I never saw my check engine light light up like the other lights (abs, seat belt, brake, etc..) when I turn on the car so i thought maybe the bulb was burnt out. Pulled out the cluster and found out that there was no bulb, just an original sticker covering the check engine light hole (same for traction control, immobilizer,. I put in a bulb and nothing happened.. so to my understanding there is no check engine light .. is that correct ?

 

Hard to find sources on Canadian models in particular, but I've found sources that say 2 different things:
1. All US & Canadian cars from 1996 on were required to have OBD2, which includes (requires) CEL.
2. Only US models from 1996 on.....

It is definitely on 1997 and on US A8's.

Do you have an OBD2 diagnostic port?
If so, you're supposed to have a CEL.
Someone could have cleverly disabled the CEL...ways to do this (and it has been done) is a huge topic of discussion among "cheating" mechanics and car owners wanting to sell the car without a CEL light showing, so as not to scare off potential buyers.

 

I've got an OBDII port under my dash, works fine through vag-com (I can read my engine fault codes, transmission, airbag, abs, etc.) I have already gotten fault codes though vag-com.. check engine seems to be present in the car, but no light in the cluster. Even with a good bulb it doesnt light up/test when the car is put 'ON'...

 

A malfunction or someone has consciously disabled it.

 

I definitely have a check engine light on my 97 A8