Lol, car won't start :(

[ruku]

I was on my way to look at a vrs when my car decided to beep at me while flashing the handbrake light at me, also the abs and power steering light came on.

I thought I'd restart the engine - bad idea. decided it wouldn't start again.

Managed to get it to bump start and get it home, but I don't have power steering and it still won't start without bumping.

Anybody any Ideas? :S

It's a 1.9tdi

[Mr Grumpy]

It's broken.
HTH.

[ruku]

Thanks very much G

[isinglass]

battery or alternator maybe?

[Mr Grumpy]

If it turns over and the battery seems fine, I would have said it's the alternator.
I wouldn't have thought they were too expensive, if that helps.

[tdirob]

when I had alternator problems last year it killed off my power steering (not very helpful on a roundabout)

Think I paid £60ish including delivery for an alternator from a scrappy.

[ruku]

Well I found a disconnected plug which I reconnected.

This cures the flashing handbrake light, but the other 3 lights are still on (PAS, ASR and ABS)

Still doesn't start.

Wondering if the connection was from the alternator to battery or something and wasn't charging it, thus perhaps I have a flat battery?

[isinglass]

has someone been in yer engine bay recently?

Which plug was disconnected, can you photo it?

You can test the battery and alternator with a multimeter or theres a specific little meter you can buy that has about 4 led's to show status.

when the engines running you should get 14 (and a bit) volts across battery if alternator working

[dxg]

Could also be a dodgy earth from the engine block to the chassis which would stop the alternator charging.

I would check that the cable's still firmly bolted on at both ends.

[ruku]

Right, I put the battery on a trickle charge and went and got a multi-meter (mines at work)

When I got back, it fired up straight away with no fault lights on the dash.

I only got the car ~5 weeks ago. So I reckon it's been disconnected since I had it.

I don't have a decent camera, but the connection is under the battery on it's own, looks like a 2 pin plug.

The alternator is putting out around 12v.

[Decron]

The alternator should put out more than that.

What are you doing when you make that reading?

[ruku]

It's 12v at idle and even revving it stays the same, the haynes manual said it should not put out more than 14v, but it doesn't move.

[isinglass]

sounds like the alternator to me, however

also check this out:

Fabia Electrical Help Needed - BRISKODA - The Skoda Forum and Community
No Battery Lamp on Dashboard - BRISKODA - The Skoda Forum and Community
Skoda Parts - BRISKODA - The Skoda Forum and Community

seems there is something called a 'dfm wire' that can cause a problem. Sounds like you have to take the undertray off to examine it though.

My alternator went not long ago. I got an exchange/refurbished one fitted for £150 by a mobile mechanic. I think they are very pricey new.

[ruku]

Thanks for that mate!

[auroan]

Yeah there was an alternater fault on vagcom when we scanned it, at the last but one Malt house meet.

Ruku, did you get any of the other faults quoted for ?

[ruku]

Originally Posted by auroan

Yeah there was an alternater fault on vagcom when we scanned it, at the last but one Malt house meet.

Ruku, did you get any of the other faults quoted for ?

I asked Lummox and it would seem that all but one of the faults would have likely been caused by the DMF wire.

I have now sorted the wire - I have a battery light now! And all others have gone.

Starts first time, but weather that's because we had it on charge, or because of the wire is yet to be discovered.

Guess I'll find out soon!

Thanks for all the help!

auroan you have a PM!