After the back right wheel hopped off a curb the EPC and engine light turned on?

LUISA TACLA

MEMBER
2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
AUTOMATIC
142,000 MILES

The car was working fine before the incident. The back right wheel hopped off a curb then the EPC immediately came on. Then the engine light came light. The EPC comes and goes but the engine is stays lit. Then a few days ago when I went to turn on the car it started and turned on but then completely shut off after a second of turning it on. The batter light came on with the EPC and the already lit engine light. The only way for the car to work is if I unscrew the connectors to the battery and screw it back on then it’ll work until I turn off the car. I haven’t gone to the mechanic yet because they are booked till next week. What is going on? Literally all of this happened because of that stupid curb. Help please!

Tuesday, September 26th, 2023 AT 2:48 PM

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
110,114 POSTS

Hi,

The EPC light on your vehicle (Electronic Power Control) usually is related to the vehicle's throttle system. However, there are other things that can cause it to turn on. For example, if there is an issue with traction control, cruise control and so on.

Since this started when you drove off a curb, my first suspect is a wheel speed sensor on the side that dropped off the curb was affected. My rationale behind saying a speed sensor is simple. If one fails, it will affect the cruise control and traction control systems and set the EPC light. Note that the only way to be certain is to scan the can-bus system. This will retrieve diagnostic trouble codes regardless of the module storing them.

Here is a link showing how it's done:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/can-scan-controller-area-network-easy

I attached a picture below showing a rear speed sensor's location. I believe the one in the pic is the driver's side, but the right side will be the same. Check that to see if anything was damaged.

Let me know what you find.

Take care,

Joe

See pic below. The dark red item is the connector. The yellow highlighted portion is the sensor that bolts into the rear of the hub bearing assembly.

Image (Click to make bigger)