Do you have an Audi and the EPC light has shown up on the cluster and you are scratching your head scared why did the EPC light Audi show up? If this is the case and you are facing this problem then you are at the right place because there will be a lot to cover on this EPC light Audi and learn what could make this light turn on in the first place.
In situations like this, learning how to troubleshoot problems should be your top priority. Why I’m saying this? Well, with the right troubleshooting knowledge you will be able to save a ton of money on possible repairs.
There are a ton of mechanics out there who are willing to charge big bucks for a fix. And this is bad if you ask me. Bad for your budget, and also bad for your mental health. Nobody wants to end up in this situation from which there is no way out. But we are going to help you out to quickly overcome this problem by telling you the possibilities that could be causing it.
First, we are going to learn what is the EPC light Audi and then we are going to cover the reasons why does it show up in the first place. Later we will dive deeper into diagnostics and learn how to quickly solve this problem or at least get some better input on the issue. Lastly, we will discuss the costs involved. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.
What Is The EPC Light On Audi?
Modern cars are all computerized and implement a ton of tech. Nowadays it is almost impossible to find a vehicle that is relatively easy to work on and has the ability to diagnose a problem without something complicated getting in your way which in the case is the EPC system.
This is a system that was invented by Volkswagen and they are using it in all of their cars as well as cars from the brands they own like Audi, Skoda, Seat, and others (fun fact, go check out our guide on how to pronounce Audi). This system is there to control other systems that control the engine.
The EPC is shortened for Electronic Power Control. As it is said, this system is computerized ignition and management system. Meaning that it affects the engine ignition as well as other systems in the vehicle like the traction control, steering, and transmission.
Basically, all of the important systems are controlled by this EPC system in a VAG vehicle including Audi. Whenever there is a problem, the light will flash or stay on along the check engine light or another light that also indicates a problem. And here you can connect the dots. If the EPC is on with the check engine light then it’s probably something faulty on the engine.
But more on that, we are going to cover in the following chapter where we will discuss what the EPC light Audi really means, and later we will discuss all the possible reasons why it might turn on. So, follow along.
What The EPC Light Audi Means?
So, what does the EPC light Audi mean in the first place? Well, the answer is simple, it means that you have a problem and this problem needs solving. Many people are ignoring this light for years. When their car breaks down completely they are wondering what they did wrong and you don’t want to be that person.
Since there is a light illuminating, means that you have a problem that you need to deal with. The EPC light is there to limit the power delivery to the engine. Whenever this light is turned on, it will start to limit your throttle response.
It will throw your car into something also known as safe mode. This was considered to be essential by Audi to prevent further damage to the engine of their customer’s cars. This system halves the fuel delivery and limits the revs to somewhat low levels that will allow you to take your car to the nearest mechanic.
Several other lights might turn on whenever the EPC light is on. And this greatly helps you out when it comes to troubleshooting as we hinted above.
For example, if you see a check engine light along with the EPC light Audi, then you probably have a powertrain issue. If you see the traction control light (if you want to learn more, check out our guide on what is traction control on a car), then you probably have a problem with the ABS and so on. You get my point. Either way, this situation has to be further investigated for the problem to be uncovered and solved.
And we are going to help you out in the following chapters by covering all of the possibilities of the EPC light Audi popping up.
Reasons Why Does The EPC Light Audi Shows Up?
Now let’s focus more on the reasons why this light shows up in the first place. Knowing the reasons will help you immensely when it comes to diagnosing the problem and successfully solving it.
In the following chapters, we are going to discuss these reasons why the EPC light Audi appears, and then we will continue into diagnosing the issue. So, if you want to learn more about this, follow along.
Sensor Problems Can Make The EPC Light Audi Turn On
The most probable reason why this light might turn on is sensor-related issues that often happen on modern cars. There are a lot of different sensors on each vehicle, so listing them would take forever. So, we are going to list the following sensors which are the most common ones that cause the EPC light Audi to turn on:
1. Mass Airflow Sensor Issues
The MAF sensor is also known as the mass airflow sensor. This sensor is measuring how much air enters inside of the engine and it is a key factor to keep the engine alive and running. If this sensor doesn’t work, there will be a lot of unmetered air entering the combustion chamber and this will confuse the computer, causing the check engine to turn on along the EPC light.
The only solution in most cases is to replace the sensor with a new one and call it a day. But first, you need to diagnose the problem. How you can diagnose we are going to cover a bit later where we will cover the diagnosing process of the EPC light Audi problem. Now let’s move on to the next possible problem.
2. Throttle Body Positioning Sensor
The throttle body position sensor is another sensor that could fail and make your car throw the EPC light, Audi, on the dash along with the check engine light. So, why is this the case?
This is the case because the throttle body position sensor is telling the throttle body how much to open. So, if your sensor is broken, the throttle body will stay open or half-open, or stay open for too long. Making the engine work extremely poor.
This sensor is located on the throttle body itself which is located after the mass airflow sensor and the airbox. So, it is a real key factor in this situation when it comes to throttle management. And the EPC system primarily focuses on engine management. It will easily throw an EPC light Audi if you run a bad sensor.
3. Bad O2 Sensor
Another reason for the EPC light along with the check engine light is the O2 sensor. This sensor is in charge of measuring the exhaust gases that flow out of the exhaust.
This sensor is a key factor in running the engine. So, what the EPC light Audi does is that it turns on and limits the engine power output. Making the car unable to deliver the right amount of power as it did before because the O2 sensor is giving the wrong readings to the computer. So, you can experience some strange work and the car not be able to drive as it did when the EPC light Audi is on.
4. Crankshaft Position Sensor (Speed Sensor)
Another important sensor that can cause the EPC light Audi to turn on is the crankshaft position sensor. Whenever this sensor fails, you will not be able to start the car. It will love to crank more than usual to start the engine.
As well as the engine will eventually not be able to start at all when this sensor fails. Meaning that the only way to start the car would be to get a completely new sensor and then be able to turn on the car. Which is not a good situation. So, if your car cranks too much before it starts and you are having an EPC light with a check engine light then it’s probably something wrong with the crankshaft sensor.
Overall these are the most important sensors that could go wrong and cause the EPC light Audi to show.
5. Other Sensors
Still, other sensors can make the EPC light Audi show up, like the fuel temperature sensor, coolant temperature sensor, knock sensors, fuel pressure sensor, boost pressure sensor if you are running a turbo. What is important though is to diagnose this problem with an OBD2 tool and later we are going to explain how this is done. Now let’s move on to other engine components that could make the EPC light Audi turn on.
Non-Sensor Component That Can Turn On The EPC light Audi On
Now let’s discuss some of the non-sensor components in the engine that could turn on the EPC light Audi and annoy you. And there are a few of them.
1. Ignition Coils
The first components that greatly affect then engine work are the ignition coils. There is a single coil on each cylinder and these coils are delivering the power to the spark plug.
What is bad though is that they can fail and cause the car to turn on the EPC light Audi and ruin your day. So, you might want to take a look at these components when you are having this problem and also experiencing frequent misfires and vibrations coming from the engine.
2. Spark Plugs
The next is the spark plugs. Spark plugs as you know can make your engine work weird and cause misfires to happen. When there are misfires you also get the EPC light Audi on.
So, whenever you suspect that this is caused by the spark plugs, it is worth inspecting the spark plugs and replacing them with new ones.
3. Carbon Buildup On Intake Valves
Excessive carbon buildup can also make your EPC light Audi turn on and ruin your day. Why is this the case? Well, this is the case because Audi is running mostly direct injection engines. And direct injection engines are notorious for developing issues like this. So, whenever you have a problem like this, you should remind yourself if you cleaned the intake ports or not. If not, then this might probably be the root of your problem.
4. Turbine Failure
Another thing that can make the EPC light Audi show up is a turbine failure. The turbines eventually fail and whenever they fail you will experience light like the EPC light Audi and power loss. The only way around this problem can be a turbocharger rebuild or a completely new turbine. Now let’s move on to the last probable cause.
5. EVAP System Malfunctions
Another thing that can also cause the EPC light Audi on your Audi is the EVAP system. This system is designed to collect the harmful fumes that are made inside the fuel tank. Then after it collects them, it pushes them into the charcoal canister and into the engine.
This system is regulated by the EVAP solenoid. This solenoid is also known to fail and make the computer freak out and throw an EPC light Audi on the dash.
Overall, these are the most probable causes for the EPC light Audi in terms of engine control and its systems. Now we will move to discuss other reasons why the EPC light might turn on. These are non-engine-related problems.
Non Engine Related EPC Audi Light
Now let’s discuss other non-engine-related problems that could make the EPC Audi light turn on. Since this light is not only in charge of the engine but also observes other systems in your vehicle.
More precisely the stability control system and the ABS. The electronic stability control system is also a crucial system that is known by the name ESP. This system keeps you on the road and makes sure that you don’t lose traction. So whenever it breaks it will cause a problem like this.
Another thing that can make the EPC Audi light on as we mentioned is the ABS. This system makes your car stop in an emergency in the shortest time. Make sure that you don’t crash into the car in front of you or hit a pedestrian. The sensors of this system that are located on each wheel are often known to malfunction and cause the light to turn on.
Other important components that can make the EPC light Audi turn on are the cruise control as well as the power steering system.
In addition to this, the brake pedal switch might also cause the EPC light to turn on. This is most notable on the Golf and can happen quite often.
The last reason is miscellaneous things like a bad catalytic converter, bad fuel cap, wiring issues, bad alternator.
As you can see, there are a ton of things that could fail and make your car throw an EPC light Audi. And this can be really overwhelming, especially for beginners that are not into mechanics and do not know how everything works. But luckily for you, there are ways to diagnose the problem, and we are going to cover that next.
How To Diagnose What Is Causing The EPC Light Audi?
We have covered the probable reasons why this EPC light Audi is on and you saw that there are quite a bit of them. In this situation, you need to narrow your search down to the most plausible reasons.
The first thing you need to do is to read the symptoms that your car is producing. If there are misfires or strange engine work then you should focus on the engine components like sensors, spark plugs, and coils that we covered above. If not, you will need to focus on other aspects.
But the thing that will make your life easier is an OBD2 scanner tool. These scanner tools allow you to get inside of the car’s brain and help you understand it better. You can find one of these tools online and they are really cheap. Just find one that has great reviews but also a tool that will give you the essential data you need to diagnose the problem quickly and effectively.
Once you are equipped with an OBD2 scanner you can move on to scanning your car for codes. After the first scan, clear the codes and then let it scan the tool again. The ones who are persistent are your problem.
The next thing will require learning the codes and doing research online based on the code. Check specific VW or Audi forums and learn more on that code. There you will get the right information and you will inform yourself of the next steps.
If you can, you can experiment yourself and try to fix the EPC light Audi, or take your Audi to a shop where they are working with VAG group cars and know these cars really well.
Cost To Fix The Problem With The EPC Light
The cost to fix the EPC light Audi depends much on the actual problem that you have. As you know, some problems cost more to fix than others.
So, based on the problem, the price will be determined. But most of these problems are sensor-related issues that are easily fixable. In the best case, you might end up paying about $200. While in the worst case, you might end up paying $500.
If there is something more expensive to fix like a catalytic converter or a turbo, you can expect to pay even up to $2,000 or more in some instances. These components cost a fortune to make and also have a high sale value. So, getting a good deal on them is almost impossible.
Can I Drive With The EPC Light Audi On?
This is a good question that deserves an answer. Can you drive with your EPC light Audi on? Well, that depends much on the problem because sometimes the EPC will cut down the power and you will not be able to drive at higher speeds.
Sometimes if the reason is minor you will be able to drive the car with no problem. But the light will constantly remind you that something is wrong with the EPC system and needs checking. Either way, I think that you should not delay fixing this problem. Why I’m saying this?
Well, I’m saying this because you can never know what could be the root cause and there are some situations if the engine continues working the damage would be more severe. So, better take your car to a shop rather than ignore the light.
EPC Light: Need-to-Know Knowledge
- The EPC (Electronic Power Control) warning light in a car indicates a problem with the vehicle’s throttle system.
- The light could be caused by a malfunctioning accelerator pedal, fuel injection throttle body, traction control, cruise control, or other systems.
- The EPC light primarily monitors the fuel injection system, although it can also indicate other malfunctions.
- The Audi EPC light can cause a loss of power in the vehicle, and it’s recommended to bring the car to the service department.
- Limp-in mode or limp-home mode is a feature designed to restrict vehicle speed and prevent further damage to the system when the drivetrain computer registers a serious problem.
- The EPC light could be triggered by malfunctions with fuel metering, timing, or emissions systems, engine speed sensor failure, or problems with other sensors such as the crank or cam position sensor, mass airflow sensor, brake light switch, traction control, vehicle stability control, cruise control, or throttle pedal issues.
- Today’s throttle systems are called “drive-by-wire,” which means there are no cables anymore, and the gas pedal and throttle “talk to each other” wirelessly via sensors.
- It’s not safe to drive with the EPC light on, and it’s important to take the vehicle to a dealer for diagnosis and repair as soon as possible.
- A dead battery, failing alternator, or bad/loose battery cable can cause the EPC light to come on.
- It’s not recommended to reset the EPC light without first diagnosing and repairing the problem that caused it. Technicians have tools that can quickly access the code and track down the part or system that’s at fault for repair.
Conclusion
In this article, we have covered quite a bit when it comes to tackling this problem with the EPC light Audi. What is important to note is that this light is basically your car is telling you that there is a problem. Similar to the check engine light. But what is different is that you have also a check engine light and an EPC light which sometimes can be quite confusing.
The main thing is that you need to react whenever you come across this problem on your Audi. Reacting and solving this issue on time will somewhat be a guarantee that you will not have more serious problems. As we hinted, this problem is very likely to be sensor-related and should cost you less than $500 to fix.
