Help please! My diesel stopped working!

[shogun2]

Just had a set of HID lights put in to the T5 Multivan.
We drove the 5K's to home without any diffic ulties.
Last night I fired up the lights to see what they do. Had the T5 idling in the driveway while I checked the light output with my light meter when the engine just stopped without warning, and the "coil" warning light came on on the dash.
Now the engine will turn over with the battery, but the engine will not start.
What could be wrong?
Is it possible that something the auto electrician did caused this?
Is it worth getting the RAA out to have a look?
Thoughts please?

Oh - and Happy New Year to all.

[Russ59]

Happy New Year also !!

Could just be a coincidence, I had a similar situation with tow bar wiring and blowing brake light globes with the trailer plugged into the new socket, turned out to be the brake pedal switch (EF Falcon, common problem apparently ).

I would probably be taking it back to the installer though and getting them to check their work, by the sounds of what I have read about VW electricals, they are brilliant, but as soon as someone makes changes to something there could be issues with something else.

Russ

[Greg Roles]

My best guess is the guy has taken power from the engine circuit somehow, and it's tripped the computer. HID, fogs etc draw more current, so perhaps he went looking for larger wires for power? What I can say is now that I've put an aftermarket stereo in the Golf, the wiring is not straight forward, the CAN-BUS system sends all sorts of pulses and signals down common wires, and isn't like cars used to be. Very complicated electrically.

Even a simple stereo power and ignition input was not easy, and I've done several major ones over the years.

[shogun2]

Just had a chance to read the manual. It says that there is a problem in the engine management with the Glow Plugs.
Could the installation of the HID lamps cause the engine management fault?

[phaeton]

Its a annoying thats its NY's Day.

Have you called VW Roadside Assist yet ?

Other wise wait till tomorrow and see if Solitaire can help

Good Luck Rod

[shogun2]

Thanks Ben,

VW Roadside assist ran out in July, and we didn't get extended warranty

[phaeton]

Thanks Ben,

VW Roadside assist ran out in July, and we didn't get extended warranty

RAA then ?

I'd wait for Solitaire to reopen if possible.

[gregozedobe]

I'm with Russ - faulty brake light switch. It is a very common problem with VWs in the US, and I think they gut up to the 4th revision before getting it right. Do a search on TDI club, there's heaps of info about it there. The older revisions can be stuffed up when you fit them unless you follow the correct procedure.

Mind you, it could still be related to something that the Auto electrician did, but assuming you checked the lights and used the brakes before you got home it is less likely than the brake switch.

Hope you get it fixed quickly and without too much drama, let us know how you get on.

[h100vw]

VAG-COM it for faults before making a decision on where to take it.

If you need to borrow one, mine isn't busy today.

Gavin

[shogun2]

Unfortunately, difficult to take back to the installer, unless it's on the top of a tray truck ...

[Russ59]

I'm with Russ - faulty brake light switch. It is a very common problem with VWs in the US, and I think they gut up to the 4th revision before getting it right. Do a search on TDI club, there's heaps of info about it there. The older revisions can be stuffed up when you fit them unless you follow the correct procedure.

Mind you, it could still be related to something that the Auto electrician did, but assuming you checked the lights and used the brakes before you got home it is less likely than the brake switch.

Hope you get it fixed quickly and without too much drama, let us know how you get on.

Greg I wasn't saying that the problem in this case was a faulty brake light switch, I was only using my experience with the faulty brake switch as an example of coincidence. I think the idea of running a check for faults is probably the best option. Good luck with it Rod !!

Russ

[shogun2]

With many thanks to Gavin for the use of his Vag-Com:

18071 - Control Circuit for PD Injectors: Short to Plus
P1663 - 000 - - - MIL ON
Freeze Frame:
RPM: 840 /min
Torque: 36.6 Nm
Speed: 0.0 km/h
Load: 0.0 %
Voltage: 13.98 V
Bin. Bits: 00001100
Temperature: 36.0°C
Bin. Bits: 01010000

18009 - Relay for Supply Voltage Terminal 30 (J317): Implausible Signal
P1601 - 000 - -
Freeze Frame:
RPM: 0 /min
Torque: 0.0 Nm
Speed: 0.0 km/h
Load: 0.0 %
Voltage: 11.32 V
Bin. Bits: 00001100
Bin. Bits: 0
(no units): 0.0

Don't know whether the second one has any relevance to the fault, but the first one certainly does. Can anyone suggest possible causes?

[h100vw]

I'd say it was wiring Rod.

A job for an auto electrician. A short to Plus doesn't sound to be good. Although, the way VAG-COM works, it has to base it's diagnosis on a wide range of possibilities and I don't think they include wiring problems in that process.

The way it flags boost leaks on 1.8Ts is a good example. It points the digital finger at the DV when it is just as likely to be a hose clip loose. They have to assume a certain amount of things don't fail I guess.

Gavin

[h100vw]

http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/t/88786.aspx

[shogun2]

All the little clues add up.
I looked at the forum link, and it mentions an external tuning box. I have the Digi PD box from diesel-power.com. I have removed the box (which I was going to do anyway), and all it now well!
Thanks especially to Gavin, and all others who provided comment.
Cheers, and Merry New Year!