Oh dear.... what now!

[S3AMJ]

Hi guys,

So washed my car before heading to London. Went about 10 mins up the road and the car is limping, then shows low oil pressure! So I pull over immediately!.....

Car cuts out, turn the ignition off and on go the hazards!

I turn the ignition on, can’t hear the fuel pump prime. I use ColourMFA to see if there are any fault codes.... it can’t communicate with the ECU. I then here this buzzing down by the fusing and turn the ignition off.

I call breakdown and get towed to my parents house so at least I can investigate. Checked the ECU which seems fine, no water around anywhere. I turn the ignition on while all the underdash is off and 167 relay is buzzing and small sparks are kicking off inside. Turn the ignition off and pull the relay.... 167 relay is for the fuel pump! Which would actually have thrown the P0011 code I had a couple weeks ago.

If this relay has gone, would it prevent me talking to the ECU?! :/


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[S3AMJ]

Can’t communicate with the instrument cluster either, swapped the ColourMFA cluster for the original and still nothing...

Is my ECU goosed?


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[DCH]

I can’t help you, but I hope it resolves itself without any great cost and drama for you

A day of gremlins it seems

DCH

 

[S3AMJ]

VCDS is communicating with other modules, abs, radio, airbags, etc.

The only ones it’s not communicating with is Ecu and instrument cluster.

If the ECU isn’t getting power... that would obviously cause it to stop communicating, how can I test this?

I’m out of ideas, stuck in Herefordshire and have work in London at 7am.... brilliant.


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[ADs3]

Probably absolutely no help at all here but I had a strange fault the other morning.
Car would turn over & fire up but die instantly, I thought it was either the immobiliser, the fuel pump, pump fues or the relay but all was fin, went to use mfa for diagnostics but then realised mfa wasnt actually displaying either so couldn't read any codes!.....all other dash lights/displays were working just not mfa.

I disconnected the battery for 10 mins which I think re sets the ECU or something like that & it fired up, mfa back on but no codes, has been fine ever since, might be worth a try.

 

[ADs3]

It's also had been hammering it down all night & morning........might be linked seeing as you've washed your car too

 

[S3AMJ]

Probably absolutely no help at all here but I had a strange fault the other morning.
Car would turn over & fire up but die instantly, I thought it was either the immobiliser, the fuel pump, pump fues or the relay but all was fin, went to use mfa for diagnostics but then realised mfa wasnt actually displaying either so couldn't read any codes!.....all other dash lights/displays were working just not mfa.

I disconnected the battery for 10 mins which I think re sets the ECU or something like that & it fired up, mfa back on but no codes, has been fine ever since, might be worth a try.

Thanks chap, I’ll give that a go. Seems strange that my Ecu can not be read by VCDS or my instrument cluster.

That and the buzzing from my 167 fuel pump relay. That could actually be on its way out because a couple weeks ago I got the P0011 code.

Just confused as hell, as the car came to a stop, it was throwing all kinds of warnings, low oil pressure, even outside temperature sensor failure?!


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[ADs3]

It's worth a shot if your all outta ideas it wont do any harm to try.

I'm awful when it comes to electrical faults it's just not my thing......maybe replace the relay as a precaution if it's been messing about lately

Good luck with it & let us know if you get it sorted

 

[S3AMJ]

Thanks mate, I’ll be on the phone to TPS in the morning and pick up a new 167 relay and 428 relay. The 428 relay is the electrical control relay which is inside the black box in the engine bay next to the MAF.

I’ll also check the grounds and all the other fuses. Just run out daylight and time.

Fortunately my boss is good to me and allowed me to try and get it all sorted tomorrow.


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[RAF_S7]

Did you power wash the engine bay?

 

[S3AMJ]

Did you power wash the engine bay?

No only the outside bud. No different to normal.


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[S3AMJ]

Been busy this morning eliminating things.... checked all fuses and all check out fine, disconnected the battery while I’m sourcing a new 167 relay, that’s definitely dead checked it and was getting 5.6-5.7v. Checked the 428 relay and was getting 15.1v which seems quite high to me. I’ll change this anyway for piece of mind.

Scuttle panel all back on and cleaned out, swapped the cluster back over for the ColorMFA one.

Going to be hitting the motor factors and give you all an update, fingercrossed its a simple one.... after that I’m at a loss.


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[S3AMJ]

Well tried another fuel pump relay, doing the same thing... buzzing and no sound of the fuel pump priming.

Just noticed that my engine management light on the cluster is flickering faintly. Done fault checks on other modules and both radio/navigation and abs thrown a fault to do with no communication with engine control module......

No idea what to check now :/


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[Tj 0785]

I’d check your wallets full, although I doubt it will be for long, what a ball ache that is hope you get it sorted and it’s not a new ecu needed,did the breakdown not look into it before they towed it

 

[S3AMJ]

I’d check your wallets full, although I doubt it will be for long, what a ball ache that is hope you get it sorted and it’s not a new ecu needed,did the breakdown not look into it before they towed it

I told the breakdown guys I just needed it taken to my parents place 10 mins from where I broken down.

The breakdown guys wouldn’t check the things in depth and take it to some random garage. I’ll get it over to Bills to have a look at it. If it is the ECU, then that’ll answer my question of do I go ignitron.

Who knows.... but right now, I got to get to London :/ public transport, wonderful haha


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[RAF_S7]

It could be the fuel pump itself....

When you get time, try and measure the voltage across the fuel pump.

Good Luck (with the car as well as the public transport!)

 

[S3AMJ]

It could be the fuel pump itself....

When you get time, try and measure the voltage across the fuel pump.

Good Luck (with the car as well as the public transport!)

Thanks bud. Funny you mention the fuel pump, Badger5 (Bill) said the same thing, I’ve unplugged it and still the relay is buzzing like mad. Pulled the fuse to the pump as well and it still buzz’s but very quietly and less frequent.

Interestingly though, when I unplugged the fuel pump, the engine management light went completely off the instrument cluster.


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[baliszoft]

It is always worth to check if ECU gets proper grounding when relays buzzing and all sorts of strange things are happening.

 

[S3AMJ]

It is always worth to check if ECU gets proper grounding when relays buzzing and all sorts of strange things are happening.

How would I check that mate? I’m actually away from the car now. But it’ll be good to know when I’m next at it. At least it’ll help the guys out at Badger5 me testing as much as I can.


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[baliszoft]

ECU should be grounded through its bracket (and a thick wire bolted to the bulkhead), but you cant be sure enough with electronics. Maybe it is just a corroded contact...

 

[S3AMJ]

ECU should be grounded through its bracket (and a thick wire bolted to the bulkhead), but you cant be sure enough with electronics. Maybe it is just a corroded contact...
View attachment 182441

Didn’t even look at that! Good shout... will check that when I’m next at the car! Thanks dude


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[Georgi]

Check the main ground lead from the battery ( - ) to below it.


I'm subscribing as I've got the same connectivity problem except my car is running fine.

 

[S3AMJ]

Thanks for everyone’s input on this. As it turns out there was intact water in the ECU. My scuttle panel wasn’t sealing perfectly, thus after washing my car water got in and caused the ECU to S]-[it itself.

I’m actually relieved that was what’s happened and not something completely hidden from sight.


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[ADs3]

So it wasn't gremlins after all! lol

Glad you got it sorted & found what caused it......I'd best check my scuttle panel after having it off the other week