Yellow warning lights and the engine stall

[mcs]

Hello,
I have a 2012 petrol Polo 6R. Something strange has recently started happening.

When I’m manoeuvring at very low speeds, for example when parking (usually when I’m changing between first and reverse gear), several yellow warning lights come on at the same time on the dashboard.

Sometimes the engine stall; other times yellow lights they turn on and then disappear straight away.

Has anyone on this forum had this problem before? Any idea what it might be?

Thanks

[RUM4MO]

It could be that your car's battery is very weak and some of the yellow lights that you are seeing are related to the power steering as that is the biggest electrical load in the car, and it is being asked to work hard while the engine is operating at low revs and so the alternator's output will be low and needs to be helped by the battery - which might just be not very healthy and so the electrical power to the power steering is getting disabled to allow the car to run.

[mcs]

Today I found a pattern:

It happens when I’m disengaging the reverse gear (e.g. parking manoeuvres, changing between first and reverse gear), several yellow warning lights come on at the same time on the dashboard (2 examples attached).

Sometimes the engine stalls; other times, the yellow lights turn on and then disappear straight away (when the engine does not stall, sometimes the radio turns off).

[ciclo]

As RUM4MO already mentioned, the various warning lights on the instrument panel are due to insufficient voltage (electrical supply) precisely when the power steering is drawing a lot of power.
Using a multimeter, check the battery voltage and the condition of the battery connections/terminals. I also recommend verifying that the alternator is supplying the necessary charge correctly.
You can do these checks at the battery terminals, first with the engine off and then with the engine running. Disconnect all electrical consumers before doing these checks (lights, radio, A/C, etc.).

If you think it is convenient, tell us the voltage in both circumstances.

[mcs]

Thankd for the tips!

I tested the battery, both with the car switched off and with the engine running whilst turning the wheels, and it’s in good condition.


However, yesterday I carried out a few more tests and have now identified the pattern: it happens when I disengage reverse gear.
(car stop, without turning the steering wheel)

Sometimes the engine stalls, sometimes it doesn’t. Note: this doesn’t happen all the time, just occasionally.

Any ideas? It seems to be related to a sensor in the gearbox which sometimes sends a signal to the ECU and throws the control system out of balance (which is why several yellow warning lights come on).

[ciclo]

Any recent modifications or repairs (maintenance)?

- Have you changed or modified the taillights in any way?
- Have you installed a reversing camera or an auto-dimming rearview mirror?
- Have you performed any recent maintenance (within the last year) in areas adjacent to the transmission with leaks or fluid dripping?

Based on the comments, it seems that occasionally the reverse gear wire shorts out.

[RUM4MO]

Now there is an idea!

[ciclo]

Glad you think so! Just throwing ideas out.

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By the way, I always look forward to your posts, your personal stories and experiences are amazing, super clear, and I still learn so much English from you.
You're a great guy!

(Sorry to everyone else for the brief off-topic comment!)