Roomster Electrical Nightmare

[SantaRosa248]

My 2015 Roomster has quite a few issues that have just started all at the same time any help or ideas to fix much appreciated.

 

Without a key in the ignition - turn the lights on and you get the full dashboard of lights the same as you would get if you put a key in and turned on the ignition.

Start the engine, turn the lights on and turn the key to turn the engine off and even take out the key ,,, the engine still runs,,,,, turn off the lights and the engine stops!

The boot unlock/lock doesnt happen

All of the lights work except the number plate lights.

cheers

[SuperbTWM]

Sounds like the lights are somehow back-feeding the ignition. Do you have a rodent problem? Any water damage? Dodgy aftermarket stereo?

[J.R.]

Aftermarket alarm fitted?

 

Does the vehicle have a double towing socket?

Edited 4 July, 2023 by J.R.

[SantaRosa248]

Thank you both

Car is original standard no water damage, no rodents no towing socket of any sort, no aftermarket alarm

I also thought that somehow the lighting circuit is feeding the ignition but how I would resolve that?

Something I forgot to mention is that for a while the word immobiliser scrolled across the display but the car started normally.

Also the boot lock doesn't - I did swap the lock with another bought from a car breaker and still didn't work.

Rear number plate lights not working

Is it worth spending £150 per hour asking a Skoda dealer to investigate

[bobspark]

Worth looking at wires in rubber boot between body and rear tailgate as prone to breakage affecting tailgate lock and lights.. My passenger front door lock kept failing intermittently.. By chance whilst installing rear camera found broken wire ,repaired and all came good. 

[bobspark]

(Is it worth spending £150 per hour asking a Skoda dealer to investigate)

 

See if you have any specialist independent auto electricians nearby if you have to go the professional route to seek repair.

[ChrisTids]

I would also start by checking for  broken wires between the car body and the hatchback

 

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/497263-sencom-tailgate-loom-repair/

 

[SurreyJohn]

Our roomster had similar problems with boot lock, ours wouldn't unlock, and lots of other electrical gremlins, including rear wiper randomly going when starting.   Happened when car was about 8 years old.

 

Tailgate wiring loom was changed and everything worked ok after that.  The wires are prone to breaking and causing shorts, especially at the hinge in tailgate.   Tailgate wiring seems to be a weakness on roomsters.

 

 

[SantaRosa248]

Thanks all

I will explore the rubber boot/cables as shown very well in the link from ChrisTids and see how it goes, Been away on holiday so be able to get to it soon

[SantaRosa248]

Fixed

Took the tailgate trim off - popped the rubber gaiter between tailgate and body and found 3 wires cut/damaged. Unclipped the wires from one of the clips on the tailgate to get a bit more cable to play with, soldered/shrink wrapped the joints after extended the wires a little and job done.

I think the earth wire that was cut was touching a live feed to the boot lock cable or one of the others.

Thanks all 

 

[bobspark]

Well done gold star to you.

Thanks for letting us know.