S3 - dead, not starting, no charge light

7Oaks · Aug 27, 2013

Hi, I'd appreciate any advice on my problem.

My S3 has been off the road for quite a while. I've been working through the problems and getting near to my MOT. I was testing all the little things on Monday and took it for a spin round the field, but after some time, it just cut out when idling. No electrical life at all - no starter solenoid click or charge light.

The battery charge was a bit low so I charged it overnight but 24 hours later, although the headlights shine brightly, still no signs of life. I checked my fuses - the first fuse (closest to the pedals) is blown but replacing it with a good fuse, didn't make any difference. Still no signs of life from the starter motor, solenoid or even the charge light.

Any thoughts?

regards, Justin

jamesmartin · Aug 27, 2013

petrol or diesel check solenoid has feed to it from battery petrol on bulkhead diesel on starter

blue beasty · Aug 27, 2013

Dodgy connection to ignition switch I imagine or the switch itself.

Bump · Aug 27, 2013

Check there is still an earth wire between the engine and the chassis and the chassis and the battery!

7Oaks · Aug 28, 2013

Thanks for the advice chaps .

Bump said:
Check there is still an earth wire between the engine and the chassis and the chassis and the battery!

Thanks Bump, but I guess I wouldn't get the headlights working if the earth had gone?

I will follow up on Beasty's point about the possibility of the ignition switch or contacts being the issue just as soon as I figure out how to get at the back of the ignition switch. I guess I have to remove the lower dash?

oxides · Aug 28, 2013

7Oaks said:
Thanks for the advice chaps .

Thanks Bump, but I guess I wouldn't get the headlights working if the earth had gone?

I will follow up on Beasty's point about the possibility of the ignition switch or contacts being the issue just as soon as I figure out how to get at the back of the ignition switch. I guess I have to remove the lower dash?

Just the steering wheel shroud. Sounds like your battery's had it.

dominicbeesley · Aug 28, 2013

Nah, the headlights wouldn't work then..

oxides · Aug 28, 2013

dominicbeesley said:
Nah, the headlights wouldn't work then..

Well, they would, but they'd dim when you tried to start. Sounds like the whole battery/starter/charging circuit/earth need a good clean and reconnect but I suspect it'll need a new battery. Is it petrol? do you get a spark when you use the handle?

blue beasty · Aug 28, 2013

One way to check is run a length of wire from battery +ve to the small spade connector on the soleniod (in nuetral) and engine should turn over

7Oaks · Aug 28, 2013

thanks for all the input - I whipped off the the steering column shroud, but also needed to undo the instrument binnacle to get at the wiring at the back of the ignition unit. As soon as I started prodding the wiring the charge and oil pressure lights came on and the engine started with no problem. The loose connection seems to be the wire a 1 o'clock (viewed from as if you were able to see through the bulkhead). I've lashed that wire to the rest with some tape in order to keep it from wiggling around - just to get it down to the garage for the MOT. But obviously I'll have to replace the ignition switch for a permanent fix.

Is it possible to detach the electrical part of the ignition switch from the steering column lock barrel?

regards, Justin

jamesmartin · Aug 28, 2013

7Oaks said:
thanks for all the input - I whipped off the the steering column shroud, but also needed to undo the instrument binnacle to get at the wiring at the back of the ignition unit. As soon as I started prodding the wiring the charge and oil pressure lights came on and the engine started with no problem. The loose connection seems to be the wire a 1 o'clock (viewed from as if you were able to see through the bulkhead). I've lashed that wire to the rest with some tape in order to keep it from wiggling around - just to get it down to the garage for the MOT. But obviously I'll have to replace the ignition switch for a permanent fix.

Is it possible to detach the electrical part of the ignition switch from the steering column lock barrel?

regards, Justin

yes 2 little screws through side

S3 - dead, not starting, no charge light

7Oaks

Member

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

blue beasty

Leaks an prone to bits dropping off

Bump

Well-Known Member

7Oaks

Member

oxides

Well-Known Member

dominicbeesley

Well-Known Member

oxides

Well-Known Member

blue beasty

Leaks an prone to bits dropping off

7Oaks

Member

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

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