Started my car up, not light for the speedo or tachometer but was showing headlights are on, no window light switch.. 2013 1.6 tdi fabia

 

Any help appreciated! 

Is it maxi-dot or normal digital display? Does the fuel level indicator come on, etc?

Yes everything but above, now it won't start but turns over 

On 18/11/2019 at 20:41, RyannS98 said:

Started my car up, not light for the speedo or tachometer but was showing headlights are on, no window light switch.. 2013 1.6 tdi fabia

 

Any help appreciated! 

 

A bit of troubleshooting:

Which instrument cluster is it? 

Maxi-Dot : gauges light up white and there is a black and white screen in between, with small analogue fuel and temperature gauges on the bigger gauges.

OR

Multi-Function computer : Gauges light up green when the lights are on, and there is a little green lcd between the dials. There is no temperature gauge, and the fuel gauge is a digital readout with bars. I’ve attached a picture of it.

 

The LEDs in both of these clusters can die, but that wouldn’t explain the engine issues. 

 

Do you know the condition of the battery? Dodgy batteries can cause gremlins on occasion, but as your car turns over, this seems unlikely. 

 

When you say it turns over but doesn’t start, do you mean that it doesn’t even consider starting, or does it cough a bit and then die? 

If it’s just turning over with no signs of life, then it sounds as though there’s no fuel getting to the engine, perhaps due to the fuel pump not being engaged or a clogged filter, or, possibly, a rogue immobiliser. 

 

I know now it’s a shot in the dark and an absolute cliché, but have you tried turning it off and on again? 😆 Disconnecting the battery for a few minutes can sometimes resolve electrical weirdness, particularly those pertaining to the ECU. 

 

Any other warning lights?

Do you have a fault code reader?

 

Sorry, I know this is a lot of questions and information, but hopefully it will help whittle down the vast number of potential causes. 

2 hours ago, CS45 said:

A bit of troubleshooting:

Which instrument cluster is it? 

Maxi-Dot : gauges light up white and there is a black and white screen in between, with small analogue fuel and temperature gauges on the bigger gauges.

OR

Multi-Function computer : Gauges light up green when the lights are on, and there is a little green lcd between the dials. There is no temperature gauge, and the fuel gauge is a digital readout with bars. I’ve attached a picture of it.

 

The LEDs in both of these clusters can die, but that wouldn’t explain the engine issues. 

 

Do you know the condition of the battery? Dodgy batteries can cause gremlins on occasion, but as your car turns over, this seems unlikely. 

 

When you say it turns over but doesn’t start, do you mean that it doesn’t even consider starting, or does it cough a bit and then die? 

If it’s just turning over with no signs of life, then it sounds as though there’s no fuel getting to the engine, perhaps due to the fuel pump not being engaged or a clogged filter, or, possibly, a rogue immobiliser. 

 

I know now it’s a shot in the dark and an absolute cliché, but have you tried turning it off and on again? 😆 Disconnecting the battery for a few minutes can sometimes resolve electrical weirdness, particularly those pertaining to the ECU. 

 

Any other warning lights?

Do you have a fault code reader?

 

Sorry, I know this is a lot of questions and information, but hopefully it will help whittle down the vast number of potential causes. 

 

Had the rac to have a look and when scanned it these came up, I'm going to check the fuel pump later today

6 hours ago, RyannS98 said:

 

Had the rac to have a look and when scanned it these came up, I'm going to check the fuel pump later today

 

From looking at those codes, I think it’s unlikely to be the fuel pump alone. 

No communication Gateway can often mean that one of the main computers has stopped working, and that’s what’s causing the rest of the car to lose it’s mind. 

1 hour ago, CS45 said:

 

From looking at those codes, I think it’s unlikely to be the fuel pump alone. 

No communication Gateway can often mean that one of the main computers has stopped working, and that’s what’s causing the rest of the car to lose it’s mind. 

 

I don't understand how though? I drove it to the end of the street and it just cut out now just turns over but I think the battery has drained abit from checking the fuses so will put some power into it tomorrow.. Any suggestions what to check? 

Weak batteries can make the car a pain to start.

Also, mis-fuelling would do that. You'd drive a short way and then cut out, unable to re-start without draining the tank, adding fresh fuel, etc. Clogged fuel filter might cause an issue.

Edited 23 November, 20196 yr by mrgf

1 hour ago, mrgf said:

Weak batteries can make the car a pain to start.

Also, mis-fuelling would do that. You'd drive a short way and then cut out, unable to re-start without draining the tank, adding fresh fuel, etc. Clogged fuel filter might cause an issue.

 

The day it started I had a car with its jump leads ontl mine and it eventually started up again but died straight away.. So that's what made me think fuel? I'll check everything again tomorrow 

3 hours ago, RyannS98 said:

 

The day it started I had a car with its jump leads ontl mine and it eventually started up again but died straight away.. So that's what made me think fuel? I'll check everything again tomorrow 

 

Hmm, bit of a mystery. 

I can see where you’re coming from with the fueling thing, as it sounds as though the engine isn’t getting fuel. 

However, I just think that all of the other peculiar electrical gremlins you have described would be very coincidental. That’s what’s leading me down the route of a computer component or perhaps a wiring loom, as if that’s dodgey, then it might be causing the fuel pump not to work properly. 

Has the car been involved in any floods or anything like that? 

 

9 hours ago, CS45 said:

 

Hmm, bit of a mystery. 

I can see where you’re coming from with the fueling thing, as it sounds as though the engine isn’t getting fuel. 

However, I just think that all of the other peculiar electrical gremlins you have described would be very coincidental. That’s what’s leading me down the route of a computer component or perhaps a wiring loom, as if that’s dodgey, then it might be causing the fuel pump not to work properly. 

Has the car been involved in any floods or anything like that? 

 

 

It hasn't been involved in any that I'm aware of? Might sound daft but do you think for the light it could be an earthing issue? 

15 hours ago, CS45 said:

 

Hmm, bit of a mystery. 

I can see where you’re coming from with the fueling thing, as it sounds as though the engine isn’t getting fuel. 

However, I just think that all of the other peculiar electrical gremlins you have described would be very coincidental. That’s what’s leading me down the route of a computer component or perhaps a wiring loom, as if that’s dodgey, then it might be causing the fuel pump not to work properly. 

Has the car been involved in any floods or anything like that? 

 

 

Just checked car again no popped fuses, pump/sender unit is getting power however can't here it turn on and the car is struggling to turn over now so could possibly be pump and battery? 

The RAC report shows your car is a 13 plate.

 

Unless the battery has already been changed and the replacement was a good quality part e.g. Bosch / Varta with 4 or 5 year warranty rather than cheapest available from local factor, ECP etc even if not the direct problem realistically it is end of life so needs changing.

 

You may not have noticed if gradually the starter motor has been turning slower but if the voltage drops too far it will turning too slow to start and the fluctuating voltage can cause ECU errors.

 

For now disconnect the existing battery while you charge it and hold the car terminals together for a few minutes.

 

When the battery is fully charged after reconnecting it turn the key to the run position for a few seconds then to off a couple of times before you try to start.

 

Particularly with the temperature dropping another fuel issue could be the filter. When was it last changed? After changing clearing the air can be a problem, there was a thread on this here a while ago. 

 

 

Edited 24 November, 20196 yr by delta925

1 hour ago, delta925 said:

The RAC report shows your car is a 13 plate.

 

Unless the battery has already been changed and the replacement was a good quality part e.g. Bosch / Varta with 4 or 5 year warranty rather than cheapest available from local factor, ECP etc even if not the direct problem realistically it is end of life so needs changing.

 

You may not have noticed if gradually the starter motor has been turning slower but if the voltage drops too far it will turning too slow to start and the fluctuating voltage can cause ECU errors.

 

For now disconnect the existing battery while you charge it and hold the car terminals together for a few minutes.

 

When the battery is fully charged after reconnecting it turn the key to the run position for a few seconds then to off a couple of times before you try to start.

 

Particularly with the temperature dropping another fuel issue could be the filter. When was it last changed? After changing clearing the air can be a problem, there was a thread on this here a while ago. 

 

 

 

Couldn't tell you when it was last changed I'd have to look at the paper work but it hasn't been changed in my ownership which is a little over a year now 

Think I would be tempted to ensure the battery is FULLY charged overnight and see how it goes, if it's slow to turn / start after a proper charge, then its time for a new battery, once thats done it "may" sort the other issues.

12 hours ago, RyannS98 said:

 

It hasn't been involved in any that I'm aware of? Might sound daft but do you think for the light it could be an earthing issue? 

Doesn’t sound daft at all, a burnt ground wire can cause electrical issues. 

I saw a video where a burnt ground wire caused an automatic A4 to refuse to start without having the clutch pressed. 

What’s weird about your case is that all of these weird issues happen at once.

Not sure if I miss it but did you have a jump to start YOUR car or were YOU jumping another? Either way, no wonder its hard to start again! You may have a crap battery so needed a jump or may have damaged the alternator jumping another. (Not defy, just could do).  Get the battery charged and then tested for power, (Crank test/cycle test or whatever its called, not just "Yep, it looks charged")! along with an alternator test, to see if its giving out the proper charge. Too little, the battery gets low, too high, it gets fried!

Edited 25 November, 20196 yr by mrgf

1 hour ago, mrgf said:

Not sure if I miss it but did you have a jump to start YOUR car or were YOU jumping another? Either way, no wonder its hard to start again! You may have a crap battery so needed a jump or may have damaged the alternator jumping another. (Not defy, just could do).  Get the battery charged and then tested for power, (Crank test/cycle test or whatever its called, not just "Yep, it looks charged")! along with an alternator test, to see if its giving out the proper charge. Too little, the battery gets low, too high, it gets fried!

 

Got my car jump started as it died 

2 hours ago, mrgf said:

.....  may have damaged the alternator jumping another.......

 

OT but been there, done that. Much as I like to help I'll never give a jump start again. If really desperate situation I would disconnect my battery from my car but then got to set windows etc up again.

 

Fortunately 1990's design car when far less electronics and everything was more accessible. Luckily picked up a recently recon'd alternator on eBay for about £20 and swapped out myself. In the interim had to put on trickle charge every night.

 

Likewise I only ever buy decent batteries with the view if any issue it could be the difference between enough power to still start the car and failure.

On 24/11/2019 at 22:06, CS45 said:

Doesn’t sound daft at all, a burnt ground wire can cause electrical issues. 

I saw a video where a burnt ground wire caused an automatic A4 to refuse to start without having the clutch pressed. 

What’s weird about your case is that all of these weird issues happen at once.

 

A corroded connection or terminal at one end of the earth strap or main ground cable will cause issue too.