HELP! Main fuse gone?

VDubnewby666

Young at heart
VCDS User
VIP Member
T6 Guru
I've just gone to start the van, put the keys in and turned to get instruments lights up and then the instrument sweep completed. Then turned the key to start and.....
nothing, nada, all instrument indications have dissapeared, no dash lights, no lights absolutely nothing working. Took the key out, put back in and I have nothing still. Can do anything at all not even lock it. The battery is perfectly ok - new two months ago and blue tooth monitor shows 90%
I'm guessing a main fuse or relay has failed but where to start??
Any help appreciated before I call AA
 
Assuming battery in good condition it is loose and/or corroded battery connection.
Undo nuts, remove both terminals, clean inside out, apply tiny bit of grease or vaseline, reconnect and redo nuts.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mmi
Thanks @Robert but all of these are good - good tight connections, no corrosion but even if there was I would expect to see some instrument indication - for example the battery light.
This has to be something more complicated
 
Any recent work on the van?
Can you measure battery voltage while trying to crank?
 
  • Like
Reactions: mmi
It could be the ignition key connection.
Do the interior lights work, or the hazards ?

Pete
 
Can you try battery from any other vehicle?
 
  • Like
Reactions: mmi
Do you know anybody locally with a battery tester / multimeter / jump pack?
I have a multimeter and have checked the battery. A jump pack is not going to help is there are no dashboard indications when the key is inserted and the ignition turned to the starting position. The battery is good but nothing electrical is working on the van
 
What is the battery voltage with a load applied i.e. Ignition on and lights on ?

Pete
 
What is the battery voltage with a load applied i.e. Ignition on and lights on ?

Pete
So I go to the van and switch the lights on - no lights, battery voltage 12.7v
I switch the ignition on, no indication on the instruments, instrument panel does not light up, no usual indicator lights - battery voltage 12.7 volts
 
I have a multimeter and have checked the battery. A jump pack is not going to help is there are no dashboard indications when the key is inserted and the ignition turned to the starting position. The battery is good but nothing electrical is working on the van
A jump pack connected live to battery live, earth to a solid earth point on the vehicle (not battery earth post) would, if it worked, tell you something.
 
I have a multimeter and have checked the battery. A jump pack is not going to help is there are no dashboard indications when the key is inserted and the ignition turned to the starting position. The battery is good but nothing electrical is working on the van
I think the other posters are suspecting a duff cell in the battery so it shows voltage with no load but effectively goes open circuit when any proper load is applied. This is why they are suggesting to try a jump pack or another battery.

Just because the battery shows a voltage on a multimeter doesn’t mean it’s good, it could be dead inside and is one of the first things to rule out before looking deeper in to the electrical system and fuses etc.
 
I think the other posters are suspecting a duff cell in the battery so it shows voltage with no load but effectively goes open circuit when any proper load is applied. This is why they are suggesting to try a jump pack or another battery.

Just because the battery shows a voltage on a multimeter doesn’t mean it’s good, it could be dead inside and is one of the first things to rule out before looking deeper in to the electrical system and fuses etc.
Thanks broadside. It is effectively a brand new battery. If a battery has a faulty cell it will not hold its charge.

I think I need to access fuse holder SA where all the big fuses are
 
Does anyone know if the fuses in fusebox SA are midi link fuses or mega link fuses?
 
This is the download in the VIP area for the SA fuse box.


Pete
 
Back
Top