Vauxhall Combo van 05 plate - Electrical issues

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Sat 1 Apr 2023 19:08
Vauxhall Combo van 05 plate - Electrical issues - Cornish Lass

Hi all,

Recently sent our Combo dash cluster off for reconditioning as the mileage reading was intermittently failing, so LED screen circuit on the blink. Installed repaired cluster last week and initially all OK. A couple of days later, noticed that the centre console/radio control panel was illuminated when the ignition was off/key out. When radio is switched on manually or ignition is on/engine running, lights go out. Experimented today, and also found when ignition on first stage, switching the headlights on also switches the radio on!

Van has also become difficult to start today, and eventually did fire up but sounds like its running in 3 cylinders. We suspect this is all pointing to electrical issues. No dash warning lights on, but OBD reader shows P0650 MIL circuit fault.

Awaiting a call back from a local auto electrician to book a diagnostic visit, but can anyone shed any light on this? Would it be connected to the dash cluster refurb as this is the only thing we have done recently, or could it just be coincidence that other electrics are failing on our much loved old-faithful van ... Thanks

Edited by Cornish Lass on 01/04/2023 at 19:09

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 1 Apr 2023 19:18
Vauxhall Combo van 05 plate - Electrical issues - Adampr

I'm no expert, but he will appear shortly. In the meantime, I suppose the obvi5question is whether you're absolutely certain that you refitted the dash cluster properly? It sounds like some kind of short to me.

The fault code could just be from when the cluster was failing. I think it would thrown up that code if the check engine light wasn't illuminating.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 1 Apr 2023 19:27
Vauxhall Combo van 05 plate - Electrical issues - Cornish Lass

Thanks,

There is only one plug which goes back into the socket on the back of the cluster. It only fits one way around, and all pins are straight, clean, no corrosion. Only other switches/electrics we had to remove were the indicator and wiper stalks, but they just unclip and slide out of their holders, so no wiring was tampered with. Its so odd that the headlight switch and the radio seems to be connected in some way. The lights on the centre console/radio controls come on about 10 seconds after the ignition is switched off, so around the time that the ECU goes to sleep.

Did take off the steering wheel shrouds today, to see if anything obviously hot/melted, discoloured, disconnected or damaged and nothing visible.

The bad starting/running is also a worry, as the van will not start at all without the cluster installed, so assuming there is some connection here as well.

The dash cluster repair is guaranteed but we don't want to remove and send away again, if its not that at fault.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 1 Apr 2023 20:08
Vauxhall Combo van 05 plate - Electrical issues - elekie&a/c doctor
The dash pod is part of the can bus immobiliser network, so if it’s disconnected, the engine won’t start . The misfire on start up I would think is a separate issue . Is this a 1.3 or 1.7 engine ? Not sure about the lights issue, difficult without being hands on . Who did the pod repair? Have you tried a battery disconnect procedure? Very often the can network can get confused if something is disconnected

Edited by elekie&a/c doctor on 01/04/2023 at 20:11

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 1 Apr 2023 20:19
Vauxhall Combo van 05 plate - Electrical issues - Cornish Lass

Thanks for reply.

Dash pod is back in as we know it needs to be fitted for the van to start. Repair was by Cartronix and all was working fine for a couple of days.

Its 1.3 Cdti engine. We have used van twice this week, sometimes a little sluggish on start up but running fine. Started OK this morning, then went to put it away this afternoon and it hardly running, really lumpy and won't rev, almost like limp mode, but no EML on dash. Did think maybe glowplugs, but had a recon engine fitted about 12 months ago, and were all replaced then.

What is the battery disconnect procedure please?

Edited by Cornish Lass on 01/04/2023 at 20:19

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 1 Apr 2023 20:30
Vauxhall Combo van 05 plate - Electrical issues - elekie&a/c doctor
Remove one of the battery leads for 10 minutes. This may help your lights problem. The running issue could be injectors in trouble. Glow plugs don’t really affect cold start unless it’s sub zero.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 1 Apr 2023 20:37
Vauxhall Combo van 05 plate - Electrical issues - Cornish Lass

Thanks, will try to battery disconnect tomorrow.

Injectors were all replaced when recon engine fitted last year. Hopefully will hear back from our local auto leccie on Monday, but appreciate your advice in meantime.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link