VR6 Lee 0 Posted August 14, 2015 (edited) Over the past few weeks I have changed my heater matrix on my VR as I thought this was the reason why the water in the expansion tank was dropping after 20 mile drive. Just my luck there was no problem with the heater matrix so decided that while everything was out that I would change it for a new one. Job Done. Car worked spot on until I put the new heater matrix and new heater dials in so no idea whats going on Interior all put back together, Connected the battery back up. Tried to start the car, fired up and instantly stopped, at this point I thought this is the fuse 16 problem so checked sunroof this wasn't working. I went to the fuse box and changed fuse 16 but while I was there I decided to check all the other fuses and noticed that on fuses 2,14 and 18 the plastic bit of the fuse was melted but still the fuse was intact and working. Turned ignition back on and fuse 16 blew straight away. Other things I have noticed are My gauges(oil and volts) don't work or illuminate anymore. ABS light does not come on anymore or do anything Cigarette lighter does not illuminate or work Im sure my glovebox light worked but this does not work anymore None of the lighting on the heater dials work All the fuses have been changed and checked but 16 still keeps blowing Heater does work on all 4 positions though Any help is appreciated on the matter as I want to get the car in the garage but it won't start or do anything... :( Edited August 14, 2015 by VR6 Lee Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dox 23 Posted August 14, 2015 Could you have caught of the looms with a dash screw? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VR6 Lee 0 Posted August 14, 2015 Could you have caught of the looms with a dash screw? Hmmm. Something is not right so maybe! Gutted at the moment, my car is a nightmare :( Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim 2 Posted August 14, 2015 Starting and immediately stopping sounds like the classic in-key immobiliser chip. Did you reconnect up that factory immobiliser? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dox 23 Posted August 14, 2015 Hmmm. Something is not right so maybe! Gutted at the moment, my car is a nightmare :( If you suspect there's a screw through the loom you need to disconnect the battery asap Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VW_OwneR_85 2 Posted August 14, 2015 did you smell anything like burning wires?, pull out the fusebox and have a good look around... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VR6 Lee 0 Posted August 14, 2015 did you smell anything like burning wires?, pull out the fusebox and have a good look around... No that's the strange thing I so no idea what's going on with it. Was perfect prior to changing heater matrix. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
easypops 8 Posted August 14, 2015 Transponder ring on the ignition barrel plugged into the wee black box and seated correctly? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jon_vr6 1 Posted August 15, 2015 But fuse 16 keeps blowing so says theres a problem with wiring to me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fla 9 Posted August 15, 2015 As above looks like a wiring short. Remove the glovebox and check the looms carefully there. Also see the harnesses on the side of the clocks - there are a few 'risky' screws there. Remove the fuse panel and follow the looms from there. Sometimes the mounting bracket catches a few wires. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fendervg 32 Posted August 15, 2015 Make sure everything has a proper return to earth via the loom wiring as far as the earth mounting points to the car body. IIRC there is an earth point on the left hand side behind the dash glove box, and another one near the fusebox on the right. These may have been disturbed during the dash out/dash in job. You'll probably need to get a multimeter out to check this kind of stuff. You can also get a current reader device (LED screen with a bit of wire and a fuse connector on the end) which plugs in instead of one of the fuses, which will let you check which circuit is drawing the current. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jon_vr6 1 Posted August 15, 2015 All sorted now it was a dodgy centre gauge connection...wires shorting out on eachother. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fendervg 32 Posted August 15, 2015 Good to hear you sorted it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VR6 Lee 0 Posted August 15, 2015 Typical connection on the gauges causing all the issues!! Thank god its sorted... now wheres that 6 pack of beer Thanks all for your help! :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
