Strange electrical problem

[MS32]

Hi all, I think my R32 just played an april fool's joke on me!

For a while now it has had been a little idiosyncratic - over last 4 months, and about 4 times in total, the following would happen:
- I start engine and drive off
- I notice the dash shows the rear hatch is open
- The hatch wasn't used before starting the car

Then tonight, I go to start engine:
- I notice the dash shows the rear hatch is open.
- I hear fast repetitive clicking noise somewhere behind the headlight dial.
- The headlights and footwell lights flickering at the same pace
- The engine doesn't stay running
- All electricals switch off, except the buttons on the steering wheel remain lit

I remove key and try again:
- Engine doesn't start
- All electricals switch off, except the buttons on the steering wheel are lit

So I remove the key, close the hatch and try again:
- Hatch opens
- Enginie doesn't start or doesn't stay running
- All electricals switch off, except the buttons on the steering wheel are lit

I try several times before engine starts properly, but now:
- Airbag light on
- Engine light on
- Airbag warning on MFD

Bizarre! I'll let you know how I get on. I'd love to hear from any similar experiences too.

-MS32

[gregozedobe]

Does VCDS (or the dealer tool) show any error codes recorded ? Definitely sounds like an electrical problem of some kind. Maybe low voltage somewhere due to a poor earth, intermittent contact in a connector, dry solder joint on a circuit board or damaged wire somewhere. Apparently the control boxes in VAG cars can go a bit weird if you run them undervoltage.

[Mischa]

yeah definitely electrical, could be any of a whole lot of things. dont touch anything take it to your dealer

[Russ59]

yeah definitely electrical, could be any of a whole lot of things. dont touch anything take it to your dealer

x 2, don't mess with it, take it straight to the dealer

Russ

[MS32]

Got it fixed

I finally got this problem resolved. The car was well behaved for most of the time since the original post, but on Thursday it went mental - MFD was telling me the driver door was open (it wasn't!), hatch would not close at all, indicators wouldn't work, no power to climate control... I managed to hobble into the dealer ok without the hatch flying up too many times. The car must've known I had it booked in for Friday!

Anyway, it ended up being a loose wire that was shorting or something. Easy fixed and back on the road! (for now at least...)

[WEDEL.1]

I love a happy ending!!

Maris