Dash console cuts out - help!

[ChrisG]

Hi All

My missus was driving to work in her Leon TDi SE ('01) on Thursday when the coolant temp light flashed along with one other dashboard light, but the car kept running fine and the lights went out within 2 seconds. First thoughts were that the Tesco's fuel problem had also found itself into diesel cars!

Anyway, the car was OK coming home that evening but yesterday on the way to work the whole dash cut out, all the dials went to zero and the back illumination went out, the only things working were the odo / clock LCD screens, and the indicator lights on the console. It then kicked back in after a few minutes and worked for the rest of the journey, but on the way home it did the same and didnt work again all the way home.

This morning the dash is sort-of working again (fuel level showing nearly empty when its in fact full) so I plugged in VAG COM and got the following error codes from an auto scan:

Address 08 -------------------------------------------------------
Controller: 1M0 820 043 D
Component: 1M-CLIMATRONIC X0605
Coding: 00044
Shop #: WSC 06441
1 Fault Found:
01297 - Sensor for Vent Temperature: Footwell (G192)
30-00 - Open or Short to B+

Address 17 -------------------------------------------------------
Controller: 1M0 920 901 B
Component: S5-KOMBIINSTR. VDO V03
Coding: 05422
Shop #: WSC 06441
IMMO-IDENTNR: SEZ7Z0Y0871446
3 Faults Found:
01039 - Coolant Temperature Sensor (G2)
29-10 - Short to Ground - Intermittent
00779 - Outside Air Temp Sensor (G17)
30-10 - Open or Short to B+ - Intermittent
00779 - Outside Air Temp Sensor (G17)
29-10 - Short to Ground - Intermittent

Also what was odd is that the first time I turned the ignition on, the radiator fans switched themselves on despite the engine being stone cold and not switched on. That also hints towards an earthing problem on the coolant temperature sender, but not sure why that alone would make the dash cut out so I think its probably more widespread than that. Any ideas where to start looking

?

cheers

Chris

 

[m0rk]

check all the fuses everywhere

 

[ChrisG]

Ive checked all the fusebox fuses, any others off the top of your head you can think of to check?

One thing that may or may not be relevent is that about 2 months ago the missus rearranged the front end by having and argument with the back of a van, resulting in needing new bumper / bonnet / slam panel / radiator etc, so I wonder if anything they've done has come loose somewhere.

 

[ChrisG]

It looks worryingly identical symptoms to this thread, which required a complete new console

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=105946&highlight=temperature

 

[flares]

Had a similar problem wiyh my wifes `02 toledo tdi , everything on the dash going on and off . Then the car lost power and sounded like a tank , we had to have a new alternator

 

[ChrisG]

Just been out and checked over a few things, pulled the underside of the dash off to check if there was anything obvious under there, but couldnt see anything. When I first ran the engine the dash was working although the fuel gauge was only saying half full even though my girlfriend brimmed it last night. Without any warning it then died again completely so I checked to see if there were any lose wires but wiggling everything didnt help. I also took out what I think is the dash control module mounted on a bracket hanging off the side of the steering column with 2 large multi-plugs going into it, to check the multiplugs were seated OK.

I then took the earth lead off the battery and put my multimeter across the connection, and something is drawing 3 amps even with the ignition turned off which doesnt seem right! Need to go back out and investigate further in a moment (when it stops raining), but I suspect it may one of the sensors mentioned above thats shorting out and affecting eveything else.

 

[ChrisG]

I think the 3A draw was because I had the door open so the interior light was on, Doh!

Anyway, its more like 0.8A with the door closed, still more than Id expect TBH, but might be wrong. The engine fans also came on this time with the ignition, and the temperature gauge is all screwy, one time reading -12c, the next time reading about 2c when in fact its more like 8-10c.

Got a feeling this is going to be one of those problems thats a complete PITA to nail down

 

[ChrisG]

Does anyone know what might happen if I were to swap the dash control module from my Cupra into the TDi, to see if it is this box thats causing the problem?

My one concern is that from what I understand, this module stores the immobiliser code in it, so wondered if swapping it over to a different car might upset it and leave me with two knackered boxes?!!

cheers

Chris

 

[s1 evoloution]

I had a new ecu with throttle body on a car because iOF A ECU AND THROTTLE BODY FAULT ON A 1.8.20V SPORT TOLEDO BACK IN 2006 new and the wiring was disconnected to connect ecu . The seat dealership said the imo is the clocks and has to be synchronised to the car including throttle body before the car will run.