Battery Level Indicator Displaying 8volts

[ShazTDi]

Hi,

 

I tried replacing an in-dash DVD player in my Sharan and didnt realise that the heated seats were on! Only noticed something was amiss when the digital clock / milometer display disappered.

 

Noticed that the battery indicator on the dash was showing 8volts (normally 14v) but was reassured to find out that the car started normally and thought that it will recharge as I drove around.

 

However, this has not happened and other side effects are no power for the tape player (gave up with the additional DVD player) and the central locking locks /unlocks all doors ok except for the drivers door which now works the opposite way to the rest of the doors, ie it now locks when I press the unlock on the key fob and vice versa!

 

Checked that all fuses are ok, electrically, everything else is working ok and have no problems starting the car?

 

Any help will be appreciated.

 

Thanks

[katman]

Sounds like you may have dislodged an earth connection somewhere and a section of the dashboard is running with its ground connection at about 6 volts instead of true 0v ground.

[ShazTDi]

Thanks Katman, I'll have another look in the dash.

 

One thing I forgot to mention is that when I start the engine the clock and trip mileometer come back to life (reset to zero) but when I switch the engine off the display goes blank again. However, the battery meter always displays a value of 8v.

[Charliemuttley]

All weird electrical problems are caused by bad earth. It is amazing what a bad earth can do to a dash board!!

 

Good luck finding it. ;)