Electrics Slowly Packing In

[purtywhipper]

Hi folks,

I have a 2003 Galaxy Tdi 130 bhp.

Seems like it's all going sh*t shaped in the electrical department in a short space of time. In sequence, the following has happened :

 

2 months ago: Remote fob stops working.

Shortly after: Windows start doing the old opening themselves trick while car is parked up and locked

Shortly after: Rear passenger side door won't centrally lock.

Shortly after: Rear drivers side window won't open (This one remains closed if the other 3 open themselves)

Yesterday: Dashboard instrument lights stop working.

Yesterday: Fan / heater seems very weak.

This morning: Out to car, key barely opens drivers door but not the others. I hear a clicking from the fuse box area, and car won't turn over.

 

The clicking stops if I remove the red cable from it's housing in the fuse board.

 

 

Obviously these problems are all electrical, and hardly a coincidence.

 

I will be going to my local mechanic tomorrow morning, but if anyone can shed any insight into the situation I would appreciate it greatly.

 

Obviously I have been searching the forums for known issues / previous posts but with so many problems at once, it's hard to isolate and get an understanding of where the root cause it. PArticularly as I'm a bit of a numpty, particularly when it comes to electrics.

 

 

I appreciate any advice.

 

 

Thanks folks,

 

Albert.

[popeye2755]

2 months ago: Remote fob stops working.

 

Fob battery?

 

Shortly after: Windows start doing the old opening themselves trick while car is parked up and locked

 

You aren't sitting on your keys by any chance? (Global opening) Used to happen to me all the time!

 

Shortly after: Rear passenger side door won't centrally lock.

 

http://www.fordgalax...4104#entry64104

 

http://www.fordgalax...2231#entry82231

 

Shortly after: Rear drivers side window won't open (This one remains closed if the other 3 open themselves)

 

http://www.fordgalax...4104#entry64104

 

http://www.fordgalax...2231#entry82231

 

Yesterday: Dashboard instrument lights stop working.

 

All of them?

 

Yesterday: Fan / heater seems very weak.

 

Unsure about this one, possibly resistor pack.

 

This morning: Out to car, key barely opens drivers door but not the others. I hear a clicking from the fuse box area, and car won't turn over.

 

This could just be a knackered battery!

Edited January 15, 2012 by popeye2755

[daddyfixit]

1. remote key batteries

 

2. wiring loom in drivers door, wires damaged ?

 

3. aux fuse box on top of battery, terminals burnt away,underneath the red wire terminal on end of lead-----due to lead being high resistance,copper wires turn black ??

 

4. due to the cold weather, perhaps battery is off to meet its maker ?? then doesnt have enough power to reach main fuse box because the aux.fuse box lead is high resisitance which reduces the flow of electricity so the relay (is it 109 ??) in the fuse box starts chattering as its not being powered up stronly enough to do its job ???

[purtywhipper]

Thanks guys, I will check the above ref the battery, etc and let you know the outcome.

 

I am definitely not sitting on the keys regarding the windows opening, as it has happened while I am asleep and also while car was parked and I was away from it.

 

Appreciate your advice.

[seatkid]

Remote FOBs all seem to die of old age. No solution to this except buy a new one.

 

Most of the window/door locking problems are almost certainly down to damaged (broken/shorted) wiring in the rubber gaitors to the doors/tailgate. The insulation on the wiring at these points goes brittle and flakes off leaving the cores exposed and oxided. The cores either break or short together. See the technical FAQ for full details and pics. (3 threads)

 

As daddyfixit says also check the engine bay fuse box for signs of overheating (faulty crimps) and also the battery

 

ps. if you change the batteries in your FOB do be very careful not to lose the PATS chip in the FOB, this has a tendency to fall out when the FOB is opened. Without the chip you wont be able to start the car!

Edited January 15, 2012 by seatkid