

[philip walker]

Sounds like you need to have the fault codes read.
It may be the ABS pump/ecu. This a fairly common problem.

[vee]

Of course a fault code reading is the only way to find out what casued the warning lights.

[lil'missleadfoot]

Thanks for your advice, I think it is a dodgy switch/sensor as it hasn't come back on today. I deliver flowers so the engine has been on and off a few times and the fault hasn't returned.

So far so good