Arosa electrical woes- any ideas?

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Just limped our little Seat Arosa back home.

Youngest daughter left work, opened the car as normal, started engine as normal, switched on lights selected reverse and engine stops. Cue phone call to Dad.

I discover the engine starts and runs ok, albeit all dash warning lights on without anything electrical being in use, all lights at rear glow all the time, brake lights and lights work. Indicators don't, strange buzz from flasher unit if you try, using Windows makes the engine stall, engaging reverse makes engine stall.

I pushed it out of the space and drove home, it lost power randomly a couple of times but basically behaved ok.

Any ideas? I'm guessing some sort of dead short or failed switch, obviously I'll check all fuses etc in the morning. Bloody VAG shit!

[Cavcraft]

Bad earth or duff battery?

[Guest Hooli]

I'd start with earths or a loose battery lead.

[SiC]

I'd wager bad earth. Possibly on engine block to battery.

[SiC]

To test engine block earth, put a negative jump lead on something metal on the engine and the other on the negative battery terminal.

[Guest Hooli]

Yeah I was thinking engine earth strap too.

[The Moog]

Ditto earth as starting point

[Dave_Q]

Don't know if it applies to Seat Arousers but on Polos and Fabias there is a well known signal wire to the alternator that breaks and causes issues, its down the back of the engine somewhere.

 

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=209472