Error workshop only leave vehicle in P position, and more...

[TonksyR]

As the title suggests, I have received the above message.  I tried pressing the ignition button a couple of times and the same error popped up, but with many many lights on the dash going on and off. 

 

There was initially intermittent power to the dash, but the car would not start.  Now there is nothing on the dash but the lights on the steering wheel illuminate.

 

The car is now stuck in my single garage, the dash doesn't power on, the gear selector is locked in place, the car is making a clicking sound and it won't lock (it will keep unlocking though).  Couldn't even press the assistance button by the sunroof 😂 so I had to call VW assist from my phone.  They offered to send the AA this evening but said they can have a specialist out tomorrow by 1pm.  I opted for the specialist.

 

I did a search and can see it could be the usual switch failure, but are all the above issues related to the error code?

[LouCyffer]

I’d look to check the battery and charge state first of all. These cars throw all sorts of errors when the battery charge is poor. If you have a good charger, I’d hook it up while you wait for the specialist to attend. 
 

Fingers crossed it’s a simple solution for you.

[Davey-c]

Those are the symptoms I had when the wife left my lights on with the keys in the car. Flat battery caused a solenoid to constantly click on and off like you mention. Jump start and a good drive sorted it out.

[Laths]

Battery ! Get a AGM, 

[R_wannabe_owner]

@TonksyR - My money would also be on the battery. I see yours is a 2019 car and it’s not unknown for the original battery to fail when the car’s around 3 years old. 
 

The error messages can be misleading when the battery fails but IMHO the car not starting, an unresponsive dash and car not locking are signs of there being insufficient electrical current for those functions to work. 

Please update this discussion thread once the specialist has diagnosed the fault. If - as suspected by the general consensus of opinion - it is the battery. then as @Laths has suggested, get an AGM as the replacement, and get it coded to your car. 

 

[Booth11]

As others has said, check the battery. I’ve had battery go on both my previous mk7R and on my current mk8R and though I didn’t get that particular error message, I had the clicking sound and plenty of other error messages. The stock EFB batteries are poor. 

[TonksyR]

Thank you all.

Typically, I don’t have jump leads and this is the only car here. Family member is popping over before the specialist so will see what happens.

Didn’t think the battery would go after only 3 years! So didn’t even cross my mind. Also had the key fob battery die on me fairly recently and without any warning! Luckily that happened at Sainsbury’s so just popped back inside and purchased a replacement.


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[NRW]

Late to this.   The R seems to dislike Not being used.  Goes in a huff if left for regular periods without use. A foible, in some but not all.  
Best solution, imho, is a CTEK MX5.0 Battery maintainer. £70 or less if you search.

and keep a supply of these in places you find most helpful.. under £1 each. 
 

Join VWROC, read advice from others, especially if your car will be left for spells.  You might choose to Be a proper Boy Scout. 😀

 

or not.

 

[TonksyR]

I used the car for a good run to Eastbourne and back on Sunday, and used it again for errands on Wednesday. No hesitation to start and no errors in sight.

On any previous cars I’ve owned, some with start start stop, there were symptoms of a failing battery. Maybe the R is a master at keeping a straight face/bluffing

Jump leads are nearly with me so will be interesting to see if this fixes the issue.


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[TonksyR]

According to VW roadside assistance, it was a flat battery. However, the battery tests ok, alternator is ok and he couldn’t see any logs indicating what caused the battery to go flat. I know all the doors were shut, lights were off, etc.

Systems have been reset and the car is now being run for 1hr to get some juice back in the battery. If it happens again they will probably look to replace battery, but currently everything checks out as it should

Don’t think it helped that I jump started it before he arrived as he would have liked to see how it was originally. Oops.


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[gregozedobe]

I still think your battery is highly suspect. 

 

You may also have a parasitic drain problem (often caused by non-oem electricals, especially dash cams, reversing camera, infotainment or alarms/immobilisers).

 

If you get the " Error workshop only leave vehicle in P position " message again it is likely the common problem of the micro-switch in the gear selector playing up.  That used to be an expensivefix involving a complete new gear lever & associate switches, but there is a cheaper add-on micro switch kit now.