Polo wont start. loss of electric but good battery

[andyineastbourne]

I have a 1.0 Ltr Polo 1995 which has losts its electric supply so won't start. The battery is working but there is no supply to internal light, instrument panel, radio and can't start engine. There was a slight burning smell a couple day ago when engine was starting. When supply first went managed to get it back when shock some wires under dash. Can't find any blown fuses. Any ideas where why the electric supply has gone?

 

[Softus]

The battery is working...

How did you test the battery?

When supply first went managed to get it back when shock some wires under dash.

Are you saying that you moved some wires under the dashboard and noticed something shorting out?

 

[millerman]

Maybe not related, but my daughters Lupo lost all electrics, it was taken by RAC to VW garage, main engine fuse had blown

 

[Softus]

Maybe not related, but my daughters Lupo lost all electrics, it was taken by RAC to VW garage, main engine fuse had blown

Well you learn something every day. I didn't even know there was such a thing.

 

[millerman]

Dont ask me, i find electrics puzzling at the best of times, this is what my daughter was told by the VW garage

 

[Softus]

 

[^neo^]

Could well be the relief relay as this would kill most of the electrics if it was faulty.
position 4 on the fuse board, number 18 stamped on it (hopefully!)

 

[andyineastbourne]

The battery is working...

How did you test the battery?

When supply first went managed to get it back when shock some wires under dash.

Are you saying that you moved some wires under the dashboard and noticed something shorting out?

Tested the battery with a meter. Cables under the steering column were wiggled and electrics came back on a few occaissions (but took some time to get result). Tried again at the weekend but no luck with this method this time.

 

[Softus]

Tested the battery with a meter.

This won't do what you think it would do.

A car battery has to be tested under load, or the measurement is meaningless. There are specialist meters for this, but you can also do it if all the car electrics are working. Unfortunately there's a question mark over yours, so you'd be well advised to take the battery to a battery retailer for testing. Halfords staff are generally very helpful and capable.