Woman does the work herself
T4 won't start? My 10-point checklist
Parking place in the Pyrenees, 7 a.m., key left - and nothing. Click. Silence. Three years and several mishaps later, I go through that list before I even think about the phone. In 8 out of 10 cases I continue my journey an hour later.
⚠️ Safety first:
Ignition off when screwing on the electrics, handbrake on, and with everything related to fuel: Not sure? Then you'd better be a professional - the list will still help you to narrow down the problem (and have a say in the workshop).
Listen first: What happens when you turn the key?
Nothing at all? → points 1-4. Click, but no organ? → points 4-6. Organ, but doesn't start? → Points 7-10.
The checklist
- Battery poles: loose or white-green corroded? Disconnect, clean with a wire brush, tighten. Solves a surprising number of “total failures”.
- Battery voltage: below 12.0 V it gets tight, below 11.5 V nothing starts. Multimeter (10 €) belongs in every van.
- Ground strap: Engine body, often forgotten, often rusted through. Visual inspection!
- Ignition switch contact: If the lock is worn out, trying to bypass the starter motor can help - or first: relieve the pressure on the steering wheel lock and key "with feeling".
- Starter click: Magnetic switch clicks but doesn't turn? Classic: worn out coals. The famous "hammer trick" (gently tapping on the starter housing while someone starts it) will get you to the workshop.
- Fuses & Relays: The T4 is Relay 109 (engine control unit) THE usual suspect - available as a replacement in the glove compartment for €15. My relay is now called "Horst II".
- Diesel: Wait for pre-glow. Indicator light broken? Check glow plugs (voltage tester). When it's cold, that makes all the difference.
- Fuel there? Fuel gauges lie, especially when parked uphill. And: After changing the filter, the system must be vented.
- Vacuum pressure/shutdown flap (diesel): If you don't open the storage device, there's nothing no fuel. Disconnect the hose, visually inspect, fix temporarily if necessary.
- Immobilizer: Is the indicator light flashing? Test a spare key - sometimes it's just the transponder that's tired.
My breakdown emergency kit
- Multimeter, wire brush, contact spray
- Relais 109 ("Horst II"), security range
- Jump cable + power bank with jump start function
- Workshop manual as PDF offline on your cell phone
▶ Video about it:
The checklist for screwing along is available on my YouTube channel — including the full-length Pyrenees breakdown.
See you soon and always have a good trip,
your Tussy 💛