Electrical Problems

[tricky1138]

Hi, I've just bought an 2001 Octavia TDI Elegance which has a number of electrical problems. Was just wondering if they were related or not and how i'd go about fixing them.

Any help would be great as the rest of the car is great.

Its a long list!

All windows wont go up or down in one go (stop in various places and have to use switch to move them again!)
Drivers side rear window not working
Passenger side front door lock operation in reverse (sometimes works but most of time goes up when i lock it and goes down when i unlock!)
No flashing light (immob?) on drivers door
Lights left on buzzer not working
Rear wiper not working
No airbag light on dash

Now I can work around most of the problems but i'm really worried by the lack of airbag light on dash!

I've took it to my local garage which plugged it into computer and got some errors - i'll get them off him when i go back!

Main one was that he said he couldnt read the Airbag ECU. He said it came up with "Data Bus AirBag ECU not found" or something like that.

Anyone any ideas?

I've seen elsewhere about the door control unit or the central convenience unit - any ideas if I need to replace either or both?

Thanks,

Tricky.

[VRStu]

Might be worth reading some of the posts regarding water ingress.

Do the rear washers work ok?

[tricky1138]

Yeah washers work ok!

Am gonna get drivers door card of and check connections - anyone have a guide for taking door card off?

[mbames]

See: http://www.matthewames.co.uk/briskod...30958-0001.pdf

1. Remove tweaker (pulls straight out (horizontally) into the car
2. Remove electrical switches from the door trim:
see 12.2 - wing mirror adjuster switch
see 12.9a and 12.9b for the handle assembly.
3. Remove torx screws around the sides/bottom of the trim
4. Remove screw located near to the door release handle (behind the mirror switch)
5. Remove the two (or three) large screws located behind the main handle/switch assembly.
6. Gently pull trim away from the door at the bottom and disconnect the power cable to the light
7. Pull trim upwards (or push up from underneath) to release the grip that runs the width of the window glass.
8. Disconnect the door release cable from the back of the internal door handle
9. Unclip the LED at the top of the trim

Fitting is the reverse of above (apart from you need to spend a bit of time getting the lock pin "thing" to stick back through the top of the trim.

[KenONeill]

The airbag error makes me think that someone's disconnected it to get rid of a warning light. Are you getting seatbelt/airbag system self-test and driver's belt not on lights and dongs on ignition on?

[tricky1138]

Well just been to garage and got codes off VAGcom. List as follows!

18044 DataBus Airbag
00797 Sun Photo Sensor (G107)
01321 Airbag
01334 RR Door Module
01333 RL Door Module
01332 Pass Front Door Module
02331 Drivers Front Door Module
00943 Mechanical Fault Drivers side heated door mirror.

Current list of faults -

Passenger front door locks internittent
All windows wont open or close in one go - the stop and then you have to use the switch again
No immob light on drivers door
No puddle light on drivers door
Drivers side rear window doesnt open from drivers door
Both doors on drivers side dont operate interior light (others do!)
No lights on waring buzzer
No airbag light on dash!
Rear wiper doesnt work
Radio not keeping its settings
Clicking noise (relay) coming from hazard switch
Heater plugs not coming on
Front Fogs not working

Its a long list!!!!!


I've had the drivers door card off and check the "scart" connector and that was bone dry!
I've checked the wiring going into the rear wiper - one wire is giving me permanant 12v the other 3 gave me nothing with wiper switched on or not! Rear washer works!
The seatbelt warning chime does come on when I turn ignition on.
I've tried replacing the hazard switch but the problem remains.

I'm going to get a new Central Locking Control Unit but is there anything else I need to be looking at? (Airbag ECU?, Central Convinence Unit?)

[KenONeill]

Radio not keeping its settings suggests that a "permanent live" isn't.

The driver's door issues suggest either its feed or its door microswitch.

I think if I'm right and you can solve those two, it'll probably sort about half the others.

[will_]

Do any of these share a common earthing point? There's a big one behind the dashboard, IIRC.

[tricky1138]

Just an update on whats been going on!

Central locking and windows still playing up - do I need a new central convenience unit or a new door module?

Airbag fixed with new airbag ecu!

Rear wiper was just the motor - replaced that and all is ok!

Front fogs seamed to be broken connectors on the headlights so they now working after replacing the connectors.

Radio now working after changing the wiring round!

Hazard switch still clicking but will live with that till I buy a new one!

So just the central locking/windows then?
Just a reminder - all doors lock /unlock other that front pass door which seams to have a mind of its own! All windows work but intermittently stop moving even when you still have your finger on the switch - rear drivers side worst!
No interior light when opening drivers door, no immob led on drivers door, puddle light i thought didnt work but last night i noticed it comes on when the car door is just open.

The door control unit is clean and bone dry. Is it still faulty? Should I replace the central convenience unit in the dash? Is it just the door microswitch?

By the way where is the microswitch and how do you check it works and how do you replace it?

Sorry for the essay!!!

[KenONeill]

The "door open" microswitch you mean? It's built into the lock mechanism; If you have problems with the front courtesy lights and/or the "door open" light on the dash and/or the "lights on, engine off" buzzer, and/or the red light in the door (sometimes called the "puddle light" but the position and colour are wrong for that functionality) I'd suspect the microswitch or door loom.

[octavia98]

On the sticky window thing, try getting hold of some interior trim cleaner or the like, slippery silicon type stuff, and spray it carefully up the channels in the doors with the windows right down. Will hopefully ease the passage of the glass...

[tricky1138]

Its the door open microswitch i'm looking for! Can anyone tell me where it is and how to go about checking its functionality?

[AndrewTait]

The Microswitch is built into the door catch, the bit that holds the door shut.

As for checking it's functionality, I'm pretty certain you have a fault with it - Your 'puddle' light does not come on, the interior light does not work from this door, and the lights on buzzer is not working.

I suspect, the car will also lock itself after a short while if you only open this door (Assuming this function is enabled on the car!)

[tricky1138]

You are absolutely correct - the doors will auto lock if that is the only door opened.

Now how do you fix it?!

[AndrewTait]

You will need to remove the door card, and then the catch mechanism.

If you are competent with electronics you can then replace the microswitch on the door catch. Alternatively, replace the entire catch.