Anyone got a similar experience of this? On turning the key in the ignition the car does not start and all lights on dash go blank. In fact, everything goes off as is someone has disconnected the battery. After a few moments the display comes back on. Sometimes the car then starts as normal, but on a couple of occasions the whole process is repeated. Luckily the car is still in warranty, but I would be interested to know if this is a known fault.

Cheers all

Wayne

Anyone got a similar experience of this? On turning the key in the ignition the car does not start and all lights on dash go blank. In fact, everything goes off as is someone has disconnected the battery. After a few moments the display comes back on. Sometimes the car then starts as normal, but on a couple of occasions the whole process is repeated. Luckily the car is still in warranty, but I would be interested to know if this is a known fault.

Cheers all

Wayne

That sounds like a bad connect to the battery or a duff battery. A bad connection will produce a resistance which reduces the current you can draw from the battery. Starting the car draws alot of current and so the resistance produces a high voltage drop and the display and lights will go out. Once the car starts or you stop the starter, the current is lower and the voltage drop is low too so you will not notice the problem. The best check is to turn your headlights on and then start the car, your headlights should dim but not go out, if they do it's a battery connection problem.

David

Anyone got a similar experience of this? On turning the key in the ignition the car does not start and all lights on dash go blank. In fact, everything goes off as is someone has disconnected the battery. After a few moments the display comes back on. Sometimes the car then starts as normal, but on a couple of occasions the whole process is repeated. Luckily the car is still in warranty, but I would be interested to know if this is a known fault.

Cheers all

Wayne

I had a similar problem with my Octavia - it turned out to be a fuse that was not seated in its holder correctly.

Regards

Sweep...yep, wot David said. Battery connections are the first thing to check. Make sure they are clean and tight, then make sure the earth cable in making a proper earth to the inner suspension turret, and is tight. If that doesn't do it make sure the cables to the starter motor are making good connections and it is earthed correctly. It is very unlikely the ignition switch itself is faulty. As David says if any cables are not tight, clean or greased a resistance will occur during maximum current draw and your panel may well dim or go dead for a few seconds. It could also be a poor connection somewhere else such as Bow says. Please let us all know how you get on.

Edited 26 January, 201016 yr by Estate Man

Thanks all,

Car goes in tomorrow am for diagnostic check and hopefully a fix. I'l let you know what happens

Wayne

Surprise, surprise. Diagnostic check picked up "No fault". The authorised repairer in Halifax (no longer a Skoda dealer) told me to take it home and if the car did it again to have it recovered in that state. Needless to say I was not impressed and sure enough the car faulted again just as I was setting out to work. Leaving the car was (not surprisingly) not an option as I needed to get to work so I left it a couple of minutes and it started.

I have since taken the car to DM Keith's in Huddersfield where the service receptionist told me that it was a known problem common with both Skoda and VW ignition switches. So, no diagnostic check, just a good working knowledge of the cars she deals with. Car goes in next Saturday with a courtesy car until mine is fixed.

I'll keep the forum informed of progress

Wayne

Thanks for letting us all know Sweep. Didn't know about that one myself... :o