Non-Starting Cupra - Whats Wrong Now? (Inc Video)

[RCS2K4]

Morning peeps,
The Cupra has died this morning, wont start at all. A number of warning lamps come on, and a few flash, followed by a beep, and then the cooling fans kick in.

Here's the vid taken this morning:
http://www.mtmuk.co.uk/seats/28102008011.mp4

Also on YouTube for those without Quicktime:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnWzMl6dGsg

The two lamps that flash relate to a bulb failure and oil pressure. AA man tested all lights on the vehicle, and all worked. Oil is fully topped up also. He could not get it started, so she was towed back to the steeler.

I now have an Astra until at least Friday, great... Dealer does not know whats up with it.

As you all may know, it was just yesterday that the car had the FMIC fitted, is this likley to be the cause? (Although, it drove for over 100 miles yesterday just fine).

Any ideas peeps?

 

[DanGB]

I wouldnt really want to speculate without seeing fault codes..

Be interesting to see how the dealer deals with it with all the mods.

 

[ZBOYD]

Aye, I agree with Dan could be anything. Thats why I have VAGCOM, essential software especially if your modifying.

The fact it's happened after having the IC fitted, narrows it down that something has gone awry when it's been put back together.

The fact the lights are faulting is strange, but if the light units were removed and or the cables connecting them got snagged when relocating. That may explain that issue, or they have worked their way loose after not being plugged back in properly??

Why it won't start is altogether more weird, unless the ECU has had a thrombi if the light units are not connected. Completely theoretical but if the light units have shorted or lost connection it could well prevent the car from being started as it's not safe to drive without functioning light units?


I experienced a problem with my Forge lower boost hoses when they were fitted by Awesome. The car started fine, but had an erratic idle and would stall when it was revved. Also giving a DV pressure fault in VAGCOM.

This was discovered to be shims that should of been taken off the stock boost hoses and fitted to the replacement forge hoses. As the shim made the pipes air tight they were leaking air without them and causing the car to have a bad vacuum. As soon as the seal was rectified with the correct shims back in place the car was fine.

If a hose has has come off or has a bad seal, that may prevent it from starting.

 

[kingkongsfinger]

My Cupra wouldent start this dinnertime when i wanted to fill it up with fuel, I thought i was on fumes coming to work this morning but I defo WAS!!!

It wouldent start because it had run out of fuel!!!!!!!!!!!


Anyway walked to the petrol station with my fuel can and hey presto it started when i put a few litres in, lucky its not effected owt.

 

[RCS2K4]

Ok, here's an update...

I'm pretty ****ed off with the local dealer. Upon recieveing the car back, they inspected it. Showing how stupid they were, they put 0.5 litre's of oil into it to top it up first of all (so oil level on the dipstick went to max). Funnily enough, that did not magically fix the problem.

They then tried attaching the ECU to their VAS 5052 computer, and it could not read the ECU at all, so they were unable to pull off any fault codes. The dealer manager gave me a call back to inform me of this, and said it was most likley due to the REVO code locking them out. She then continued to say that there is nothing more they can do, and would like the car removed from the premises as soon as, despite the fact it still does not start...

While I was at the dealer, I contacted Carl at REVO, who explained the ins and outs of how it works, and how REVO code does not lock out the dealer from being able to view the code. Alas, the manager at Seat was also having none of it, and insisted the place who serviced the car and maintain the mods deal with the issue. She then walked off...

I then contacted VagTech, and they organised a tow of the car back to them for inspection - at no cost to me, so thanks guys They to could not get any response from the ECU via thier VAS system or VagCOM either. They then removed the ECU from the vehicel, and checked all fuses etc - None blown. The ECU once removed from the vehicle also failed to pass any testing, so they put a spare ECU REVO sent them for a GTI ED 30 into the car. This also failed in exactly the same way. I then left at this point, leaving them to continue the fault finding.

Here's some pictures of the car being towed away from the very un-helpful Seat dealer this afternoon:

And before anyone else mentions it, she is full (almost) of fuel!

Anyone got some ideas on where to go next?

 

[Al]

Boost/intercooler hose or intake issue possibly but as its not offering at all, this may rule that out too. Maybe the mechanical autotech fuel pump has a problem?

Sorry to hear of your problems mate.

Edit: Agreed with Z above - You should get yourself VAGCOM mate. Very useful tool.

 

[b1nuzz]

.

Edit: Agreed with Z above - You should get yourself VAGCOM mate. Very useful tool.

Not if the car isnt telling you anything!

 

[Al]

Not if the car isnt telling you anything!

My last car had the same problem with the VAS at the dealer, but VAGCOM still read it ok

 

[warren_cox]

Feel for you as the dealers wipe their hands of any responsibility once they know there is 'ANY' level of modification. Audi were the same, and they only saw my carbon intake. Makes you feel absolutely sick, but does sound a very odd fault.

Hope it can be sorted for you, once you get experts on to it it usually gets solved pretty quick (remembers an overboost issue with my LCR which dealers had and couldn't resolve for 2 days - Stealth Racing had it for 10 mins and located a torn DV hose).

Best of luck mate.

 

[SpursMadDave]

I know you must be extremely p****d off and i'm not taking sides, but why should the dealer sort things out when you have modded the car so much? I know some are more helpful in these cases than other but isn't that one of the negative points of getting a remap etc, if things go wrong... your screwed somewhat... Hope you get it all sorted out asap and enjoy the Astra! (At least it will make you appreciate the Cupra even more when you get it back!)
To be honest you are probably better off with someone that knows more than the dealer anyway.

 

[RCS2K4]

Thanks for the comments guys -I feel much better knowing it's with a garage who actually know a thing or two about cars, rather than the dealers muppets who aint got a clue what to do if the computer says no!

I would not have had it towed there out of choice anyway, but the AA call out was part of the Seat assist package, and he insisted it go back to a main dealer, ergh...

 

[Poverty]

How did they know of the REVO?

What dealer is it?

but why should the dealer sort things out when you have modded the car so much? I know some are more helpful in these cases than other but isn't that one of the negative points of getting a remap etc, if things go wrong... your screwed somewhat...

In some european countries, you can specify a remap as an option on the car. Its just that it hasnt been authorised by VAG uk so far some reason

 

[Leigh15]

I'd imagine the OP told them - there's no real denying mods when the car gets to that sort of level - you'd have to be blind not to see the shiny new twintercooler etc

 

[Poverty]

I'd imagine the OP told them - there's no real denying mods when the car gets to that sort of level - you'd have to be blind not to see the shiny new twintercooler etc

true but a twintercooler shouldnt allow a dealer the right to disregard his warranty issues for the entire engine!

 

[Leigh15]

I agree entirely, but it's the risk you take - a lot a dealers will jump at any chance to void a warranty claim

 

[phil3012]

I agree entirely, but it's the risk you take - a lot a dealers will jump at any chance to void a warranty claim

I thought dealers got paid for the work they did under warranty claims, so it would be in there interests to do the work. Unless SEAT would refuse to pay them if the car has been modified.

 

[Leigh15]

You've hit the nail on the head

 

[ZBOYD]

Dealers don't get paid to do a great deal of fault detection and diagnostic work. In this case as they were obviously clueless based on the fact their diagnostic equipment was unable to read anything on the ECU.

They probably had to consult SEAT technical at HQ in Milton Keynes, and given the description they probably got they would of refused to pay the dealer to attempt what could well of become a multiple part diagnosis.

The dealer most likely took the only realistic option open to them which is to refuse to work on the car. It's a policy that is pushed on them by head office unfortunately. But if they are not paid to do the work it's hardly surprising.

At the end of the day, gone are the days that a car dealership has real mechanics or motor engineering specialists working for them. They are mainly parts fitters, if the computer says change this part, that's what they do. If the computer won't tell them anything, then anything but the most simple diagnosis is going to be beyond the technicians in all honesty.

I'll add not all dealers are like this, some do look past the modifications and even offer them for sale themselves, unapproved I might add.

But this time it's obviously a more in-depth fault, it could well be a genuine warranty fault but SEAT won't see it like that as the car has been altered outside the manufacturers specification.

It's better off back with a specialist, based on the fact it appeared to be fine before the IC was fitted. The logical thing is to check the installation process and make sure nothing has been snagged, shorted or forgotten about when re-assembly took place. The fact the ECU appears to be refusing communication is concerning, but maybe there is a fault with the CAN bus line preventing communication.

It's promising that the car is still cranking though (as in the video), and appears to be an electrical/ecu fault of some kind. Hopefully they will get to the bottom of it for you soon.

 

[Carr20vt]

I can offer no help or advise but hope you get it sorted soon.

 

[Rob66]

sorry to hear about your problems, hope you get it sorted. Parkstone SEAT Dealer in Southend 01702 711841 supply and install REVO they 'may' be worth contacting.

Rob