UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hi,

I have a 60 Plate Polo TDI SEL. Do love it but having a few “electrical” issues I wouldn’t really expect to see in a Volkswagen!

To start with, the courtesy lights when you unlock/ open the doors has stopped working. I bought the car Dec 2015, they didn’t work then. However all of a sudden, they started working again last year around Spring! Worked completely fine up until November when they decided to die (just in time for the darker evenings so I couldn’t see what I was doing!).

Last week while waiting in a car park for friends I accidentally kicked/ thumped the area below the steering wheel and when I opened the door to meet my friends to my surprise they were working flawlessly again. This was short lived as today they stopped working again (a week later)! It is not a door “sensor” as none of the doors will activate the lights, nor the key.

What could be causing this... is there a fuse loose or something simple like that? I just don’t get how it went from working perfectly for nearly a whole year to completely dead... As it’s the SEL model it has the more advanced lighting system with the alarm sensors integrated. My brothers 2003 Polo and my old 2006 never had an issue like this!


Issue number 2, when the car is cold it will hold the Revs at a steady 1000 to warm up. However while the car is idling doing this every 10 seconds there’s a click from under the dash and the headlights and speedo loose power/go dark. It’s very annoying and sounds possibly like a dodgy Relay? But I have no idea to get to it. Possibly all connected with the other issue? Would upload a video but not sure how to.

Thanks, Cam



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Start with the following:

Check that fuses 20 and 21 are correctly inserted. Push them.

The fuse box is under the steering wheel, you have to remove the cover.
If you look closely the fuses are numbered on the fuse box, use a flashlight if necessary.

20 fuse is related to the click (relay sound) that you hear.
21 fuse is related with the courtesy lights supply.

Replace them with new ones if problems persist.
20 fuse = 5 Amp (brown)
21 fuse = 10 Amp (red)

Please tell us the result. Thanks.

ciclo wrote:Start with the following:

Check that fuses 20 and 21 are correctly inserted. Push them.

The fuse box is under the steering wheel, you have to remove the cover.
If you look closely the fuses are numbered on the fuse box, use a flashlight if necessary.

20 fuse is related to the click (relay sound) that you hear.
21 fuse is related with the courtesy lights supply.

Replace them with new ones if problems persist.
20 fuse = 5 Amp (brown)
21 fuse = 10 Amp (red)

Please tell us the result. Thanks.

Thanks for that Ciclo, will have a look tomorrow morning! I might post a picture of the fuse box on here before I start fiddling, just to be sure.


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Do it in the way you prefer.
If you post the image of the fuse box I tell you exactly which they are.... maybe we can see something wrong, difficult but possible.

Is it normal that there’s White tipp ex marks on the screws? Bit strange maybe it’s already been fiddled with

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It's not usual, no. Couldn't imagine why someone wants to prevent you from taking out the fuse box. Doesn't void any warranty, right?
Unless there is maybe something in the fusebox that shouldn't be there. But at first glance, I don't see anything wrong.
Fuse 11 looks a bit wobbly (one down, one to the right from fuse 20), maybe push it in properly.

If the fusebox has been out and fiddled with, take out both fuses that ciclo mentioned and see, whether the metal of the wire terminal is in the right place.

Gave them all a good push back in, and a smack in the hope it may spring into life. No difference unfortunately. However when taking the top light unit out I noticed more marks from a pen... I think the previous owner has had a go at fixing it himself but hasn’t quite worked.


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Tried taking 20 and 21 our however they are a bit fiddly, I will need to look for a tool to pry them out.


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there should be a white tool in the lid of the fuse box to take the small fuses out.
also, maybe you can try to disconnect the rear light and see if the front springs to life
or vice versa, take out the front light or boot light and see if the others spring to life.
cycle the ignition lock between disconnecting a light and trying the others.

Those white marks are suspicious ...

Please check meticulously with a flashlight if the terminal lock mechanisms are present in your fuse box, they are pink.
Examples:






white tool

Hi there guys, found the white tool! It fell out the first time I opened it but I wasn’t sure what it was. Took the fuse out and seems to look fine.

Now here’s the strange bit. There’s pen markings everywhere... I have attached some pictures. Also there’s a frayed looking wire that leads out of the fuse box...

The pink things are there Ciclo.

The car has never been in an accident and has full VW History Local to my area.



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Don’t know if the pics posted... here they are again.


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Fuse 20 removed


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