Leon FR total power loss
Discussion
Hi
I have a 59 plate Leon FR 2.0 TFSI that I picked up a couple of years ago when it was 3 years old and had less than 10,000 on the clock. Over the last 2 years I have added another 18,000 miles of absolutely trouble free motoring to it, until a few weeks ago when it just died while driving along. Total loss of engine in a split second, all the dash lights lit up at once and the engine just stopped.
I pulled to the side of the road turned it off and it then restarted just fine. A few days go by with no further problem so I am thinking it was just one of those things when it then decides it won't start one morning, turns over just fine but won't fire at all. After a while it does eventually fire up but it won't engage any gears on the DSG box either forward or reverse. Turn it off and try again and it restarts and drives fine!
However that evening in the space of a 30 mile round trip it stops 4 times.
I get it to an independent in Milton Keynes for VW & Audi group cars (Very helpful bunch of guys who were willing to help when the Seat dealer that has been looking after it since new didn't want to know as it was Christmas and they were busy). It has a fault stored for ecm power relay load circuit opens too early. As The battery was only showing 12.0 volts and could be having problems in the cold weather it was suggested this be changed which we did. Everything is then good for over a week before it then does the same I don't want to start and then not give you gears when I do start thing. I book it in again and the guys hook it up to their laptop and take it out and it stops on them but doesn't throw up any fault codes just loses power. They have now changed 2 x power up relays and carried out a strengthen mod on the engine bay fuseboard base as these are historic fault problems on the previous generation Leon. Oh and they also did the various software updates that the main dealer hadn't bothered to do at service times.
Everything fine for a week and a bit and then this morning it wouldn't start again and wouldn't give me any gears once it eventually did fire up.
Sorry for the long story but really was just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and if they could shed any light on the potential problem.
This isn't a lets knock the independent thread as they have been very helpful and their bills have been surprisingly low for the investigation and work they have carried out.
I have a 59 plate Leon FR 2.0 TFSI that I picked up a couple of years ago when it was 3 years old and had less than 10,000 on the clock. Over the last 2 years I have added another 18,000 miles of absolutely trouble free motoring to it, until a few weeks ago when it just died while driving along. Total loss of engine in a split second, all the dash lights lit up at once and the engine just stopped.
I pulled to the side of the road turned it off and it then restarted just fine. A few days go by with no further problem so I am thinking it was just one of those things when it then decides it won't start one morning, turns over just fine but won't fire at all. After a while it does eventually fire up but it won't engage any gears on the DSG box either forward or reverse. Turn it off and try again and it restarts and drives fine!
However that evening in the space of a 30 mile round trip it stops 4 times.
I get it to an independent in Milton Keynes for VW & Audi group cars (Very helpful bunch of guys who were willing to help when the Seat dealer that has been looking after it since new didn't want to know as it was Christmas and they were busy). It has a fault stored for ecm power relay load circuit opens too early. As The battery was only showing 12.0 volts and could be having problems in the cold weather it was suggested this be changed which we did. Everything is then good for over a week before it then does the same I don't want to start and then not give you gears when I do start thing. I book it in again and the guys hook it up to their laptop and take it out and it stops on them but doesn't throw up any fault codes just loses power. They have now changed 2 x power up relays and carried out a strengthen mod on the engine bay fuseboard base as these are historic fault problems on the previous generation Leon. Oh and they also did the various software updates that the main dealer hadn't bothered to do at service times.
Everything fine for a week and a bit and then this morning it wouldn't start again and wouldn't give me any gears once it eventually did fire up.
Sorry for the long story but really was just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience and if they could shed any light on the potential problem.
This isn't a lets knock the independent thread as they have been very helpful and their bills have been surprisingly low for the investigation and work they have carried out.
Edited by J12KJR on Sunday 18th January 15:51
If you suspect the fault is due to the system voltage not being sufficient have there been checks to ensure there is not a fault causing the battery to be drained whilst not in use and that the alternator is working correctly?
Dodgy earth maybe?? A friend of mine had all sorts of odd electrical faults which were caused when one earth wire from the ignition system to the inside of the door frame had been dislodged.
Dodgy earth maybe?? A friend of mine had all sorts of odd electrical faults which were caused when one earth wire from the ignition system to the inside of the door frame had been dislodged.
Thanks for the reply Dave.
Battery was changed and is holding charge fine. When it doesn't want to start there is no problem with the engine turning over it just doesn't want to fire until it's churned for quite a while.
I am trying to check all the earths but trying to follow the loom isn't the easiest of things.
Battery was changed and is holding charge fine. When it doesn't want to start there is no problem with the engine turning over it just doesn't want to fire until it's churned for quite a while.
I am trying to check all the earths but trying to follow the loom isn't the easiest of things.
No trouble.
Did you get a full diagnostics report from vagcom after replacing the relays?
I'm presuming you had the ECM power relay swapped (number 458 iirc) and the ECU fuse changed as these are the relatively cheap/easy fixes. It's worth inspecting all of the fuses, sometimes the contacts can be defective even if the fuse hasn't blown.
If you are happy all the fuses are intact it leads me to think the wiring between the ECU and the ECU power relay maybe the issue or the power feed to the fuse box.
Did you get a full diagnostics report from vagcom after replacing the relays?
I'm presuming you had the ECM power relay swapped (number 458 iirc) and the ECU fuse changed as these are the relatively cheap/easy fixes. It's worth inspecting all of the fuses, sometimes the contacts can be defective even if the fuse hasn't blown.
If you are happy all the fuses are intact it leads me to think the wiring between the ECU and the ECU power relay maybe the issue or the power feed to the fuse box.
Hi Dave
Sorry haven't got all the paperwork in front of me but faults came up as
001674 ECM Power Relay Load Circuit P068A-000- Opens too early-Intermittent
and
005668-MIL Request Signal Active(Check TCM for errors too!) P1624-000- -Intermittent
I think I will swap out any of the fuses associated with the ECU etc for new and check the connections at the same time and then I guess its a case of just eliminating any loose connections as I go.
Fear is it might be a dry joint or a break in the loom somewhere which will be a nightmare to try to find.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Sorry haven't got all the paperwork in front of me but faults came up as
001674 ECM Power Relay Load Circuit P068A-000- Opens too early-Intermittent
and
005668-MIL Request Signal Active(Check TCM for errors too!) P1624-000- -Intermittent
I think I will swap out any of the fuses associated with the ECU etc for new and check the connections at the same time and then I guess its a case of just eliminating any loose connections as I go.
Fear is it might be a dry joint or a break in the loom somewhere which will be a nightmare to try to find.
Thanks for your suggestions.
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