Hiya,

So the story goes..

Car failed MOT on 3rd brake light not working, car is 2003 Octy vRS Estate. In order for it to pass, I pulled the light out of the spoiler and disconnected it. Theory being if it's not there, then they can't test it. Car passed .

Got home, and first tried to check that there was 12v at the connector for the brake light under the tailgate trim, which there was, but while doing this, I shorted the two terminals together, got a nice little spark, and blew the fuse.

Didn't have another fuse to put in, so swapped out the reverse light fuse which is also 10A, and checked brake lights - both worked.

This was yesterday, now this morning I got in the car to drive to work, I have no speedo, and the EML is on. This is based on shorting the brake lights, and swapping out the fuse from the reverse lights.

I am about to go and get some more 10A fuses, but have I done more damage? I wouldn't have thought the speedo was dependent on the reversing lights working? And why would the EML light be on?

Any thoughts greatly appreciated - I will report back when I get some new fuses in it this afternoon.

Cheer, Andrew.

Quick update:

I replaced the 10A fuse for the reverse lights earlier, and went for a drive, the EML stayed on and I was still with no speedo.

Managed to get hold of a code reader and it says:

P0501 Vehicle Speed Sensor "A" Range/Performance ECU10 Stored

I guess this means a new speed sensor (or check the wiring) but why would this be related to the reversing lights? Haynes shows no relationship in their wiring diagrams

So, it must be a coincidence that problems happened together?

Andrew.

Quick update:

I replaced the 10A fuse for the reverse lights earlier, and went for a drive, the EML stayed on and I was still with no speedo.

Managed to get hold of a code reader and it says:

P0501 Vehicle Speed Sensor "A" Range/Performance ECU10 Stored

I guess this means a new speed sensor (or check the wiring) but why would this be related to the reversing lights? Haynes shows no relationship in their wiring diagrams

So, it must be a coincidence that problems happened together?

Andrew.

You often get speed sensor (crank sensor) faults when scanning VAG motors with the engine off

Ignore my last post, P0501 is the VSS, I googled that code and VW and came up with this

My link

Check that when replacing the fuse the fuse connector hasn't pushed out of its socket

I've also read issues with wires underneath the battery on Golfs giving the same fault, there's an earth connection under there on mk4 golfs, maybe this is what they are refering to?

You have pulled the fuse for the cluster. The fusebox layout is a mirror image of the diagram in the manual.

You have pulled the fuse for the cluster. The fusebox layout is a mirror image of the diagram in the manual.

I noticed the mirror thing a while back, and deffo pulled the reverse fuse. I watched the lights go off .

I've also read issues with wires underneath the battery on Golfs giving the same fault, there's an earth connection under there on mk4 golfs, maybe this is what they are refering to?

Cheers for the help / link. I will include this when checking the wiring, before I purchase any new sensors

I noticed the mirror thing a while back, and deffo pulled the reverse fuse. I watched the lights go off .

I can't believe they haven't corrected that diagram, my long gone S plate estate was @rse about face and caused much confusion :wonder:

I have a couple of Good VSS from 5 speed gearboxes, shout out the part number and I'll compare them