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"System Fault Workshop" error message

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Jimbuffalo

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
All-

I searched the forums but could not find any listings of the above MFI message "System Fault Workshop". Has anyone any idea what this means? I have seen posts referring to "Running Gear Workshop" but not "System Fault Workshop".

Above the warning (which appeared upon starting the engine) was an orange symbol that displayed (what one would guess was) 4 wheels and three locking differentials on (what would be) the drive line and two axles. Neither the symbol nor error message appear in the manuals.

I drove the vehicle for 35 minutes...all was well...parked it and restarted it about 30 minutes later. No error message. Later drove 400+ miles without incident. The next day when I started it, the error message, symbol, and another undefined symbol appeared. I figured I call the dealer and let them know.

Washed off the dead bugs and my membership in the Dead Battery Society was reactivated. :censored:

The Touareg is in the shop now being "diagnosed". My history here....dead battery at 1100 miles....Dealer tightened the battery grounding strap, re-charged the battery...no issues until now.

The odo reads 7100 miles...a good 6K miles of sobriety and driver enjoyment...I had just started feeling good again and not worrying "will it start?" every time I opened the door. Now I am back to square one with regard to my confidence in this machine. A much as I like it, if you can't count on it starting EVERY time, it ain't of much use to me. :anger:

Any insights/shared experiences would be welcomed. I have read all the posts on batteries, etc...will press VW for some answers and let this forum know what's up.

Cheers
 
#3 ·
Early 2005's (mine included) do not have the better alternator cable. After doing the "tighten cable" TSB my dealer admitted that if it happens again they will have to replace the cable, but "don't worry" the cable tests OK. Why do I not feel confident?
 
#4 ·
When I had my 04 in for some minor work a few weeks ago I had a long talk with the tech that worked on it. I mentioned to him that I had the same error message as you did and the differential selector was blinking. He said it was because of a low change on the battery. I only got my Touareg a couple of months ago (used) and when I picked it up from the used dealer I had the message and blinking selector lights. My self and the dealer drove it arounf a few minutes restarted it and the message went away and has not been back. The Touareg had sat several weeks and needed a little while to charge it's battery back up. He said never leave the key close to the car if you have the keyless entry system. If it detects the key it turns on all kinds of electrical systems that use power.

The reason the tech and I got into the conversation was because I was asking abou the alternator cable because my voltage seems to change from 12.5 to 13.5. He said they will not replace the cable without a certain stored error code, which I did not have.

I am not worried I have lots of warrentee left, just past 14,000 miles this weekend.
 
#5 ·
jimbuffalo,

I had the same fault message on startup on one beautiful morn. Shut the Touareg off for some coffee, tried to start it about an hour later but no luck, I was became a dead batt member. Took it to the dealer to get it fixed,which took two days, and the tech found a drain in the nav system, which was, to my surprise, had always been on thus draining the batt. I have never had a flux on the volt meter though, mine has always stayed at 14. I am curious if the fault message is providing us a heads up that the batt will die fairly soon.

regards
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Dealer just called.....

Stored Error codes indicate a bad control module for the navigation system. They are replacing the control module and wiring harness....and should have me on my way by tomorrow when the cable arrives.

The nav system is supposed to have a "parasitic draw" but in my case, apparently, the control module behaved as if it were always on, thus draining the battery. There was never any indication in the voltmeter...mine registers a solid 14 all the time...so that gauge did not forewarn any impending shut down. They have charged up the battery and tested it as still being good.

As doc_j quips:
Why do I not feel confident?
Click to expand...
Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice shame on me. The last thing I need from a new vehicle is to be out of town and learn that the family is stranded in what was purchased to be a bullet-proof, allweather transporter.

I am going to schedule a sit down with VW: Perhaps something will come of it. I have now been stranded twice by electrical gremlins. I am going to ask VW for:

a) updated error code messages, symbols, and what they mean. Again, none of these warnings and messages are reflected in the owner books. If I get anything, I'll be sure to share.

b) disclosure of Touareg electrical system repair incidents. We owners should not be shaking down vehicles for VW. I doubt I'll get this, but if misery loves company, I would sure like to know that VW doesn't discriminate.

c) proactive concessions/perfromance clauses for the "next time"...like an A6 loaner instad of a plain jane Sebring...like "here's my VW Credit payment coupon...next one's on you...thanks!".

Maybe this is just a fluke and I'll get XX upcoming years of trouble free driving nirvana from a vehicle that will only see the shop for scheduled maintenance. I'll be sure to sing praises then as well. In the interim, I am going to purchase a portable jump starter device and keep it in the left rear side panel for next time. They're pretty inexpensive - I'll try negotiating that from the dealership just for sport.

In summary, I have re-set the "vehicle satisfaction meter" at zero. I figure I need to double the recent 6K string of trouble-free miles from here on before my confidence in this vehicle being always available returns. This ain't your father's British sports car or Alfa...it's a VW, dammit!

Happy trails.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Another update...here's what I am learning.

Owner just called. Empathic, supportive. You could tell he's been working the situation.

Updated Nav Control Module - ePROM installed. This is an update to what was in the vehicle...it has to do with magnetic antenna of the gps system and its susceptibility to outside interference....hmmmm. I had read early posts talking about airport interference...maybe worth considering if you live close to an airport, or power lines or park next to a neighbors oversized air conditioner :-s

Alternator/Battery/Starter cable. They are replacing this with a newer version from VW. The current cable exhibits a >1 volt drop under load.....spec is for the cable to lose <0.4 volts...so I am told. I had seen this identified in earlier posts as a potential culprit as well.

I have asked the dealer to check the compass control unit and radio amplifier based on previous posts to this forum. Radio Amp may not apply to my vehicle, but those other three - (Nav, cable, Compass) - in the dealer's view are the Big Three sources of chronic battery drain...all verified here in this web community

Epilogue:

The symbol that appeared in my MFI with the System Fault Workshop warning is (I'll need to verify) the low range symbol you'd get when you drop the tranny/differential into that mode.

I am still going to speak with the factory rep and will acquire one of those jump starter units to carry in case we don't exorcise the demons this time.

I am grateful to have a dealer who is trying to work through the problems with me and I appreciate the feedback and postings at ClubTouareg.
 
#8 ·
Your system fault warning with the low range transfer case is the same thing I'm seeing with mine. Reference my other post on this.
 
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#9 ·
2004 System Fault Workshop error.

I was so happy to find this forum. I too received the system fault, workshop error several times and then a dead battery. After several system fault errors... they were sporadic at first, but then became more frequent, I called the dealer to tell them about my issue. Having read this post, I told them I was concerned that my battery could go dead at any time. I was told that this was "impossible" by the service guy and had an appointment scheduled for a week later. The next day, after being told that my battery was fine and that the people on club touareg did not know what they were talking about, my battery died. As my touareg was parked in the airport parking garage, a tow truck could not be sent (per roadside assistance) and I had to jump the car. I took it into the dealer the following morning and they told me they could not look at the car as I did not have an appointment and did not have it towed. After several minutes of arguing, they agreed to look at the touareg. Then, the subject of a rental car came up... again an argument ensued as I did not have the touareg towed to the dealer. VW has to have the worst customer service I have ever dealt with in my life. So, they have had my touareg for 5 full days and have not been able to replicate the problem, so they tell me that they can't do anything. Yet they want to keep it one more night and make me drive my basic Chevy rental car. I'm so glad that I am paying for a luxury SUV and driving a Chevy that cost 1/4 of my Touareg. Anyway, I'm picking up my Touareg tonight and will be listing it for sale very soon as this is not the only issue I have had with it. There have also been several electrical, stereo, and brake issues with the touareg and the stereo is the only one the dealer has fixed. I just want a nice Toyota, Honda or Ford that is reliable!
 
#10 ·
Re: 2004 System Fault Workshop error.

krisrjb said:
I was so happy to find this forum. I too received the system fault, workshop error several times and then a dead battery. After several system fault errors... they were sporadic at first, but then became more frequent, I called the dealer to tell them about my issue. Having read this post, I told them I was concerned that my battery could go dead at any time. I was told that this was "impossible" by the service guy and had an appointment scheduled for a week later. The next day, after being told that my battery was fine and that the people on club touareg did not know what they were talking about, my battery died. As my touareg was parked in the airport parking garage, a tow truck could not be sent (per roadside assistance) and I had to jump the car. I took it into the dealer the following morning and they told me they could not look at the car as I did not have an appointment and did not have it towed. After several minutes of arguing, they agreed to look at the touareg. Then, the subject of a rental car came up... again an argument ensued as I did not have the touareg towed to the dealer. VW has to have the worst customer service I have ever dealt with in my life. So, they have had my touareg for 5 full days and have not been able to replicate the problem, so they tell me that they can't do anything. Yet they want to keep it one more night and make me drive my basic Chevy rental car. I'm so glad that I am paying for a luxury SUV and driving a Chevy that cost 1/4 of my Touareg. Anyway, I'm picking up my Touareg tonight and will be listing it for sale very soon as this is not the only issue I have had with it. There have also been several electrical, stereo, and brake issues with the touareg and the stereo is the only one the dealer has fixed. I just want a nice Toyota, Honda or Ford that is reliable!
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear about your problems, and even sorrier t to recognize that they are too typical. If you want to give the Touareg anothe shot, find a different dealership. As you most likely conlcuded from reading the posts here, it sounds like you neef either the battery ground strap re-seated, or a replacement alternator cable. This is a fixable problem, if you only had a service department that cared to fix it for you.

The best statement you could make, besides dumping the Touareg, is to find a good dealership (get recomendations from this site - if you would tell us where you are located) then tell your current dealer they are losing your bussiness, and why.
 
#11 ·
This sounds like a classic case of a crap-ass dealership giving lousy service resulting in a customer being turned off on their vehicle --- which is terrible.

My suggestion is to find another dealership and tell your old one to pound sand.

I had a service department tell me not to believe the information off the internet that people gave me about my problem '04. I didn't know whether to spit on the guy or thump him, because he basically told me I was an idiot (not in so many words). This coming from the same person who openly admitted to me at one time they didn't know everything about the TOUAREG to fix it. Who's the idiot?

Seriously, try another/better service department and best of luck. Your dead battery problem is well known to those who do care about your vehicle and making sure it runs right.
 
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#12 ·
Thanks for your advice. Unfortunately, I am located in Northern Nevada and the nearest dealership (outside of the awful one in Reno, NV) is 80+ miles away in CA. The dealership has definitely turned me off and I can't honestly recommend the Touareg to anyone at this point based on the many problems and horrible service I have received.

When I went to pick up my Touareg last night, I had to wait 50 minutes for them to put it back together. It was sitting in their parking lot "in pieces" per the customer service guy. I'm so glad that I called them at 3pm to tell them I would be there at 5pm and they did absolutely nothing to get it ready for me. Of course they blamed me, saying that they really wanted to keep it one more day to monitor the battery which they did actually end up charging. Nothing else was done to the Touareg. :anger: I'm sure it's only a matter of time before I have another dead battery.

Better luck to those of you with educated service departments/dealerships.
 
#13 ·
I am from Europe and have the same exact problem blinking on my touareg v10

The mechanic that I use tested the car and said that is nothing wrong with the engine, the problem is one sensor from the brake pedal which tells the computer that the brake was pressed.

As some of you with same problem may see, you cannot see anymore the brake icon...

the problem is simple, change the broken brake sensor and will be fixed.
 
#14 ·
I had this problem too, but was caused by a low battery that would not hold a charge so everytime the car sat for a while (overnight) I would get the message but it would go away after a drive and restart. Battery wasn't fully charged and wouldn't hold a charge. Dealer replaced the Starter Charging Harness and Engine Chasis Ground HArness and a new battery and it's been fine since.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Aldino

Saw your post and clicked on...surprised to see you have responded to one I started almost FIVE YEARS AGO.

Your voltmeter is reading properly, it would seem. What year and mileage is your Touareg? The bad alternator cable affected 2004 and early 2005 VIN cars..

Get a dealer or someone with VagCOM to see what errors it represents.

Good luck.
 
#19 ·
Batteries usually last 5 years. I think what actually fails on them is the lead shakes off the plates, collects on the bottom and then shorts out. The battery will then not hold a charge... That's why a battery hold down is critical, without it, the battery will fail prematurely.
 
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#20 ·
By accident my AC was left on without the car on. Since then everytime I turn it on I get the fault workshop error and then another workshop error about my brakes. The car struggles to start. If i let it run then turn it off and back on the errors go away.

I turned the key off and didn't get out of my car for about 30 seconds so the radio stayed on and the battery completely died and I had to get a jump.
I took it to the dealer and they said both alternator and battery tested fine.
Should I buy a new battery since it got drained?
 
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