Aieee! QP won't start - Help!

[MarkMas]

Was parked up with the ignition on, listening to the radio. Then turned key to start engine. It sounded for a tiny instant it was going to turn over, then really strange rattling noise from he instruments as the dials all flapped about. AND the flipping clock reset to noon. But no fire in the engine. Need to turn key back to off and on a few time to get it out. Any ideas?

 

[MarkMas]

I also have messages saying 'airbag failure' and 'power steering failure'. So general electrical meltdown. Have called the RAC...

 

[dickygrace]

Flat battery.

 

[outrun]

Yup, 100% flat battery.

 

[Jkulin]

Yep, had that happen a number of times to me...flat battery.

 

[UlstermanAbroad]

Same here. RAC will be able to measure how worn the battery is and fit an equivalent replacement. Their prices are competitive, so far as I recall.

 

[rockits]

Another for flat battery. You not got one of those clever new small battery packs in the boot? Worth getting one if not.

 

[Contigo]

Get a Bosch S5 on it. My GTI wouldn't start this morning, new battery on order.

 

[MarkMas]

Yep, thanks all.
The RAC confirmed it was a battery problem, and persuaded me to buy a new one.
All seems to be working fine now, except I have a green spanner icon in the display to go with my yellow 'siren not working' one.
Amazing that parking up and listening to the radio for 20 minutes can finish off a battery - no previous problems with it at all.

 

[midlifecrisis]

Batteries can be 'recovered', I've done it a few times on motorcycle/car batteries over the years. Mainly with supervised charging with a power supply that has current readout as well. The PSU should be set to around 14.4V and the current should drop from as high as 10Amp to around 0.2amp as the battery charges up. If the current doesn't drop, then it's replacement time. Also we worth checking your alternator voltage to check that it's charging the battery! The Alternator itself should be OK but the rectifier-regulator pack tend to fail.

Those small battery packs are only good if you the engine kicks into life straightaway. Do not endlessly turn the engine over as the current deliver can over heat and cook ECU's etc. Same goes for jump starting.

 

[CatmanV2]

Proper battery disconnect and reconnect will probably sort the spanner and the alarm message.

At least that's my experience.

C

 

[iainw]

Yep, thanks all.
The RAC confirmed it was a battery problem, and persuaded me to buy a new one.
All seems to be working fine now, except I have a green spanner icon in the display to go with my yellow 'siren not working' one.
Amazing that parking up and listening to the radio for 20 minutes can finish off a battery - no previous problems with it at all.

Same happened to me on my GTS. 4 mins of listening to the bose system whilst waiting for a KFC. That turned out to be a expensive fillet meal