ESP/ABS error

[aaronazevedo]

Wow, so where to start. I've learned a lot in the past few days, unfortunately none of it will help me solve the mysterious ESP/ABS problem with my car.
First off, VW of NA is big brother. They no longer allow individual VW dealers to reflash ECU's. They are all done online over the web when VW of NA tech services are available. Very convenient for them, not so convenient for me, the customer that is without a car and stuck driving a rental.

My frustration is furthered by my particular VW dealers complete lack of sense of urgency. I dropped my car off at 3pm on Tuesday, and didn't get it back until Wednesday at 6pm. And all they did was read the faulty ABS codes, tell me my car had been modified and they had to reflash the ECU in order to stock and tell me there are no codes anymore. Nice.

So now I am driving a stock TDi and find it nearly gutless. Im back to no torque below 1800 or above 3200 rpm. My mileage has dropped off by 2-4 mpg. I drove home last night and got 42mpg where i typically see 45-48mpg. I drove to work this morning and got 40 mpg where I typically see 42-43mpg.

So outside of my frustrations, I have a gremlin. I dont think that an ECU flash or tune should have anything to do with an ABS sensor or ABS control unit (both codes the dealer pulled). Ive talked to Revo and Mike and Canyon racer. Neither have ever heard of this. VW is just trying not to pay for any warranty work.

In the 22k miles of ownership, the radio and nav have cut out 2 times. Each time fixed with a reset or vehicle shut down. The central locking/alarm system has stopped working 3 times. Each time fixed with arming the alarm with a key turn in the drivers door. I am beginning to wonder if I should not have taken the car to the dealer, but instead should have shut the car down and tried to reset things. I wonder about just shutting off the ESP, or yanking the fuse. I am more and more convinced that these cars just have electrical gremlins that fix themselves with a vehicle shut down.

I'll drive the car for a week to see if the ESP/ABS error comes back. if not, I'm getting the car reflashed with Revo Stage 1 next week.

Frustrated, but super happy to be in a Jetta rather than the Chevy HHR rental

[aaronazevedo]

So today driving to work with a boring stock ECU tune, my car threw the same ESP/ABS Error code. Going back to VW on monday morning. So pissed!

VW is wrong again, an I have an ABS fault that has nothing to do with the Revo tune. Of course we all knew that though....