VW golf V6 dead as a dodo - anyone help?

(Land_of)_Maz

morning all - thank god it's friday!

my car is playing up, i dunno if anyone can help. Any comments much appreciated!

VW Golf V6 4motion...2001.

the thing is, it started ok, i left it running to warm up (as i do every morning) after de-icing it... when i got back in it, the dashboard lights were off... now i know they should have been on cause the side lights were on and i'd put them on see the heater controls, as easier to see when lit....

anyway at this point it was still running okay, but thinking it would help relight the dash, i switched it off and on again, except it wouldn't restart.... dead as a dodo!

Any ideas anyone?

Similar thing happened on monday but my taking out key, locking sterring wheel, locking doors, and reopening all it started okay. My OH reckons the immobiliser had done something, so relocking sorted it... but i think it's more sinister than that..... pah!!

Hintza

I think the system is not best pleased with you leaving it warming up. Some cars just don't like being left idling. Hopefully someone will be along soon who can put some technical detail on why.

You might need to get it plugged in to a diagnostic machine to check it out and I imagine it could be worse if the car needs a service.

espresso

(Land_of)_Maz wrote: »

the thing is, it started ok, i left it running to warm up (as i do every morning) after de-icing it...

Any ideas anyone?

Yes change your ways, as what you are doing is very bad practice!

Don't start the engine until you are ready to drive off.

LandyAndy

I believe leaving a car idling is illegal in Germany (according to my Mazda RX-8 handbook). Perhaps German cars are programmed to point this out to you.;)

(Land_of)_Maz

well y'see... i never used to do this but boyf thought it was a good idea! and he's supposed to know about cars.... i alwys felt it was unnecessary and just one more faff in the morning, so i agree!!

Has had a pretty recent service...

Thanks for comments

espresso

Your BF knows SFA about cars!

:rotfl:

Hintza

My plan at self sorting would be to take it out for a bit of a blast (eg highish revs and a decent) and hopefully that will clean out the system.

Edit:- Oops forgot it is currently dead. Has it come back to life?

(Land_of)_Maz

espresso wrote: »

Your BF knows SFA about cars!

:rotfl:

naaah! in his defence, he's pretty good, can strip down old VW's and rebuild, corrados, mk1,2,3 golfs but once you get into computerised ones he knows less!

spoke to him on the phone, eventually, and he is going to clean up battery terminals before considering changing battery next...

Will put to garage for diagnostic run too i reckon....

Intermittent faults are a b*gger though as you never know if you've got them...

Re the running before you drive off, doesn't it do harm to drive off a cold engine? or am i thinking of castrol gti adverts!

note to self - add homestart to AA membership!

(Land_of)_Maz

Hintza wrote: »

My plan at self sorting would be to take it out for a bit of a blast (eg highish revs and a decent) and hopefully that will clean out the system.

Edit:- Oops forgot it is currently dead. Has it come back to life?

Haven't tried, am at work, borrowed mums 1.6 saxo... ooooh that was fun!

skin off a custard - not!

Inactive

(Land_of)_Maz wrote: »

Re the running before you drive off, doesn't it do harm to drive off a cold engine? or am i thinking of castrol gti adverts!

Nope, that is the correct thing to do, leaving a car ticking over from cold does the harm.

(Land_of)_Maz

Inactive wrote: »

Nope, that is the correct thing to do, leaving a car ticking over from cold does the harm.

thanks!

like i said one less faff in the morning!