No CEL in accessory mode

[JohnnySLine]

Hi all,

I've noticed that on my car for my whole ownership, the CEL never illuminates when I turn the key to accessory mode. I have also never seen it turn on for anything, even when I had a fault with my SAI system.

My car is a New Zealand new vehicle (I'm based in New Zealand). I've looked online at other NZ new cars and none of them have their CELs on when their ignitions are set to accessory mode either (B6s, B7s, and B8s). Import cars do seem to show a CEL when the ignition is in accessory mode, so I'm wondering if anyone here knows if there were markets where this was how these cars came.

Here are the NZ new cars I've seen which show this:







And here are the import cars (mostly Jap imports)





I also had a mate that had an NZ new B6 that almost certainly wasn't mapped and it was the same story. I'm not sure if my car has been mapped, but it doesn't seem so. I have also checked that the gauge cluster hasn't been tampered with when I was changing the cluster speaker and the seal wasn't broken, nor was there tape covering the LED. Is the only way for me to check my CEL to use VAG-COM?

Cheers!

[kwilson]

So you are upset that your car does not have a CEL illuminated? That's a new one.

[Larhal]

Yes do a test with VCDS.

[JohnnySLine]

So you are upset that your car does not have a CEL illuminated? That's a new one.

Hahahaha I get that. Though my concern is if a code does pop up that should trigger the CEL and I don't see it because it never turns on. I have had some codes that should've triggered a CEL that didn't. A notable one was when my PCV valve went out and a code was stored but no CEL showed.

[codemode]

Having a code stored doesn’t automatically mean that you will get a CEL.
It should be illuminated nonetheless.
Maybe it burned out. If you have a multimeter you can check it out.

[Danisson]

I'd be glad if this happened man... who wants to see the damn CEL lit on on a beautiful day ;)

[rollerton]

Someone broke or otherwise did a thing to prevent it from coming on. CEL always illuminates when you turn the key on.

A bunch of things will trigger it, but nearly ALL emissions faults will for sure. But yeah, you have a broken light in there. Scan it and get ready....you're gonna have enough codes to go around!

[JohnnySLine]

Someone broke or otherwise did a thing to prevent it from coming on. CEL always illuminates when you turn the key on.

A bunch of things will trigger it, but nearly ALL emissions faults will for sure. But yeah, you have a broken light in there. Scan it and get ready....you're gonna have enough codes to go around!

I thought that. I did scan it last week, and only had a code for my SAI. Can't remember if it was stored or current. My main question was why every single NZ new car shows the exact same quirk as my car. None of them have an illuminated CEL in accessory mode, not a single one. It's really odd.

Also if you read my original post, I had already checked the gauge cluster for tampering and found that all the seals were intact, implying nothing had been done to it. No visible signs of disconnecting the LED or anything like that.

[EuroxS4]

Cluster was either tampered with or the ecm is starting to act funny. CEL should always be on with key on engine off. My guess is someone removed the led from the cluster or did the good ol electrical tape cover up. If you have SAI codes stored CEL should be on. Shady seller usually resort to this type of bullshit to maximize their profit while fucking the unsuspecting buyer.

[JohnnySLine]

Cluster was either tampered with or the ecm is starting to act funny. CEL should always be on with key on engine off. My guess is someone removed the led from the cluster or did the good ol electrical tape cover up. If you have SAI codes stored CEL should be on. Shady seller usually resort to this type of bullshit to maximize their profit while fucking the unsuspecting buyer.

I mean that was my first thought too, but after seeing every New Zealand spec a4, including multiple generations showing the same thing, I thought there might be something else going on here. I mentioned that I have opened the cluster to have a look at this and found no evidence of any physical tampering which is why I made this post. Seems odd.