Engine Check Light - Revving to 7000!

[Ecopod]

Good morning.

98 2.5 TDi Auto Box

Engine light came on about one week ago just as we were getting home so pulled into drive and now have time to check what’s up. Have read various related threads leading me to find plug at back of EPIC pump was full of water, now dried out and WD40’d, checked timing with pins which is all good. Every time I start engine light comes on and stays on but if I start engine with foot on accelerator engine will rev but light is still on, as soon as I lift foot off accelerator limp mode kicks in and engine will no longer rev still with light on. Every so often engine will self rev to flat out and needle is now stuck at around 7000rpm (way past the 6000 limit!).

If it is an EPIC pump issue is it correct that a BOSCH conversion is not possible with auto box.

Any other pointers gratefully received.

I do have a pretty good local garage for older vans so al is not lost if i cannot figure it out myself.

Thanks in advance.

[MinorMatt]

It sounds like you need to get the codes read...

but my guess is that there is damage/high resistance on the pins for the rotor position sensor in the plug, so the ECU doesn't know how much fuel is being delivered....

[Ecopod]

Firstly thanks for responding here and a few years ago to someone asking about throttle pedals!

After I posted I kept reading older and older threads - as a result I headed out to look at my throttle cable and found the single plug also full of water! Dried and WD 40’d again and it improved matters as I could now take foot off pedal and rev normally but light still on. Then on this response you mentioned connections so I used my phone to check connectors on EPIC pump and one was bent (likely from when I was drying / soft wire brushing them before) - straightened connector, plugged back together, fired up more in hope than anything and light out quickly and all running as normal. Celebratory cup of tea was had.

I will now be keeping an eye on plug water levels and will likely disconnect them when not in use, and go through all others connections. Got a 2nd hand throttle coming just in case (may not work anyway but we’ll see).

Thanks again for all your help - my Friday trip to Pitlochry is now back on.