system fault workshop after water spash from puddle or car wash

robertm850 · Feb 2, 2009

Has anyone had this issue? If i drive through a large puddle that splashes water up underneath the car I get a "system fault workshop". This has also happened a few times after going through a car wash. In both cases the warning goes away after you shut the car off and restart.
Anyone know what causes this and how to fix?

lgibson · Feb 2, 2009

I've had it appear once in deep snow. My theory was that the sensors momentarily lost signal from the driveshaft rings.

andrewdearden · Apr 27, 2009

Hi I have had exactly the same error, usually in the wet but also happened in snow. Doesn't seem to affect the vehicle in anyway and usually disappears after a restart. Did you ever get to the cause of it?

robertm850 · Apr 28, 2009

No -- never got a good answer - two dealers (one in NJ and one in VT) don't know the answer and say they have never heard of the problem -
i am pretty sure their is some sensor in the front end that a splash of water triggers and sends the message - it is more of an annoyance tahn anything else - of course it will be more than an annoyance if I am in very wet/mud conditions and need the low range

andrewdearden · Apr 29, 2009

I had the error again yesterday in rain and ran vag-com on it and got the following error. May be similar to yours may help in diagnosing. However mine still works in low range even if I have the error and the low range is still flashing.

VAG-COM Version: Release 409.1-US

Control Module Part Number: 0AD 927 755 BE
Component and/or Version: TRANSFERCASE 0122
Software Coding: 0000000
Work Shop Code: WSC 00000
1 Fault Found:
02042 - Control Circuit for Motor in Transfer Case
006 - Short to Plus - Intermittent

robertm850 · Apr 29, 2009

Hey thanks for that - i don't have a VAG COM but that info could be very helpful when talking to VW - also I never did try and see if my low range worked when it blinks - will see if that works - based on the readout you got it may be that some water is getting into a sensor on the transfer case --
Thanks for the info

robertm850 · Jul 1, 2009

Ok found the problem - took it to the dealer again and they found that an animal had eaten through the wire harness (corrugated black wire cover) and the insulation on 3 to 4 wires that connect into the transfer case - whenever water splashed up under the car the wires would short and result in the "system fault workshop" error message - whatever typr of animal it was it also ate about 10 sq inches of sound deadning insulation in the same area - dealer cut the wires and reconnected with waterproof connectors (the one's that shrink with a heat gun) and then taped it up good - no problems since that repair was done and we have had a lot of rain in the NJ since then

andrewdearden · Jul 1, 2009

Good news well done, mine has been fine recently even in rain. Incidentally last week I was underneath mine in a garage while the mechanic was showing me the new brake pads I had just purchased. I didn't notice anything damaged but did see that there were a few connectors under there that really didn't seem to me would stand up to much splashing of water and I thought they could be the culprit. Will have to have a look for small animal damage next time! certainly something I wouldn't have expected!

system fault workshop after water spash from puddle or car wash

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