VW Transporter Warning Lights & SOS System Failure Fix

As someone with some experience working on VWs, I encountered a similar malfunction in my 2003 VW T4, which shares many electronic components with your Transporter. The emergency call system failure and warning lights turned out to be related to a faulty wiring connection near the control module. After several system reset attempts that did not solve the issue, I took it to a workshop. They discovered corroded cable connections affecting the emergency call unit, causing multiple error codes and warning indicators. The repair involved cleaning and replacing damaged connector pins plus a complete system reset of the automotive electronics. Total cost was 95€ for parts and labor. Since the fix, no more warning lights or call failure messages. To help diagnose your specific issue more accurately, could you share: Are there specific error codes showing? Which warning lights are illuminated? Does the emergency call system respond at all? Have you noticed any other electrical issues? This could indicate whether you are facing the same connector problem or if there might be another underlying cause.

Last service was at 25200km, about 2 weeks ago. I should mention that disconnecting the battery for 30 minutes helped temporarily clear the warning lights, but they returned after a few days of driving. The diagnostic codes from my basic scanner show communication errors between modules. The warning lights include both airbag and system malfunction indicators. The emergency call button does nothing when pressed, which seems to confirm an issue with that system. No other electrical problems noticed, all power windows, lights, and other functions work normally. Looking to understand if this temporary fix through battery disconnect points to a specific component failure, since it briefly resolved the telematics errors.

Based on your description of temporary improvement after battery disconnection, this sounds very similar to the issue I had with my T4. The fact that the warnings return after a few days strongly suggests a connection problem rather than a complete module failure. The communication errors between modules typically point to wiring or ground connection issues. In my case, the temporary fix from disconnecting the battery worked the same way, it would clear things up for a while before the problems resurfaced. Since your last service was recent, the automotive electronics may have been disturbed during maintenance work. The car safety systems are particularly sensitive to any changes in voltage or connection quality. When my emergency call system stopped responding, it was directly linked to deteriorated ground connections that maintenance work had aggravated. A proper system reset by a workshop with professional diagnostic equipment would be the next step, as basic scanners often cannot fully access all modules. The repair in my case went beyond just resetting, it required cleaning connections and replacing a few corroded terminals to permanently resolve the call failure issues. Would your symptoms match any voltage drops during starting? This could help confirm if its the same grounding issue I experienced.

Thanks for sharing those details about the battery disconnect helping temporarily. My vehicle does experience a slight voltage drop during cold starts, which might be related to these telematics issues like you mentioned. The error codes from my basic scanner show P1603 and U0100, both suggesting communication problems between control modules. After hearing about your similar experience with grounding issues, I will have a professional workshop check the connections and ground points. The fact that disconnecting the battery provided temporary relief does seem to point toward an electrical connection problem rather than a failed module. The car safety systems appear to be functioning normally aside from the emergency call failure and warning lights. Since having the SOS system non-functional poses a safety concern, I will schedule an appointment with a repair shop that has proper diagnostic equipment to properly reset the system and inspect the wiring. Thanks for helping narrow down the likely cause. This gives me a much better starting point for discussing the repair with the mechanic rather than going in blind about the potential connection issues causing these malfunctions.