Various Electricals

[sebanelli]

Hi everyone - newbie here. I have an R reg SEAT Alhambra 1.9TDi which has recently started to play up. Three distinct problems evident:

First off, I've noticed a distinct loss of pull going up slopes and hills (especially in 3ed gear) and when trying to overtake at around 60+ mph - which can be both embarassing and, of course, dangerous!

Second, my Engine Management (glowplug) light has begun lighting up intermittently after about 10-15mins driving. And, finally, my heater/fan stopped working in positions 1-3 this week and then, yesterday, stopped working altogether (including the AC). My local garage reckoned that the motor had gone tits up and that we would be looking in the region of

[sepulchrave]

Points one and two are related, the PCM lamp is lighting up because you have a problem which is causing the engine to lose power.

 

The third point is almost certainly the infamous resistor pack failure documented in these hallowed pages on countless occasions, it certainly doesn't cost

[sebanelli]

Points one and two are related, the PCM lamp is lighting up because you have a problem which is causing the engine to lose power.

 

The third point is almost certainly the infamous resistor pack failure documented in these hallowed pages on countless occasions, it certainly doesn't cost

[sepulchrave]

Your assumption is correct, there is NOTHING wrong with your fan motor and when they fit the new resistor pack and it all starts working again as if by magic then you'll have a really hard time proving that they didn't replace the motor at all UNLESS you specifically ask that they return any parts they replace to you for inspection which pisses them off no end.

 

This is how to get free money if you're in the motor trade, tell the customer to expect a big bill and then give them what they expected no matter what the job entailed.

 

Why don't you just replace the resistor pack yourself, it's so easy to do and with the old one in hand you can be sure of ordering exactly the right part from the dealer.

 

You can try unplugging the MAF to see if the power situation improves, if it does simply fit a new MAF then disconnect the battery to reset the ECU to make the PCM light go out.

 

Failing that SEARCH this site, I'll bet you your problem has been covered many times before.

[sebanelli]

Your assumption is correct, there is NOTHING wrong with your fan motor and when they fit the new resistor pack and it all starts working again as if by magic then you'll have a really hard time proving that they didn't replace the motor at all UNLESS you specifically ask that they return any parts they replace to you for inspection which pisses them off no end.

 

This is how to get free money if you're in the motor trade, tell the customer to expect a big bill and then give them what they expected no matter what the job entailed.

 

Why don't you just replace the resistor pack yourself, it's so easy to do and with the old one in hand you can be sure of ordering exactly the right part from the dealer.

 

You can try unplugging the MAF to see if the power situation improves, if it does simply fit a new MAF then disconnect the battery to reset the ECU to make the PCM light go out.

 

Failing that SEARCH this site, I'll bet you your problem has been covered many times before.

Thanks for your very useful and helpful advice! I hade the car on a diagnostic yetserday and it turns out that the brake lights were the main cause of the PCM lighting up. However, they also reported a 'ECU blockage' and 'MAF problem' which would, I suppose, explain my occasional power loss symptoms. Anyway, the brake lights are now fixed and the PCM light has gone out. I will get the other niggles seen to in due course - the car runs mostly fine at the moment (I do very infrequent runs out of town anyway). Getting the Resistor pack done tomorrow.