Roof control unit failure (flickering)

[craigt]

for three years the Cali has been faultless. However, following its recent mot, I was demonstrating the roof operation to a friend that was borrowing the Cali and to my horror, the roof went up without issue, but once up the control panel date reset, flashed away like a loose connection and then lost all power

After a bit of messing around with the two leisure batteries the power temporarily returned which allowed me to lower the roof. A trip to the dealer advised that the investor plug at the back can work loose and this should resolve the matter. I'm not convinced.

Today I return to check the van and charging status to find that both fresh and waste water indications are erroneously showing full and the time was 00:11, suggesting it lost power 11 minutes ago. The unit was still flashing/flickering.

Anyone had this issue and is there a typical connection point I could check for a slack connection and perhaps reset the water levels or is this a back to dealer issue?

 

[craigt]

Insofar as the water level indications, is there a way to reset or recalibrate these sensors? Both tanks definitely empty and both reading and flashing full.
Thanks

 

[craigt]

Ok, tank level sensors is an easy fix. Holding down the lower right hand button resets the levels. Job done, thanks to the poster of this!

I'm still convinced there's a slack connection somewhere too. Still seeking and answer for this if anyone can assist.

 

[WelshGas]

Ok, tank level sensors is an easy fix. Holding down the lower right hand button resets the levels. Job done, thanks to the poster of this!

I'm still convinced there's a slack connection somewhere too. Still seeking and answer for this if anyone can assist.

I'm not sure what you mean by the ' Invester ' plug. The plugs in the back of the Control Panel are clipped in and not easy to remove so I cannot see them coming loose on their own.
I suggest checking for any Diagnostic Codes.

Check Control Panel Diagnostics.


Control panel On

Press and Hold R lower button and then press Control Knob for 5 secs.

New Hidden Menu . Scroll to VW Diagnostics.

If there are any codes shown, take note and then Reset/Clear.

Return to Main Menu.

Switch Off Control Panel using L lower button. Wait 30 secs and Switch On.

 

[Emil Silenhag]

First thing you should check is the batteries. Is there a loose wire/connection?

 

[Emil Silenhag]

Then remove the control panel and check the connections in the back...

 

[craigt]

Oops. Auto correct. Investor should have read invertor. There's a 230Vac to 14Vdc invertor at the rear battery. The dealer chap stated that this can work loose and just needs shoved back in. It's directly above the rear battery with the 230 input plug facing rear wards. The dc output is hard wired into the invertor. However, given that the leisure battery can charge from the engine, I personally can't see what difference this would make. But, when he went into the rear battery compartment, two seconds later the control panel was fully functional.

The diagnostics test sounds interesting. I'll give that a bash tomorrow, thanks. And perhaps drop the control panel to check the connections. I did ask the dealer if this could be anything to do with the mot checks, but of course they responded no. (The receptionist, not the tech guys)

Thanks for the input

 

[WelshGas]

Oops. Auto correct. Investor should have read invertor. There's a 230Vac to 14Vdc invertor at the rear battery. The dealer chap stated that this can work loose and just needs shoved back in. It's directly above the rear battery with the 230 input plug facing rear wards. The dc output is hard wired into the invertor. However, given that the leisure battery can charge from the engine, I personally can't see what difference this would make. But, when he went into the rear battery compartment, two seconds later the control panel was fully functional.

The diagnostics test sounds interesting. I'll give that a bash tomorrow, thanks. And perhaps drop the control panel to check the connections. I did ask the dealer if this could be anything to do with the mot checks, but of course they responded no. (The receptionist, not the tech guys)

Thanks for the input

Ok. There is a Battery Charger located above the rear Leisure Battery that charges both Leisure Batteries when on Mains Hookup. There is a 12v - 240v Inverter located at the base of the Nearside 'B' pillar to give a 240v/150w socket when not on Mains.
I can see NO reason for the Mains plug into the Charger being responsible for the Control Panel screen flickering unless, possibly, the Leisure Batteries were severely depleted.
The Control Panel is a mini computer. I believe the LCD screen is powered separately but controlled by the computer software. I would definitely check for any Diagnostic codes.

 

[craigt]

Guys. Diagnostics done. No error.
Stripped everything down. All electrical connections secure. And looks very secure too.

Looking for any other suggestions. Happened again at the weekend where the roof control unit lost power when going through the menu to lower roof. It went off without reason (apparent) andxane back on again completely of its own accord. Gremlins aside, what else can this be and where does the unit get its feed from? Is there a dodgy multi plug below the seat or somewhere?

 

[WelshGas]

View attachment 25423
Guys. Diagnostics done. No error.
Stripped everything down. All electrical connections secure. And looks very secure too.
View attachment 25424
Looking for any other suggestions. Happened again at the weekend where the roof control unit lost power when going through the menu to lower roof. It went off without reason (apparent) andxane back on again completely of its own accord. Gremlins aside, what else can this be and where does the unit get its feed from? Is there a dodgy multi plug below the seat or somewhere?

When you say, it went off, did the screen just go blank and come back on, or did it go blank and then come back on showing the VW logo as it started up?

 

[craigt]

When you say, it went off, did the screen just go blank and come back on, or did it go blank and then come back on showing the VW logo as it started up?

The screen flickered off (which still suggests a typical loose or bad electrical connection) then flickered back into life with the little VW roundel and a time of 00:00 flashing. Can't use menu unless time and date reset. So it think it's definitely losing its main supply. Which makes me think there will probably only be two other multiplugs located in the loom somewhere. The battery connections all seem solid enough.

 

[Loz]

5amp fuse under passenger seat the other 5a fuse is the water pump.

 

[craigt]

Tried the fuses. All good but the front one done the control panel. And just as I went to try it out, it failed again. Only me in the car and it failed when I switched the fridge on. That's when I checked the fuse. Removed it, gave it a clean, reinserted back into holder. Fridge, heater roof all functions are functional. Still confused. Btw, I'm an electrician, but it doesn't really help me here.

Has no one else had this issue?

(Thanks for the input so far)

 

[craigt]

 

[Loz]

Try checking the earth, also I noticed on your first picture that it was showing a timer event for the heater?
Is the heater still working?

 

[dayslikethis]

for three years the Cali has been faultless. However, following its recent mot, I was demonstrating the roof operation to a friend that was borrowing the Cali and to my horror, the roof went up without issue, but once up the control panel date reset, flashed away like a loose connection and then lost all power

After a bit of messing around with the two leisure batteries the power temporarily returned which allowed me to lower the roof. A trip to the dealer advised that the investor plug at the back can work loose and this should resolve the matter. I'm not convinced.

Today I return to check the van and charging status to find that both fresh and waste water indications are erroneously showing full and the time was 00:11, suggesting it lost power 11 minutes ago. The unit was still flashing/flickering.

Anyone had this issue and is there a typical connection point I could check for a slack connection View attachment 24713 and perhaps reset the water levels or is this a back to dealer issue?

Interesting thread. Firstly can you explain the image on the centre top of your control panel? It looks like a timer has been set for the aux heater? My unit displays that and I've failed to change it. I certainly hadn't set any heater. I too have recently had control panel issues after 3 years and getting the MOT strangely enough! In my case the aux heater has failed and the CP indicates "heater not possible"
A diagnosis failed to identify problem but I'm booked into dealer this week. Your thread will be coming with me.

 

[Hotel California]

@dayslikethis
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/control-unit-clock-symbol.17394/
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/help-problem-with-control-panel.8930/#post-79682

 

[dayslikethis]

@dayslikethis
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/control-unit-clock-symbol.17394/
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/help-problem-with-control-panel.8930/#post-79682

Thanks for this - I'll let you know how I get on, fingers crossed.

 

[dayslikethis]

Interesting thread. Firstly can you explain the image on the centre top of your control panel? It looks like a timer has been set for the aux heater? My unit displays that and I've failed to change it. I certainly hadn't set any heater. I too have recently had control panel issues after 3 years and getting the MOT strangely enough! In my case the aux heater has failed and the CP indicates "heater not possible"
A diagnosis failed to identify problem but I'm booked into dealer this week. Your thread will be coming with me.

I can confirm the image in the control panel is the clock and not related to heater as I thought. Photo from new Cali Manual in VW showroom.

 

[Hotel California]

Think the clock symbol with a number in it refers to diffrent time set , as you from the UK could change time to european time using this funcion to switch back and forth between timezones...

 

[dayslikethis]

Think the clock symbol with a number in it refers to diffrent time set , as you from the UK could change time to european time using this funcion to switch back and forth between timezones...

Thanks
VW now just need to establish why my heater isn't working - so far 3 x VW garages have drawn a blank but we have established that its not the control unit which is good news. Looking at the actual heater next week.

 

[Andy]

+ dayslikethis If your Cali is out of warranty I would suggest you take it to a eberspacher service dealer rather than VW, who will just replace whole heater at vast cost.
These heaters are used in trucks (called night heater) so there are a lot of good well informed repairer around the country who will actually repair it for you, rather than sell you a new unit, at a much lower cost.

 

[dayslikethis]

+ dayslikethis If your Cali is out of warranty I would suggest you take it to a eberspacher service dealer rather than VW, who will just replace whole heater at vast cost.
These heaters are used in trucks (called night heater) so there are a lot of good well informed repairer around the country who will actually repair it for you, rather than sell you a new unit, at a much lower cost.

Thanks Andy - great tip. I shall make enquiries. My visit to a local garage next week( a VW specialist not main dealer) is going to be just to quick check that heater is connected etc. To date VW dealers have not removed these panels to look and just say it is.

This forum has been incredible in terms of advice on solutions - I'll keep you posted
many thanks

 

[craigt]

Guys. I had another bash at rectifying this. Failed again. Today I'm on my way for a weekend away and the control unit shuts down and resets fully when I switch the fridge on. It tells me there's no battery, flickers and goes off. Needing new time input every time. Still looks to me like a loose battery connection as when the unit comes back to life, the battery symbol is fully charged. I'm still suspicious about a master plug that disconnects the batteries totally but nothing obvious anywhere. I reiterate that this machine has been faultless until four days after return from first mot. Coincidence perhaps, but it'll be a frustrating easy fix that's likely to cost me £200+

Anyone any more suggestions I could tackle? Thanks for input and links so far.

 

[RodCouncil]

This same thing happened to ours today, not the roof but unit reset with date, im guessing old leisure batteries