Urgent - 2006 Vigo 4.0 V6 electrical problems - Please help!

[oxydog]

Hi guys,

Been a while since I've posted, hope it doesn't look like I only log on when I need help.

This morning when I tried to start my truck, NOTHING HAPPENED (only click, starter not turning at all). Dashboard lights came on (but seemed to dim/bright like when the battery is flat). Checked my lights and doors - nothing left open/on. Tried jump-starting, with no effect, even after idling working car for a while.

Eventually decided to leave for work but leave the batt charging for the day, and here came another curve ball: After connecting the Benton, it immediately indicated that the battery was fully charged! I left it connected for the day in any case, with the intention to check it again this afternoon.

This afternoon, unfortunately, still nothing. I tested the battery with a multimeter - showing 13 V on the terminals as well as on the connectors of the cables (in case they weren't fastened properly), so I don't think there is anything wrong with the battery. Disconnected the battery for a while and reconnected - no difference. Upon testing appliances: Windows move just a little bit, then stop. Central locking not working properly either. Switching on lights causes all dashboard lights to go out. It looks like the power is simply not being delivered properly to all the accessories (and starter, obviously), or like there is some kind of short somewhere, so I've basically ruled out a fuse problem.

I don't know what else to check - everything was in perfect working order yesterday afternoon. Any advice would be greatly appreciated - If I can't solve it via the forum, I'll have to make a plan to get it to an auto-electrician.

2 notes:
1) I took it for its 170 000 km service on 16 October. Lots of trips done since then with no problems, so I'm not intending to blame the service center.
2) I took it for a wash on Saturday, but they don't clean underneath the bonnet, AFAIK, and it started first time after the wash. It also started every time from then until yesterday afternoon (at least 9 times).

Please help, I'm desperate!

Thanks guys

[ChrisF]

Battery water level ?

MEasure the battery Volts - then do so with the head lights on BRIGHTS. IF the battery is near its end, the volts should DROP when you put a load accros it.

IF the volts stay high, and the lights shine bright it would suggest the battery is still okay.



IF the battery seems okay, but the "Click" remains .... start by checking the negative terminal ON the engine block.

Next step would the starter / solenoid .....

[Genissie]

swap battery with other car, just to terminate the battery
check amps at end of cable
check earth cable
otherwise you have moist somewhere, could've ran along a cable or something.
rats chewing on some cables or boxes ??

[Family_Dog]

I suspect the battery. Do the tests that Chris suggested. If the battery has gone high-resistance, the Benton will not necessarily give a true reading and of course, it cannot charge properly.

As others have mentioned, check the earth & postive cables are secure both ends. You might also want to check for water in the fusebox in the engine compartment, although this is not all that likely.


-F_D

[CasKru]

My money is on the battery at it's end. If the battery is 4 years or older then it's most likely the battery.

What you could also try is take a jumper lead cable, connect the negative to the battery negative and the other negative clamp on the starter motor. This will sort of bypass any bad earthing and if the battery is still fine should crank the starter. m2cw

[JamesC]

A fully charged battery should give you a reading of 14.2V - not 13V. The fact that it was on charge the whole day and reads only 13V tells you the battery needs replacing.

[Optimus Prime]

I can concur ,same thing happened to mine ,changed battery and viola..

[oxydog]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I tried just about all of the suggestions, but nothing indicated that it is the battery. Also went to an auto-electrician for advice and he gave more or less the same advice as on the forum. I decided to take it to them the next day, but when I got home, everything was working again. I suspect I got some water at the car wash that gradually made its way to a sensitive spot and then stopped giving trouble when it dried up.

Once again, thanks for the advice.

[oxydog]

OK, so it turns out that wasn't the problem after all. Will let you know when I hear from the auto electricians.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[Mars]

Very interested to know what the issue was.

[oxydog]

Sooooo, the auto-electricians couldn't find ANYTHING! Battery is in perfect shape, alternator is doing its job, all cabling, solenoid and starter seems OK. Will collect it this afternoon and hope for the best when driving down to the North Coast in December!

[LouisZ]

Sometimes a little bit of water in the wrong places can cause big problems. Be careful with those pressure washers.

[ChrisF]

Sometimes a little bit of water in the wrong places can cause big problems. Be careful with those pressure washers.

HATE those things !! NOT near my vehicles !!!!!!!!

[oxydog]

Definitely still my guess. Still enjoy taking off mud and cleaning the rims and tyres with mine!

[Sebata]

so I've been following this threat with keen interest & praying i don't encounter such problem, this morning after giving my van a week's rest, i decided i will come to work with it. switched on all security switches, dash board lights lights come ON & i start to smile anticipating that sound, only thing i got was just click & starter didn't even crank

eventually thought of this threat :evil: , did the boosting thing, nothing happened, by this time i getting late & starting to get weewee'd. :angry2: will try what has been suggested on this threat to see if i cant win.

I HATE RATS :angry2: ,

[oxydog]

No problems for me since I got it back - yet. Good luck with yours, Tau. Please do share if you can shed any light on it...

[Family_Dog]

Flat battery!


-F_D

[Sebata]

Ok, they have managed to get the van to start..but now there is a problem, its giving throttle error codes, accelerator is just not working... what im I faced with? Beside a van that is just not moving...seriously this is witchcraft

[oxydog]

Oh man, that does not sound good. Hope you get some joy very soon!

[Jaco Fourie]

Unbelievable ... Good luck Tau

[oxydog]

I am not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination, but doesn't this sound like a fuel line problem? Fuel pump? Filter? Problem with these modern engines, is that it could just as easily be the ECU?

Anyway, mine is still going strong after the auto-electricians couldn't find anything wrong...

[Mr_B]

Sounds to me like a possible fault throttle position sensor(TPS)...

[MCHILUX]

Have a look in the fusebox next to the batterie for the ETCS fuse(10amp)

[Mr_B]

BTW the Vigo 4L V6 has an electronic accelerator, no cable to the throttle body like the old ones. So there's a chance that electronic accelerator peddle module is finished as well.