Electrical problems with my polo....help!!

**Gillybean** · 22-06-2007,06:43 PM

I have a Y reg Polo 1.4 Match and have almost had it for 4 years without that many expensive problems (except for brake sensors!)

A few months ago the lights on the heat/vent system would not always light up straight away when putting on the headlights.

Last month I noticed one day the radio was still on in the morning and when you turn off the engine the radio now plays until you manually turn it off.

Yesterday we were told our headlights had been left on and when I come to think of it the warning noise doesn't now work when you leave the light/indicators on by mistake.

Has anyone had similar problems, or any ideas what this can be. I imagine it's going to be an expensive electrical fault to put right as car electrics seem to be a specialist area....

Thanks in advance.

**a8 tech** · 22-06-2007,07:02 PM

The s contact in the ignition barrel is sticking.you can remove the barrel and lubricate the plastic blue button on the barrel or order a new barrel to key number which may take a couple of weeks to come.The s contact allows you to turn the key back to the very first position and powers up radio and the windows etc,when you remove the key it should shut off the voltage supply and you can normally hear a clear clunk from the barrel.Try to sort this quick or you will start to drain the battery

**Gillybean** · 22-06-2007,09:12 PM

Thanks for that...........only problem is I'm not very good at anything like that I wouldn't dare attempt doing that, is it a big job and how much would it cost at a garage?

what is the 's' thingy? This has been like this for a while how long have I got before the battery would die?

**a8 tech** · 22-06-2007,09:22 PM

The S cotact allows you to have certain electrical things on with out turning the key in the ignition and reduces the electrical consumption.Its just a switch that opens and closes when you insert or remove the key and it shuts the suplly off to the radio when you remove the key to get out of the car.There are a lot more electrical items that have a feed of the S contact but you dont realy need to know that.It is a bout 1 hours labour to replace the switch but i dont know how much they are(the S contact is part of the barrel).If the switch stays in the on position after removing the key and the radio is left on because the switch is allowing voltage to it then it will start to drain the battery until you return and start the car,so sooner or later if you leave it for say three days it will flatten the battery

**Gillybean** · 22-06-2007,09:27 PM

I know what you mean about the 'clunk' noise when removing the key...as far as I'm aware it's still doing that, maybe it's just intermittent as the radio problem has been for about a month now, I just make double sure nothings been left on when I lock up. Also why wouldn't the buzzer on the doors still work?

Would this be a job for an auto electrician or any garage?

Sorry to ask so many questions!

**a8 tech** · 22-06-2007,09:32 PM

Because the S contact tells the central locking unit that you have removed the key so if the lights are left on and the door is opened it can see there is or isnt a key in the ignition.So your faulty S contact isnt telling the dash and the central locking that its a shut hence no warning buzzer

**Gillybean** · 22-06-2007,09:36 PM

Ahhhh I see.....are the ignition barrels expensive do you think?

I'm so glad I found this website!

**a8 tech** · 22-06-2007,09:39 PM

No not that much £40 or there abouts.You will need to order it to match your exsiting keys and you will have to provide proof of id and ownership at vw to order it.Ok gillybean dont be afraid to ask any more questions thats what the forum is for.Regards Jon