Kermit Girl Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 (edited) The Lupo TDI belonging to my wife refused to start this morning in spite of running perfectly when we parked it last night. The car turns over fine but shows no sign of starting and the only obvious problem is that the glow plug warning light does not come on (normally comes on briefly even when ambient temperature is relatively high). I plugged in VCDS to see if there were any fault codes showing and found that when I tried to access the engine module I got the message "no response from controller". I tried the instruments and immobiliser and VCDS read them fine and told me there were no fault codes but I can not access the engine module. I am sure that I have read about problems on VWs with one of the relays that supplies power to the ECU but the only relays I can see are behind the fuse box and are not easy to get to.Can anyone explain what is going on? Update : Just wanted to say thanks to Jon for his advice and encouragement and Rich for his fix which eventually got Kermit running again. The help was much appreciated! Edited October 28, 2013 by Kermit Girl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini_ash Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 mine is the same with the glow plug light i leave mine for 5mins and try again and it starts some times i can get it but turning it to ignition 3 times and then starting it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lupoluke Posted October 3, 2013 Report Share Posted October 3, 2013 Sounds like 109 relay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Girl Posted October 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 Thanks for that - I think that is the one that I remember reading about on one of the forums. If the rain stops I will attempt to get to the relays and check it out. Is there an easy way to identify the 109 relay - the workshop manual has a diagram of the layout but does not mention relay 109? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_273 Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 It has 109 written on the top of it.Bear in mind that you may mistake it for 601 if you are looking at it upside down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 I had this problem.I replaced 109 with one of the many ones from the collection and it did nothing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Girl Posted October 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 Jon, I have managed to (almost) get to it but at least I can see it now and you are dead right about it being upside down! I have decided to take a chance and just order a new one to try and it will be in tomorrow for me to collect - if that does not work then I will have to try and find a decent wiring schematic and get the multimeter out! Just getting to the relays is awkward enough!!!!!Rich, Will let you know if it works for me - did you manage to sort yours eventually? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 Of course I did, if the 109 doesn't do it then pm me and we will take it from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James827 Posted October 4, 2013 Report Share Posted October 4, 2013 ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Girl Posted October 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 Of course I did, if the 109 doesn't do it then pm me and we will take it from there.Rich, Relay 109 did not work for me either so would welcome any advice - have sent you pm.Roger (on behalf of KermitGirl) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 5, 2013 Report Share Posted October 5, 2013 A. You should transfer this over to the missus.B. Hello to the wife.C. I'll fire one back now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Girl Posted October 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Rich, Did you ever manage to find your info on pin numbers etc? Have checked everything I can think of and am now stumped !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_273 Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Oh no, still not sorted yet?If you are still waiting on Rich, I have all the wiring diagrams should you want them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 I'm whipping the slam panel off tomorrow so I'll have a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skezza Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Rich's Universal fix to most problems is the good ol' Bradex potion... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Girl Posted October 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 (edited) Thanks for both replies - unfortunately I suspect that Bradex will not help in this case as the engine controller will not respond to VCDS and I am sure that Rich is correct when he says that the ECU will have lost its live feed. I,ve checked pretty much everything I can think of and even swapped over matching relays from my Golf TDI but can not hear any of the relays on the main relay board operate when I turn on the ignition - however the starter turns OK and other electrics (lights,locking,windows) work fine.I have just got an updated workshop manual from Ebay to see if I can get a decent wiring diagram but it is proving to be a real PITA to load onto my desktop. Also the weather is not ideal for pulling off the trim around the windscreen to get to the ECU so have had to spend time at the weekend trying to clear enough space in the garage to squeeze the Lupo in.Jon - thanks for the offer of the diagrams - will let you know if I need them but hope to have the manual loaded eventually!Technology is wonderful when it works - sometimes I get a bit nostalgic for the days when cars had simple things like points and coils! Edited October 14, 2013 by Kermit Girl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skezza Posted October 14, 2013 Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 I'd never recommend Bradex, only Rich who does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Girl Posted October 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 Oh no, still not sorted yet?If you are still waiting on Rich, I have all the wiring diagrams should you want them.Jon,I would like the relevant wiring diagrams if you have them - what I am looking for are the connections to the ecu.I managed to get the manual on to my desktop eventually and it is now working but I am still unable to locate the diagrams that I need - I thought this was because the version I had on the laptop was an old copy and maybe did not have all the info but the current copy I have loaded does not seem any different. I can find specific diagrams for certain circuits but nothing showing the connections to the ecu - not sure if I am just being dumb and looking in the wrong place!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Girl Posted October 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 I'm whipping the slam panel off tomorrow so I'll have a look.OK - Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_273 Posted October 14, 2013 Report Share Posted October 14, 2013 Just sent you PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Girl Posted October 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2013 Update : Kermit is now running again! Just wanted to say thanks to Jon for his advice and encouragement and Rich for his clever fix which eventually got Kermit running again. The help was much appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 28, 2013 Report Share Posted October 28, 2013 Just remember to vote Rich when it is time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soupie69uk Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 What was the fix please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 You have an M3. I'm not telling you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soupie69uk Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 Ha ha ha! I have sold the M3 so you can tell me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.