Some warning lights are serious, and in Audi and Volkswagen vehicles, ignoring them can lead to major repairs.

If you drive an Audi or Volkswagen, there are a few dashboard lights that should never be brushed off. At Northside Autohaus, we regularly see what happens when critical warnings go unchecked. The result is often a bigger, more expensive repair that could have been prevented with a proper check-up.

Here’s what each of these warning lights means, what usually causes them, and what to do if one lights up while you’re driving.

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5 Important Warning Lights to Watch for in Audi and VW Vehicles

1. Oil Pressure Warning

What it means:

The engine isn’t getting enough oil pressure. This can lead to catastrophic engine damage in seconds.

Common causes:

Low or old engine oil
Oil pump failure
Internal engine wear
Blocked oil pickup or sensor fault

What to do:

Stop the car immediately and turn off the engine
Do not restart it
Call for a tow as driving further could seize the engine

Real-world outcome:

We’ve seen multiple Audi engines written off because drivers kept going after the oil light came on. This is not a “top it up later” situation.

2. Coolant Temperature Warning

What it means:

The engine is overheating or the system has lost pressure.

Common causes:

Coolant leak
Failing water pump
Thermostat jammed shut
Cooling fan or sensor fault

What to do:

Pull over as soon as it's safe
Turn off the engine and let it cool
Don’t open the coolant reservoir while it’s hot
Arrange a check-up or tow if needed

Learn how we handle cooling faults and overheating during our Volkswagen servicing process.

3. Brake System Warning

What it means:

There may be a fault in the brake system, including low fluid, ABS failure or brake pad wear.

Common causes:

Worn brake pads
Brake fluid leak or low fluid
ABS control unit fault
Parking brake malfunction

What to do:

If the pedal feels soft or the car pulls when braking, stop driving immediately
If it drives normally, proceed slowly and book a check-up
Don’t delay — brake issues can escalate quickly

We’ve had clients come in with this warning light active for weeks. One had nearly worn through the disc rotor. Servicing brakes early always costs less than ignoring them.

4. EPC (Electronic Power Control)

What it means:

There’s an issue with engine management, throttle control, or electronic sensors.

Common causes:

Faulty accelerator pedal sensor
Throttle body problems
Boost pressure irregularities (common in turbocharged VW/Audi engines)
Wiring or ECU issues

What to do:

If the car enters limp mode or loses power, pull over
Turn the car off and restart to reset
Drive gently to a workshop if safe, or book a tow

Our European diagnostics tools allow us to pinpoint the exact EPC fault — no guesswork.

5. Check Engine Light (Optional Bonus)

What it means:

A fault has been logged in the engine or emissions system.

Common causes:

Oxygen sensor or MAF sensor fault
Misfire or spark plug issue
Fuel system irregularities
Carbon build-up or turbo inefficiency

What to do:

If the light is solid and the car drives normally, book diagnostics
If the light is flashing, stop immediately (could be a misfire or damage in progress)

The check engine light covers a wide range of issues. We’ve traced it to everything from minor vacuum leaks to pre-failure turbo warnings.

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Why Diagnostics Matter

Dashboard lights tell you something’s wrong. But they won’t tell you what or how serious it is.

At Northside Autohaus, we use manufacturer-approved tools like VCDS and ISTA to scan the exact fault codes, run system tests, and isolate the cause. Whether it’s a brake fault or an intermittent sensor, we can give you answers quickly — and quote only for what’s actually needed.

Book Diagnostics with Northside Autohaus

If a warning light just came on or your car feels off, don’t ignore it. Our specialists can identify the issue, explain your options, and prevent it from turning into a major repair. Book a diagnostics check with Northside Autohaus in Brookvale.

Denise Goldhahn

20:04 11 Feb 26

I honestly can’t recommend North Side Autohaus Brookvale highly enough. The service is absolutely amazing, professional, honest, and genuinely customer-focused from start to finish.

The team is knowledgeable, friendly, and take the time to explain everything clearly without any pressure. You can tell they really care about doing the job properly. Their pricing is also very competitive, which makes the whole experience even better.

This is now the only place I’ll be taking my car for any servicing or repairs. Great team, great service, and great value. Highly recommend!

Arthur Roosevelt

22:45 02 Nov 25

I recently took my 2014 VW Golf here for a timing belt replacement and some other minor service work. Their price was very competitive, and Romeo's communication was great. Very satisfied with their work, and as an unexpected bonus they thoroughly cleaned and washed my car afterwards. Would definitely recommend these guys.

Simon D

14:05 16 Jul 25

Chose them as Audi VW specialists as they market them selves this way to create a niche. They did run diagnostics and did the job seemingly well, no blow back yet. The problem is one of the operators attitude. It was unprofessional and unappealing. They claimed my car would be ready at 11:30am, when i arrived he abruptly told me it’s not ready, i asked when. To which he replied when its done! They finished at 12pm and test drove for 15 mins which seemed like forever. I asked when is my car coming back after 15 mins of the car disappearing. He again was abrupt and used a gruff tone stating he’s gone for a test drive and he’ll back when he’s done. It was really unfortunate experience, a rude demeanour, grunting and lack of empathy. I won’t tolerate bad attitudes when i’m the customer paying good $ doesn’t matter if the work is reliable. 1st and last time.

Matt Savage

10:58 16 Jul 25

I take all my cars to Jeff and Romeo as they high standard of work and do best job honestly with fair prices. Matt

Simon Von-Limont

09:54 30 Apr 25

Noemi Bull

03:52 25 Mar 24

Great service

Joel Phillips

07:10 03 Jan 24

Jeff was incredible to deal with. Gave us a loan car at a time I was in desperate need. Extremely good service.

Paula Brennan

01:42 24 Jul 23

Amazing team! Great mechanics and honest with pricing and outcomes! So good

Yolanda Bensdorp

22:20 26 Jun 23

Romeo and his team was very professional and helpful and did a great job on my car

Michael Christie

23:43 22 Jun 23

Friendly and thorough.

Nicola Baker

23:17 15 Nov 22

Could not be happier with Northside Autohaus. From my fist point of call speaking with Romeo, he was quick to fit me in as my Audi Q5 was leaking adblue liquid and needed urgent attention. When arriving at Autohause, Romeo was there to greet my with kindness and respect. He called as soon as they had found the problem and made recommendations with openness and honesty on costings and timelines.
Fantastic customer service all the way through to the end. I will definitely be visiting Northside Autohaus for all my service and repairs from now on. Highly recommend Autohaus.
Nicola

Vlado Markovic

09:41 18 Oct 22

Romeo and the team serviced my Audi A8 to my great satisfaction. This was second time I serviced my car here and I am as happy as I was first time. Quality work and friendly service that is hard to find these days. Would like to recommend Northside Autohaus to any Audi, BMW or VW owner.

Martin Andrew

01:02 27 Aug 22

This week was our second annual service at Northside Autohaus, last year our near 10yr Golf TSI required some semi major servicing with water pump, belts, engine mounts etc (as to be expected with age and kms on the clock), thankfully this year a simple service, wheel balance and tyre rotation to ensure even wear and fuel efficiency, along a quick repair to the rear window washer water line which had broken in the section between the car body and tailgate (another semi common VW fault).

Romeo was helpful as always to discuss any issues or concerns with the vehicle, reach out and call to confirm once the team had inspected the vehicle and what they found, providing an accurate quote and ensuring the vehicle was ready that afternoon (with a clean and vacuum also completed!). Thanks Northside Autohaus for the great service.

Kerem Koş

02:50 25 Mar 22

My Audi Q7 had a sticky and complicated problem. Jeff and his team were able to locate the root cause and fix it. The team was helpful and friendly. I am happy with the service and highly recommend them.

The Warning Lights Audi and VW Drivers Should Never Ignore

5 Important Warning Lights to Watch for in Audi and VW Vehicles

1. Oil Pressure Warning

2. Coolant Temperature Warning

3. Brake System Warning

4. EPC (Electronic Power Control)

5. Check Engine Light (Optional Bonus)

Why Diagnostics Matter

What our customers say about us

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