Got up this morning at 05.30 to get ready for work, looked out of window to see if there had been any more snow and found my brake lights were on. Went out and managed to get into car ok, put my foot on the brake pedal and although it was solid the brake lights went out. I then tried to start it, there was a lot of clicking sounds while i waited for the glow plugs to do their thing, none of the dashboard lights went out and when I tried starting an alarm sounded. I'm just assuming it's a case of the brakes have frozen on but I have never had this happen in 30 years of motoring. Has anyone got any other ideas of what it could be, and how do I get it going again. Many thanks in advance and a happy christmas to you all, Ian.

Sounds like possible flat battery?

Kev

My brake lights got stuck on a few weeks ago, went off when i lifted the pedal and have remained ok ever since. Maybe your lights got stuck on and have been on since you last used the car and now your battery's flat?

My brake lights got stuck on a few weeks ago, went off when i lifted the pedal and have remained ok ever since. Maybe your lights got stuck on and have been on since you last used the car and now your battery's flat?

+1

If it's the non-LED high level brake light, then it alone takes 37W. Add the two 21W stop lights and that's a total of about 80W. Even the battery on a TDi doesn't take long to drain with that load.

The brake light switch going faulty is a known issue I recall, and a quick search shows that water in the electrics causes the same brake lights on thing (frozen washer pipe popped off in boot?).

So yes, I'd agree, most likely, your starting problem is just a low battery.

Edited 18 December, 201015 yr by Kandy

The brake light switch going faulty is a known issue I recall, and a quick search shows that water in the electrics causes the same brake lights on thing (frozen washer pipe popped off in boot?).

So yes, I'd agree, most likely, your starting problem is just a low battery.

+1