Hi Guys,

 

Noticed for the last few days specially in nights after starting the car front cold or after some time there seems to be a power delay for 5-10 seconds. When I say power delay is that none of the doors have illumination / window switch or locks working. I only noticed this yesterday when I popped into my local supermarket and back to drive back home the illumination on the window switch came on after 5 seconds  and I was like this is strange? So tried it again and noticed that this was happening on all doors and also there was no power to mirror adjusting switch or window switch.

 

So plugged in the VCDs this morning and only error i had was 

00907 - Intervention load Management 

 

Which according to ross tech wiki is due to weak or faulty battery. It probably got logged when I was testing the HIDS and doing some VCDS logging on ignition. So the battery must have gone low on power. 

 

However I am not sure as to what would cause this behavior? :(

 

Anybody any suggestions? I didn't have much time this morning so will clear the error code and check it again. 

Edited 6 September, 20178 yr by singh946

It is the car trying to protect you from a low battery. Once the battery is recharged (or replaced if near end of life) things will return to normal. You may have missed the warning bong and screen display if you were not in the car at the time of the warning.

The edit I made seems to have got lost so here is the additional information.

 

In the handbook it states.......

 

 Automatic consumer shut-off

Under heavy load on the vehicle battery, the vehicle electrical system manage- ment automatically takes various measures to avoid draining the vehicle battery.

● The idling speed is raised to allow the generator to deliver more electricity to the electrical system.

● If necessary, some electrical consumers are limited in their performance or are temporarily switched off completely.

    

That last bullet point hints at the self protection. In your case I guess it stops you using the features you mentioned until the battery volts have risen to a safe level ant may be the five second delay. I suspect your battery is getting long in the tooth.

Edited 6 September, 20178 yr by pikpilot
Typo

On 06/09/2017 at 14:38, pikpilot said:

The edit I made seems to have got lost so here is the additional information.

 

In the handbook it states.......

 

 Automatic consumer shut-off

Under heavy load on the vehicle battery, the vehicle electrical system manage- ment automatically takes various measures to avoid draining the vehicle battery.

● The idling speed is raised to allow the generator to deliver more electricity to the electrical system.

● If necessary, some electrical consumers are limited in their performance or are temporarily switched off completely.

    

That last bullet point hints at the self protection. In your case I guess it stops you using the features you mentioned until the battery volts have risen to a safe level ant may be the five second delay. I suspect your battery is getting long in the tooth.

 

Thanks for the advice mate. I will monitor for few days and get my battery checked to make sure it is fine. 

Still haven't been able to figure out the strange power outage on the door when first key start of car :(

 

You can see from the video below in the link, the door illumination has a delay of roughly 10 secs  before electrics are restored back.

 

I know low / dying battery was suggested however I haven't taken readings using VCDS. Will do this evening. 

 

https://player.vimeo.com/video/244179156

Edited 23 November, 20178 yr by singh946

Had a similar issue on our 2008 Scout.

 

If you tried to lower the drivers window too soon after starting the engine it wouldn't work.

 

After waiting 5-10 seconds it would then be fine.

 

Changing the battery never made any difference, didn't get a resolution as I've since sold the car.

2 hours ago, silver1011 said:

Had a similar issue on our 2008 Scout.

 

If you tried to lower the drivers window too soon after starting the engine it wouldn't work.

 

After waiting 5-10 seconds it would then be fine.

 

Changing the battery never made any difference, didn't get a resolution as I've since sold the car.

 

Oh no :( I am not sure what can cause this and now that you say battery didn't solve it so perhaps i need to investigate further?!?

Well guys changed the battery and still no luck with being able to suss out whats causing the strange delay in power specially to the doors?

 

So have the following Retrofit fitted to the car

1. RLS + Auto Light switch

2. Folding door mirrors with puddle lights + new front door modules to support the folding mirrors

3. W8 Passat dome lights with built in LEDs

4. Footwell lights

 

Any ideas if any of the above could be causing the power delay immediately after start?

OK after a bit researching and reading up it seems like my Alternator may be on the way out :( 

 

The electrical symptoms of a faulty alternator seems like flicker headlights, dash lights behaving oddly and noise from engine bay. 

 

My headlights are dimming out when I turn the steering wheel (may be normal), when I open the door the roof lights flickers ever so slightly, when I press the accelerator and release it the interior footwell lights flicker / dim out to almost like it is not on  when I roll my window up stationary the interior lights slightly dim out. 

 

What do you think guys? Is it difficult to change a alternator?

As you have already changed the battery, it sounds like the alternator is not maintaining the battery at a high enough voltage when charging. 

If you have a multimeter, check the battery voltage before starting, then watch what happens after starting. Check the voltage again after a run of more than half an hour and report back.

I still believe the delay is due to the protection feature I mentioned before.

A limited charge in the battery would agree with the latest symptoms you describe. But it could also be caused by poor connections, and the most likely would be ground connections on the engine and alternator and both connections on the battery.

Previous models suffered from corrosion in the last few inches of the alternator cable at the battery end. Early signs were the copper cable turning black. Not heard of this yet on Mk 2 cars but would give the same symptoms. 

Worth having a look around all the points mentioned.

38 minutes ago, pikpilot said:

As you have already changed the battery, it sounds like the alternator is not maintaining the battery at a high enough voltage when charging. 

If you have a multimeter, check the battery voltage before starting, then watch what happens after starting. Check the voltage again after a run of more than half an hour and report back.

I still believe the delay is due to the protection feature I mentioned before.

A limited charge in the battery would agree with the latest symptoms you describe. But it could also be caused by poor connections, and the most likely would be ground connections on the engine and alternator and both connections on the battery.

Previous models suffered from corrosion in the last few inches of the alternator cable at the battery end. Early signs were the copper cable turning black. Not heard of this yet on Mk 2 cars but would give the same symptoms. 

Worth having a look around all the points mentioned.

 

Thanks @pikpilot I shall be taking out my Multi-meter this evening and do the tests you have asked me to. 

@pikpilot ok so went out with my Multi-meter and followed the instructions as stated in this video

 

And all measurements are coming back as normal. Without engine running battery read 12.35 volts and engine on and under load (AC, Stereo and Lights all switched on) it mantained a healthy value of 14 Volts. Off load and engine running it mantained between 14 - 14.20 Volts.  Also tested by keeping the positive lead on the Alternator and it was reading 0.5-0.6 Volts. No visible surface rust on negative terminals on battery and alternator. I am doomed

Edited 7 December, 20178 yr by singh946