Electrics gone mad...

[Robbie Romero]

Hi,

The electrics have gone crazy.

These don't work...

Wipers

Indicators

Brake lights

Head lights

Air Con fan


The orange 'fault' light on the dash is NOT lit up.

The 'side' light bulb comes on, plus the air con works (just no fan), the hazard warning works, horn works, hifi works.

I've checked all the fuses and none are blown.

I've checked the relays under the bonnet and they are OK.

So far the specialist auto electircian has spent 3 hours on it and not found the fault!

They have been able to bypass things to get some of the functions to work, but still NO brake or head lights.

ANY help would be MUCH appreciated.

 

[DPJ]

I think all the items mentioned will only come on when the ignition is on. I would therefore be looking to ignition switch circuitry.

 

[si-mate]

Aren't you the guy with the RHD 1.8t 4x4 leon?

 

[steve_p]

I had a similar problem a while back.
Turned out to be a dodgy earth point.
I'd removed a Battery -'ve to chassis cable (one that I had fitted for an amp in the boot) and had not tightened the existing cables down enough. (earth point on the wheel side of the battery next to the air intake pipe.
It caused all sorts of strange errors, slow wipers, faulty indicators, dim headlights, dim full beam when indicating etc etc.

Worth a look to see if it's an earth fault.

 

[ChrisUK]

Not meaning to sound funny - but check for a blown bulb.

My brake light went a few weeks after I got my car, & it caused a load of electrical gremlins !

 

[traumapat]

what happened before it occured? any work done on it? heavy downpour?

 

[Robbie Romero]

what happened before it occured? any work done on it? heavy downpour?

Thats the weird thing, I was simply parked.

No work done at all.

didn't know anything was wrong until approx 30 min into my journey - tried to indicate from the fast lane of a motorway and - no indicaters!

Tried the wipers - nothing there.

Everything worked the previous day, even the lights, as I'd driven at night.

 

[Robbie Romero]

UPDATE...

The peeps who are looking at it now have spent 8 hours on it!!!

They've got everything working except for the brake lights.

Apparently there is a fault with the ignition barrel (spot on DPJ). Switch at the back?

Anyone know how much the ignition will set me back?

Any help on fixing the brake lights would be ace.

 

[JamesL]

could it just be the switch down by the pedal

 

[Robbie Romero]

could it just be the switch down by the pedal

Switch down by the pedal?

What is the switch called - what does it do.

Sorry to be a numpty, but the car is at the garage now, so I can't look at it.

 

[Robbie Romero]

ALL sorted.

11 hours labour!!!

Required a new switch behind the ignition barrel and the brake light switch had gone. Weird.

Annoying that its cost so much, but I guess with electrical faults its simply trial and error.

Its gonna be £250 inc VAT for the labour and the parts - thats not too bad I guess?

Of interest - I've had more problems with my Leon in the last 6 months than I've had with ALL of my previous cars since 1997.

 

[DPJ]

You'd have saved a lot of labour if you'd gone to a good auto electrician.......

 

[Robbie Romero]

I would have said the same thing - problem is - it went to the BEST auto electrician in the area.

 

[traumapat]

was the car standard when you got it? what else you had go wrong?

 

[lc_allan]

I would have said the same thing - problem is - it went to the BEST auto electrician in the area.

Without even seeing it and based on your symptoms Dave identified the problem area in a few minutes

and James also mentioned the switch. Again without seeing your car.

I wouldn't be pleased with a £250+ bill for that. Switch is less than £10 and you can fit that yourself. Granted I don't know what's involved with the ignition barrel side of it but I'm sure someone on here could have give you further pointers.

 

[Robbie Romero]

I know - reckon it should have been easier to find, but they did have alot of areas to check.

I just wish I knew more about cars - I really good with electrics in general, but not those on cars.

It honestly had the specialist auto electrian stumped!

To answer the above question with regards to what else I've had go wrong...

Mainly electrical problems - all pretty random, but hard to diagnose as nothing shows on VAGCOM. the turbo has also been a pain - MAF went.

I think these cars just weren't made to last?