Cut cable in engine compartment?

[DGB99]

Just noticed this cable, which appears to be cut, to the left of my battery in the engine compartment. There does not appear to be another 'end'. 2023 4motion.

Any ideas?

 

[DGB99]

On closer inspection I can see that it has been cut from the white unit in the centre of the image. Why?

 

[Corradobrit]

The grey/white box the cable attaches to is the battery control unit. I wonder if the ECU is unable to monitor the battery status since cable is cut.

 

[DGB99]

The grey/white box the cable attaches to is the battery control unit. I wonder if the ECU is unable to monitor the battery status since cable is cut.

How would I know?

The only error I have ever had since owning the California (Feb '25) is an error with the start/stop system. Could that be it?

It does look like it has been deliberately cut.

 

[Corradobrit]

Some interesting info in this thread.

Shunt/battery control module part-no

Could someone or a couple of people next time they are at their van please pop the bonnet and check the part number on the battery control module on their negative battery terminal and let me know please? Any T6 from 2016 onward. If you could let me know they year as well that would be great...

www.t6forum.com

Stop/Start is one error this box can trigger. Not sure why anyone would cut the connection.

 

[Perfectos]

It is the battery monitor cable, the start stop will not work without the assessment

 

[Perfectos]

the "smart " Alternator will not be able to "read" the voltage and act accordingly ! I have no ideas why someone would cut the wires

 

[DGB99]

I bought the California 14 months old with only 4.5k miles. I noticed the start/stop error immediately and informed the garage who said they often do not work on Californias (?). I had start/stop on my previous Golf and was happy with it but I am aware that some people do not like and even try to disable stop/start. Could the cable have been cut to disable start/stop? Are there other issues with a cut cable? The engine compartment is immaculate so I cannot see how it has been damaged other than a cut.

 

[Corradobrit]

Could the cable have been cut to disable start/stop?

This would be my best explanation. I just switch it off internally on the dash and if I get bored with that every time I use the Cali then disable it with Carista. Personally I loathe the system.

 

[DGB99]

That makes sense - would the cut cable affect anything else other than the start/stop system?

 

[Corradobrit]

Charging system may be compromised as the alternator isn't able to 'read' the status of the battery. There may be hidden codes so worth getting the ECU scanned and see what appears.

 

[vbk1975]

I bought the California 14 months old with only 4.5k miles. I noticed the start/stop error immediately and informed the garage who said they often do not work on Californias (?). I had start/stop on my previous Golf and was happy with it but I am aware that some people do not like and even try to disable stop/start. Could the cable have been cut to disable start/stop? Are there other issues with a cut cable? The engine compartment is immaculate so I cannot see how it has been damaged other than a cut.

It would seem odd to cut it, rather than just unplug it, but it does look like it has been sliced, perhaps caught. The connection is a LIN bus, which is a type of low data rate vehicle network connection. I would certainly make sure the two wires left on the car harness (not the BMS {white cube on battery} ) are isolated from each other, one is the network signal and the other is ground. The repair would be simple, you can buy "repair wires" from VW (or other sources). They are basically are short wires with the correct terminal for the connector. The connectors can be a challenge to de-pin, so you can just buy a new housing from VW at the same time. Then you join the new repair wires into the existing cables, VW would use waterproof butt splices for a formal repair.

I would recommend sorting this out, the smart charging system varies the battery voltage based on a number of factors and whilst stop-start not functioning is an obvious outcome, it is better all round for the system to be operating, rather than a fall back charging strategy.

A

 

[DGB99]

Thanks for this - I'll call the garage I bought it from in the morning (I had already reported the start/stop issue to them) and see what they say. I have a 5 year warranty so assume it will be sorted under that.

 

[DGB99]

Quick update - garage have agreed to order and fit replacement part.