Hi Folks,

 

I accidentally started this thread in the Superb forum but thought it may be better to move it here. Looking for some help with my Octavia Scout. Its a 2010 and has completely died. The electrics still work but the engine management light is on the dash and the car wont turn over. I have an OBDeleven and it has produced 4 fault codes, one for each glow plug - P067100. I have checked the resistance across each plug and get about 0.8 ohms. I then pulled the coolant temp sensor and checked the supply voltage to each plug with the ignition on. I get between 5 - 6 volts supply voltage at each plug. At first I though this was odd because the Haynes says there should be battery voltage at the plug. Battery is sitting at 12.1 volts. But then I read that there are some VW plugs that have 7 volts supply so now I'm not too sure. 

 

So far I have suggestion that it may be an immobiliser issue, but I'm unsure how to test the immobiliser. Also a suggestion that it could be the wiring to the starter solenoid which is a good point so I will check this next. 

 

Could anyone shed some knowledge on this issue or suggest any more checks that I can do? I was also thinking of replacing the glow plug relay under the fuse box in the engine bay but thats just a stab in the dark at the moment.

 

Cheers

Don't change things without proving where the fault lies.

An imobiliser will give a dashboard warning plus it will allow the car to start and run for about 5 to 10 seconds before turning off the engine.

Glow plugs are not needed at this time of year, even in Scotland. They may be faulty but not the cause of your problem.

13 hours ago, Tony__C said:

The electrics still work but the engine management light is on the dash and the car wont turn over

 

First port of call should be why the starter is not working. Does it have a supply whilst you are trying to crank?

Ditto for the solenoid supply on the starter - the small cable.

Check the earth cable from the battery to the body near the starter.

Starter motors can fail so don't rule it out.

Great tips, thanks pikpilot. I'll get started on starter motor/solenoid checks and report back later in the week. cheers

I just realised I hadnt updated this thread. Thanks for your help pikpilot in narrowing down the issue. It was the starter solenoid after all. I bypassed the solenoid and it started right up. New starter motor in now so all is good. The glow plug fault has cleared for now so I'll just keep an eye on that Cheers!

Actually, cancel that last message. I've went and jumped the gun. I dont know how I managed to get it started now when messing with the starter. The car had started when applying power directly to the motor from the battery and I drove it for about 20 minutes from my in-laws back home. I replaced the starter motor and cleared the fault codes, when I turned the ignition it turned over for about 5-10 seconds but didnt fire. On trying again there was just a 'clunk' as the engine partially turned, then it died. On trying ignition again there is no attempt to start, same as before.

 

On reading the codes now, I am still getting the glow plug fault P067100 plus a whole host of ECU communication faults: 01134 for Alarm horn. 03156 Anti-theft alarm system sensor. Several 01314  ECM. Terminal 30 faults. Door control modules no signal/communication.

 

So I'm now thinking towards an ECU issue. Any ideas on where to start fault finding? Thanks

 

 

 

I strongly suggest that you get the battery load tested. Multiple fault codes is often an indication of a failing battery.

Thanks Warrior193, I have tried to jump start the car using a jumper pack and from the battery in my van and that didnt help the issue. Im not ruling out that the battery might be bad but I thought that as it wont jump start  there must be another issue.

Hi Folks, still no progress with this. I found a blown fuse for the alarm horn and one for the headlight washer system. Both fuses are located next to each other on the board, not sure if thats suspicious or related? I have replaced these and no longer get the 01134 for Alarm horn or 03156 Anti-theft alarm system sensor fault codes. 

 

I fully charged that battery and tried starting with no joy. Then took a fresh battery out my transit van and tried it with no luck either. I've cleaned up three earth points local to the battery. I swapped out the glow plug relay underneath the engine fuse board. I removed the '100 relay' inside the engine fuse box and tested it as I've read this can be associated with glow plugs and ECU power. All working correctly. I have removed the ECU for a look at the connectors which all looked clean but i gave them a light clean anyway. The ECU case has some corrosion on it but I didnt want to go cracking it open just yet as it should be sealed. I've also fitted a new starter motor when I thought that must be the issue. 

 

I cleared the codes using my OBDeleven. I now get no faults showing in the OBDeleven although the glow plug light is flashing on the dash and the emissions light is still on.

 

The car isnt making any attempt to turn over at the moment. Anyone with electrical experience have any ideas where I could start looking next?

 

Many thanks

 

 

- dont know if this is worth mentioning or related, but the left indictor lamp and cruise control lamp on the instrument cluster are dimly lit and stay permanently on with the ignition on. ..

1 hour ago, Tony__C said:

- dont know if this is worth mentioning or related, but the left indictor lamp and cruise control lamp on the instrument cluster are dimly lit and stay permanently on with the ignition on. ..

 

1 hour ago, Tony__C said:

- dont know if this is worth mentioning or related, but the left indictor lamp and cruise control lamp on the instrument cluster are dimly lit and stay permanently on with the ignition on. ..

That type of issue is often caused by a poor ground (chassis earth) connection - have you checked the ground connection from engine to chassis? 

3 hours ago, Tony__C said:

dont know if this is worth mentioning or related, but the left indictor lamp and cruise control lamp on the instrument cluster are dimly lit and stay permanently on with the ignition on. ..

As Warrier 193 said, plus I had this after along period of rain with the car standing outside.

With this condition I was also able to affect which dim lights came on by switching on other loads such as the turn signals.

It may have been caused by moisture in the comfort control module underneath the dash and on the right of the steering column.

I fixed it by leaving all the windows open on a dry warm day. Problem solved.

 

Here is my previous post from 2021 with photos

I had exactly this and more at the end of last week.

With handbrake on, ignition on and lights on I got the ASR and red coolant over temperature warning on dimly.

With handbrake off, ign on and lights on I got the LH turn light and ASR dimly lit.

With lights off and handbrake on I got the ASR and over high coolant lights still on.

 

This problem was after a week of strong wind and rain and a long time of no use.

I suspected it was water somewhere as the whole car was "steamed up" as soon as I closed the door and was reluctant to clear with a fibre cloth. [My car never normally has condensation as I use the climate control even in winter to keep the humidity low]

 

So, the fix:

First I left the bonnet open for the whole of a sunny day in case it was water around the ecu - no change

Secondly, on the dryer sunny day of Saturday, I left all the windows open with the car locked. When I checked in the evening everything was back to normal and has stayed that way.

 

Conclusion:

I believe the very high humidity, (perhaps I have water leak somewhere) resulted in water droplets forming across terminals in the electronics inside the car.

 

See photos for details. Note the camera aperture is set to make the dim light more visible.

 

 

Edited 1 March, 2021 by pikpilot

 

Thanks pikpilot, very similar symptoms so could well have been the issue.

 

Warror193, I dont have the words to express my gratitude, this has had me stressed for weeks. I cant quite locate the engine ground and its starting to get dark now. But I put a jumper on the engine block and attached the other end to the battery earth point and she started straight up! Removed the jumper and the symptoms came back and wouldnt start. So thats definitely the issue. I thought I had tried this previously but I must not have had a good connection. Really cant thank you enough!