M, S and Drive Flashing

**sam_d** · 9th July 2017, 08:25 PM

Another day, another problem...

Tonight, out of the blue the M, S and Drive lights started flashing. I've had a quick search but nothing seems to really answer my question of why this has started happening.

I've had M and S flash before and that was fixed by charging and replacing the battery. However, the battery is only 6 months old and had a reading of 12.6v across the terminals. I've put it on the charger overnight anyway.

But what about the flashing D light? I only had a 5 minute drive to get to my B&B from when the fault appeared and all through suburban streets and I didn't notice anything unusual in that slow drive.

I did the quick unofficial XYZ switch test. I put the wipers on and engaged reverse and the rear wiper started up. Does this suggest that the switch is okay or doesn't it really tell you much?

Looking underneath the car tonight it looks like the air con drains are well and truly shot. I'm going to get some pipe and replace and extend/replace ithem tomorrow. Could it be the case that water has got into a connection somewhere? If so, is this something that will fix itself once dried out?

ECU is not logging any fault.

Thanks in advance (again!).

**discorevy** · 9th July 2017, 09:01 PM

Did it happen when you were starting it or while driving ?, did you turn it off and start it again , did the lights go off then?

**sam_d** · 9th July 2017, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by discorevy

Did it happen when you were starting it or while driving ?, did you turn it off and start it again , did the lights go off then?

The lights came on as I started up. I tried turning off and on again but they remained.

I'd only been for a couple of short drives today and I'd been parked for about half an hour or so before I started up and the lights came on.

**discorevy** · 9th July 2017, 09:59 PM

Try charging the battery , also check charge rate if you have a voltmeter, if you have a set of jumper leads and access to another vehicle try starting it with that , if it starts without lights flashing that'll tell you its battery / alternator or earth problem

**sam_d** · 9th July 2017, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by discorevy

Try charging the battery , also check charge rate if you have a voltmeter, if you have a set of jumper leads and access to another vehicle try starting it with that , if it starts without lights flashing that'll tell you its battery / alternator or earth problem

The battery has 12.6v across the terminals which I understand is a healthy voltage and they connections are all good and tight.

The thing that concerns me the most right now is why the "D" light is flashing.

**discorevy** · 9th July 2017, 11:31 PM

Assuming you mean the d in the selector , it will flash with the others , the battery can read 12.6 v but may have a bad cell , just because its not old doesn't necessarily mean its good , just try jump start.

**sam_d** · 9th July 2017, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by discorevy

Assuming you mean the d in the selector , it will flash with the others , the battery can read 12.6 v but may have a bad cell , just because its not old doesn't necessarily mean its good , just try jump start.

It's starting fine and drove okay for the few KM it took to get back to my accommodation for the night.

Also, the D flashing on the selector (and in the dash) is a new one. Last times I had the M & S lights flash due to a dying battery the D didn't flash.

**discorevy** · 10th July 2017, 12:01 AM

Yes it may start but if the voltage drops below the threshold while cranking it can activate the lights, I guess you don't have a nanocom, do the lights come on when you just turn the ign on without starting it ?

**sam_d** · 10th July 2017, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by discorevy

Yes it may start but if the voltage drops below the threshold while cranking it can activate the lights, I guess you don't have a nanocom, do the lights come on when you just turn the ign on without starting it ?

Yes, the lights flash before cranking. I do have a Nanocom but there are no faults being logged when I checked.

**Notamungo** · 10th July 2017, 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by sam_d

Another day, another problem...

Tonight, out of the blue the M, S and Drive lights started flashing. I've had a quick search but nothing seems to really answer my question of why this has started happening.

I've had M and S flash before and that was fixed by charging and replacing the battery. However, the battery is only 6 months old and had a reading of 12.6v across the terminals. I've put it on the charger overnight anyway.

But what about the flashing D light? I only had a 5 minute drive to get to my B&B from when the fault appeared and all through suburban streets and I didn't notice anything unusual in that slow drive.

I did the quick unofficial XYZ switch test. I put the wipers on and engaged reverse and the rear wiper started up. Does this suggest that the switch is okay or doesn't it really tell you much?

Looking underneath the car tonight it looks like the air con drains are well and truly shot. I'm going to get some pipe and replace and extend/replace ithem tomorrow. Could it be the case that water has got into a connection somewhere? If so, is this something that will fix itself once dried out?

ECU is not logging any fault.

Thanks in advance (again!).

My guess is your on the money with the a/c draining over the switch ..causing the flashing lights. Happened to me adhoc for a while till i extended the hose further away. yes.. it should fix itself once dried out if this in fact the cause.. good luck.

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