Baffled! No dash lights - no crank

**dekhelia** · 24-04-2023,10:09 AM

Strange issue. Came to car to start it the other day, and ... nothing. No lights on dash, no crank. The hazard lights, weirdly, stay on - but can't be turned off at the switch. So, I disconnected the battery (battery is good, btw) and let whatever capacitors drain out, then tried again. Still nothing.

I can get the lights on the dash back by bridging power terms on KL15 relay under the driver's side dash, but still no crank. And hazards still on. Disconnected starter, in case that was open or short circuit...no difference.

I'm stumped! Anyone got any ideas?

VCDS can't communicate, so no joy there.

**Crasher** · 24-04-2023,01:15 PM

Ignition switch VERY common Golf 5 platform problem, it would probaly come up in a code read of the steering controller.

**dekhelia** · 24-04-2023,06:00 PM

Great, thanks. I'll go down that avenue.

Couldn't get VCDS to connect even when I jumpered the relay to power up the instrument cluster

**Crasher** · 24-04-2023,08:01 PM

That’s not right, VCDS should at least connect with the convenience system even ignition off.

**dekhelia** · 27-04-2023,01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Crasher

That’s not right, VCDS should at least connect with the convenience system even ignition off.

Hm. Well that's the state of play. Nothing at all from...well, anything, it seems like.

Installed new ignition switch today. Still nothing (though 70 quid lighter, thanks main dealer)

One really weird thing is that the hazards come on when the battery is connected. Unable to switch them off unless I disconnect battery. Strange, eh?

**dekhelia** · 27-04-2023,01:29 PM

...If the CCM is faulty, will a 2nd hand replacement need coding? Can the car live/at least start without one? Where is it located?

**dekhelia** · 27-04-2023,03:24 PM

Ok found CCM and disconnected it. Still nothing. Have booked an auto electrician - my forte is spanners, not alchemy.

Anyone needs to know, the CCM is behind the glove compartment. Not difficult to get to, you only need a Torx 20 and a 10 mill spanner

**Crasher** · 27-04-2023,04:36 PM

That is just the convenience unit, the Body Control Unit is much larger and on the drivers side.

**dekhelia** · 28-04-2023,03:53 PM

Well. Autoelectrician sorted the problem - but actually raised a much more mysterious one in doing so. He was a very methodical chap (as you'd expect, perhaps), and seemed to be familiar with VWs. After checking for continuity at various sites, including all fuses, he went for what he called the CAN Gateway...on driver's side dash, right up against the firewall. He established that it had no live feed, and so went back to the fuse panel in the engine bay. Pretty soon it became apparent that 2 of the fuses were in the wrong 'holes'.

He put them back into the ones his wiring diagram suggested, and the car fired up. So, all good ... you'd think. But the thing is, I hadn't moved any fuses. So I was left thinking, "Who moved those ***ing fuses?!?!?"

I genuinely don't know. Absolutely bizarre.