Fuel gauge not working after car wash

[TheMatador]

I had my car washed last night in one of these drive-thru hand washes where they jet wash it then hand wash it then dry it then valet it. First time I've ever used one and this morning my fuel gauge isn't working :aargh4:. It sits at zero and the dash warns me I need to refuel every time I start the engine. I went to a garage just to be safe and only need 25litres to the click so I did still have over half a tank as I thought.

Has anyone else had this - could it be related to the car wash or is it just pure coincidence??

Car: 2007 Allroad 3.0Tdi

Update: Gauge started working on the way home but reading low. I'm definitely thinking some water has got in somewhere!

[Dpanic]

I had my car washed last night in one of these drive-thru hand washes where they jet wash it then hand wash it then dry it then valet it. First time I've ever used one and this morning my fuel gauge isn't working :aargh4:. It sits at zero and the dash warns me I need to refuel every time I start the engine. I went to a garage just to be safe and only need 25litres to the click so I did still have over half a tank as I thought.

Has anyone else had this - could it be related to the car wash or is it just pure coincidence??

Car: 2007 Allroad 3.0Tdi

Update: Gauge started working on the way home but reading low. I'm definitely thinking some water has got in somewhere!

Could be that its just failed, not herd of any having issues after car washes - but I wash mine by hand (so what do I know). - sorry

Would need a scan to be sure, I've had the drivers side replaced and now after filling up its failed on the passenger side - some times its works, you can drive for five mins and watch the gauge go up and down -

[Guest 2]

Send a PM to kite and he will scan the car for faults

He's also in Bracknell.

And boo hiss for using a drive thru, shame on you!!!!

[kite]

Someone call. I'll PM contact details.

I wish I could tpye...

[Guest 2]

Someone call. I'll PM contact details.

I wish I could tpye...

Speak of the devil! ;)

[TheMatador]

Thanks chaps. I'll do a scan tomorrow and post any faults.

@A6_Chris: yes I know, first time I've ever used one and you know what's worse, I only used it because I was showing a mate who'd just bought a new BMW where it was!!

[Guest 2]

Ditch the car wash and get yourself some snow foam!

Keep us updated.

My A6 covered in Snow Foam (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?142024-My-A6-covered-in-Snow-Foam&highlight=A6+snow)

[TheMatador]

Ok, this is definitely a water ingress problem IMO. Fuel gauge is working and needle is rising slowly (but see date on fault below). Now the radio/CD/phone doesn't work! The radio "works" but the sound cuts after 2secs then comes back then cuts etc. When a traffic report cuts in the thing goes nuts flip flopping between the two. Here's the fault codes plus the Tuner module and Phone module couldn't even be accessed. Full file attached.

005716 - Please check DTC Memory of Instrument Cluster
P1654 - 005 - - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00100101
Fault Priority: 0
Fault Frequency: 1
Mileage: 185584 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2013.03.26
Time: 08:22:08


Freeze Frame:
RPM: 0 /min
Torque: 0.0 Nm
Speed: 0.0 km/h
Duty Cycle: 1.0 %
Voltage: 11.48 V
Bin. Bits: 00101011
Torque: 113.1 Nm


Readiness: 0 0 0 0 0

Fuel gauge fault - interesting this looks like it first happened 10 days ago so we could be looking at 2 faults here :aargh4::
1 Fault Found:
00438 - Fuel Supply Sensor 2 (G169)
010 - Open or Short to Plus - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00101010
Fault Priority: 7
Fault Frequency: 2
Reset counter: 51
Mileage: 185459 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2013.03.16
Time: 15:53:29

[Akash]

Given it's an estate (All Road) this isn't the usual water ingress in the boot that's the cause is it?
Have you checked in the boot floor, around the MMI/Radio boxes in the left panel etc for water?

[TheMatador]

Given it's an estate (All Road) this isn't the usual water ingress in the boot that's the cause is it?
Have you checked in the boot floor, around the MMI/Radio boxes in the left panel etc for water?

Good point!! Here's me thinking it was something under the front windscreen in the plenum chamber.

[TheMatador]

Checked the stuff in the boot and its all dry. Front passenger footwell is also dry so I'm a bit stumped. Where are the components for the MMI/Infotainment system?

[kite]

I think the stack is on the near side behind the cover.

I wish I could tpye...

[TheMatador]

Yeah, I got the ones in the boot, just wondering if there are any others under the windscreen wipers/in the plenum chamber?

Update: From ElsaWin


Control unit for front display and information control panel -J523- behind glove box
- Multimedia system operating unit -E380- in centre console (bottom)
- Display unit for front information display and operating unit control unit -J685- in dash panel (centre)
- Radio -R- (with speech input control unit -J507-) in luggage compartment (rear left)
- Digital sound package control unit -J525- located in luggage compartment (rear left)
- Sound system: 6 channel DSP or BOSE sound system
- Media player in position 1 -R118- with CD changer -R41- / connection for external audio sources -R199- in glove box (left-side)
- Media player in position 2 -R119- with CD changer -R41- in glove box (right-side)
- Navigation system with CD drive control unit -J401- located in luggage compartment (rear left)

[TheMatador]

Ok, I think I'm looking at a failed MMI control unit and/or data bus diagnostic interface which suggests water has got in and run down behind the glove box. My diagnosis is based on:

MMI screen is working fine
There is sound from the radio and its fine for 2 secs
The control of the screen is eratic and this applies to both the radio/CD and Car menu - the content of these menus comes from different places so give that its the control of the screen input thats crappy I think its the control unit.

Be interested to know if the fuel gauge goes behind the glove box as well!

[kite]

What about dropping the glovebox and trying to dry out behind there.
You might save something expensive.

I wish I could tpye...

[TheMatador]

Ok, just had the glovebox out and it looks dry behind it. No sign of water having got in - photo attached (not that you can really tell this from the photo anyway). it also doesn't look like the printout I made from ElsaWin behind there either!

I've attached a second photo looking under the bonnet. Anyone know what's in the black boxes a the back - there's three; one either side of the bottle with the yellow cap and one at the far right rear corner? That's the only other place I can see where water might have got in and done some damage. It looks dry now but ya never know...

[TheMatador]

I've started a new thread now as its looking like a separate topic
Infotainment MMI problems (after car wash?) (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?144149-Infotainment-MMI-problems-(after-car-wash-)&p=796705#post796705)

[TheMatador]

SOLVED! Problem with the MMI was down to the Bluetooth module. MMI is working perfectly again and the fuel gauge seems fine too - however I'm still not convinced the the two are linked!). Took it to Tutts of Dorking in the end as I just didn't have the time to do the work.

The bad news is that the little VW Fox courtesy car was so much fun I'm thinking of selling my A6!:0