Scirocco Central

Hello,

I have had my Scirocco since November 2009 and had my aftermarket Alpine audio system installed a few days after purchase.
I have noticed that the reading lights and footwell flicker when driving. Also, when the windows drop when opening and closing doors there is a quick dim on these lights too.
We have disconnected the amps from battery but still notice the flickering.

Lastly, if I push my audio system at high volume the dashboard lights dim with the beat of the music and will sometimes shut the car off with a the rev counter & speedometer going wild plus a warning on the dash dsplaying "brake fault return to workshop" or something like that. This problem never occured in my previous VW Golf GTI MK5!!

Has anyone else experienced this flickering or can offer any advice?

I have taken the car to VW and they said that it is normal for the lights to flicker as the Scirocco has some intelligent recharging system.
Is that true??

Thanks

Scorpio wrote:I have taken the car to VW and they said that it is normal for the lights to flicker as the Scirocco has some intelligent recharging system.
Is that true??
Thanks

That is total bulls**t!

However, if you've only got the problem after your aftermarket install, then I'd go back to the people that installed it.

ashley1407 wrote:

Scorpio wrote:I have taken the car to VW and they said that it is normal for the lights to flicker as the Scirocco has some intelligent recharging system.
Is that true??
Thanks

That is total bulls**t!

However, if you've only got the problem after your aftermarket install, then I'd go back to the people that installed it.

To be honest, i's hard to track down whether the problem is due to the audio sysem install or if the problem was there from day one.
This is because I had the audio system installed a day or two after purchasing the car.
But as I said before, we have disconnected the amps from the car battery and the flickering is still there!!

In any electrical circuit, if there is a sudden surge in load (amps) then you're going to get some volt drop and this may be noticable in other adjacent circuits, particularly where there are dimmable lamps such as those in the footwells. Any electrical motor (such as the window motor) has a starting current of 5-10 times it's running current and you will get a momentary dimming of the dash / interior / exterior lights.
Heated screens also take a lot of power, you'll get the same effect as that cuts in until the alternator takes on board the extra load.
If you're at home with dimmed lights in your living room and you switch on a heavy load such as kettle / toaster / immersion heater / instant electric shower you will get the same effect.
If the effect is for a prolonged time then you're overloading a circuit somewhere (ever notice when the lights at home sometimes really dim just before a power cut?)
The alternator in the car will attempt to recharge and regulate the power, so there can be a slight flicker of lights noticable on some vehicles as the regulator pulses.
If you've fitted an aftermarket system with a heavy current load, then you may want to check the battery / alternator capacity and the cable sizing to the extra equipment.
You can do a simple check with a voltmeter across the battery (engine off) trying the doors / windows lights & sound system to get an idea of the volt drop. With the engine running the alternator and it's regulator will take over to even things out, but you'll always get some degree of fluctuation. Contact a reputable auto electrician to have the power / charging system tested more thoroughly if you're worried about the vehicle.
Apologies for the long reply, but hope that this is of interest / use to you.

maddogdave wrote:In any electrical circuit, if there is a sudden surge in load (amps) then you're going to get some volt drop and this may be noticable in other adjacent circuits, particularly where there are dimmable lamps such as those in the footwells. Any electrical motor (such as the window motor) has a starting current of 5-10 times it's running current and you will get a momentary dimming of the dash / interior / exterior lights.
Heated screens also take a lot of power, you'll get the same effect as that cuts in until the alternator takes on board the extra load.
If you're at home with dimmed lights in your living room and you switch on a heavy load such as kettle / toaster / immersion heater / instant electric shower you will get the same effect.
If the effect is for a prolonged time then you're overloading a circuit somewhere (ever notice when the lights at home sometimes really dim just before a power cut?)
The alternator in the car will attempt to recharge and regulate the power, so there can be a slight flicker of lights noticable on some vehicles as the regulator pulses.
If you've fitted an aftermarket system with a heavy current load, then you may want to check the battery / alternator capacity and the cable sizing to the extra equipment.
You can do a simple check with a voltmeter across the battery (engine off) trying the doors / windows lights & sound system to get an idea of the volt drop. With the engine running the alternator and it's regulator will take over to even things out, but you'll always get some degree of fluctuation. Contact a reputable auto electrician to have the power / charging system tested more thoroughly if you're worried about the vehicle.
Apologies for the long reply, but hope that this is of interest / use to you.

This is pefect as I was thinking about taking the car to an electrician.
Thanks again..