Car starts and shuts off (i think i fried something!)

[Hotsky]

Hello everyone! Simple job of changing the headlights on my 2016 Golf has became a major pain in the a$$. When I was changing the driver side headlight i tried to give myself more working room and removed the fuse cover, which did not help at all, but i somehow touched the metal in front of the fuses with pliers which made a spark with a little bit of smoke. Didn't think much of it at first, but noticed that after the headlight that worked before (passenger side) stopped working also driver side daylights also not working, but they work on the driver side. Worst part is when I tired to start the car it shut off a second after! (Same story 3 tries after). I disconnected the negative terminal of the battery hoping sometimes just needs to be rest but no luck! So I definitely fried something. Hopefully it's just a fuse or a module that I can replace myself. Anyone have any idea what got messed up or how to find out for sure with out taking it to the dealer?

 

[ITGUY]

Yep you fried it. You should aways remove the positive clamp from the battery when doing electrical work. Good Luck.

 

[Hotsky]

Do you know what that "it" would be any chance??

 

[yeahforbes]

If you turn the car on without starting the engine (where all the idiot lights stay on) does it stay on indefinitely or only for a few seconds? If indefinitely, you can do a scan (obdeleven or vcds). Might help to scan, save the results, clear all DTCs, start the engine, let the engine die, and then scan again this time showing only relevant DTCs.

 

[victorofhavoc]

Or you could pull the fuses one by one and see which is fried. They're there as a fail safe, so burning out and getting replaced is a normal function. Just find the one that looks and smells burnt.

 

[yeahforbes]

If I understand OP correctly, the spark was from shorting one of the unfused lugs in front of the fuses.

In this other thread there's a photo of these lugs circled, and comment 5 saying it's unfused: https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/index.php?threads/engine-relay-fuse-box-access.347800/post-7079741

I suppose anything is possible, but if we assume that this event involved shorting the battery itself, what problems can that cause?

 

[ITGUY]

There should be a link to the repair manual for mk7 golf/gti online somewhere.. it'll give you the break down on what to check, but basically what yeahforbes has linked the fuse box lugs are basically fuses in themselves. You will have to take the fuse box apart to check those or check for continuity at the fuses to see if one of those blew. either way you should take it to the dealer if you have nor the tools or the knowledge to do so.

 

[ZERO815]

There is at least one hidden fuse under the front lugs. Worth to look into it.

 

[The Fed]

There are a few members here who probably know. I'm thinking you can't fry the electrical system that easily. Which terminals did you short out?

 

[Hotsky]

Update: replaced the mainfuse, all fixed now