My friends t25 1.9 water cooled DF van went to garage for MOT all very fine except horn not working. We knew this as I'd taken steering wheel off for some reason a while back and when putting back on it the horn didn't work right but we cant wire hence getting the garage to do it with the MOT as they were supposedly VW specialist. So they wired it back in and it works plus MOTd it, but since then it the battery now just fully drains so when you try and start the engine you get nothing, not even a little red light. Ive swapped the battery so its not that for sure.
Could they have wired the horn in wrong somehow? Is it an easy fix that we could do? Any info, guidance or pics would be brill. Better still (being cheeky) if anyone could help my friend out on site that would be amazing as us girls are pretty useless! The van is in Bolton by the way, just 1 min if that from junction 5 off M61 if anyone could help? I live in Scotland but I'm hoping to come down next weekend to try and help my friend out - just no idea what I'm doing. I'm just going to disconnect the horn somehow to see if it is this, can't see it being anything else as it was fine before it went to the garage. Any help or suggestions appreciated.
Cheers
Beckie
‘81 2.0ltr air cooled automatic Devon Camper - Gladys
‘81 2.0ltr air cooled manual Doka - Basma
I would definitely disconnect the horn after charging the battery to see if the battery goes flat again.
If this cures the problem you should at least ring the garage that repaired it and ask them how they "fixed" the horn, and would they like to correct their mistake.
Most small garages rely on repeat business and word of mouth referrals, so you should at least let them know you are having problems with something they fixed and give them a chance to rectify any mistakes they may have made (for free).
We are letting them know and giving them an opp to fix but they were really unhelpful when finding a part to pass its mot. It needed a carb flange as it was split and failing on emissions. My friend and I who know pretty nothing had to source and order it as the garage said they couldn't find it. They also said it the part was for a DG engine, yet after speaking to the very helpful VW heritage there is no way it could be a DG but had to be a DF because of the flange.
VW specialist in commercial vehicles - I'm not sure. So although yes ideally I would normally recommend my friend taking it back our confidence isn't great. Also the van now is stuck over 50miles from that garage - so we need to try and get it back to friends house. I'm going to try and locate drain with a light tester thing by disconnecting -ve as Bentley manual says and take it from there.
I think the horn is on fuse 12 according to manual but so is the backup light? Anyone know what that is?
Cheers
Becke
‘81 2.0ltr air cooled automatic Devon Camper - Gladys
‘81 2.0ltr air cooled manual Doka - Basma
Backup light is american term for reverse light so are you reading from bentley manual? Charge battery till horn works then remove each fuse in turn till the horn won't work, then you have found offending fused cicuit. check what else is on same fused circuit and by process of elimination you should find cause of battery drain. You could also disconnect a battery lead and connect a small wattage bulb between battery post and disconnected lead, then pull fuses one at a time till bulb goes out and that would show the guilty circuit.
And yes I am using the Bentley manual as its all I have to hand as my van is the older air cooled so my haynes is no good. I am going to Bolton tonight after work and having a go at fixing it myself with the help of this info (and my friend supplying tea!) - wish us (me really) luck! I will update you all on Sunday when I return to bonnie Scotland!
p.s. can't believe I didn't know it was the reversing light - ooppss!
‘81 2.0ltr air cooled automatic Devon Camper - Gladys
‘81 2.0ltr air cooled manual Doka - Basma
Well - managed to sort the drain on the battery. The steering wheel was causing a drain, it was shorting inside so I made a little sleeve thing and hey presto it worked. I also fitted one of those battery monitors from the wiki too, great little things so now my friend can quickly flick a switch and see how the battery is doing, plus also see how the leisure battery is doing too.
We also found another drain on the battery too - the windscreen wipers! The garage has had the wipers off to try and put grooves into the spindles as the arms were spinning around. From what we have read it if not aligned properly it can be left open and on, draining battery. So we have just removed fuse 10 as a temp measure and the van is going back to see if they will correct the error they have made.
So at least the van can once again be used - phew. Thanks for all of your help, we learnt a lot and had a go at doing stuff on our own so very pleased.
Beckie
‘81 2.0ltr air cooled automatic Devon Camper - Gladys
‘81 2.0ltr air cooled manual Doka - Basma
