Volkswagen Passat 1995 Official Factory Repair Manual page 2853

On Board Diagnostic (OBD), general information
http://ebahn.bentleypublishers.com/vw/servlet/Display?action=Goto&type=repair&id=VW.B4.AT02.01.1
Malfunctions that may activate emergency
running mode:
Open circuit in wiring, short-circuit, malfunctions
in electrical or hydraulic components.
Transmission Control Module (TCM)
recognition of malfunctions
If a malfunction exists for a certain time, it is
stored as a static malfunction. A malfunction that
is recognized but does not occur again within a
certain time or distance is stored as a "sporadic
malfunction."
Malfunctions that are stored in DTC Memory as
sporadic malfunctions will be displayed as such
when retrieved by the VAG 1551 Scan Tool (ST).
In such cases, the letters "SP" appear on the
right side of the Scan Tool display. If the printer
is switched on, "sporadic DTC" is printed out
after the malfunction is addressed.
Malfunctions that are stored in DTC Memory as
sporadic malfunctions are automatically erased
after 1,000 km (600 miles) or 20 hours.
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