Passat electrical problems!!!

I have read this post with great interest and have two things to add;

1. Has anyone read a post in the B5 forum showing a letter from VW of America acknowledging the blocked battery drains as a problem and issuing a recall of cars to have the problem rectified?

Just wondering if this helps when claiming against VW in the UK etc.

Also, a question;

2. If, having made sure the floors of your car are dry, is wrapping the CCM in a waterproof jacket (for want of a better word) possible in order to prevent possible damage?

Baron,

The very same letter is in the Passat section here ;)

Not sure how much heat the CCM gives off but if it's stuffed under the carpet already I imagine it's safe to wrap it in another layer of something waterproof

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Originally Posted by bullsfan

I am so glad I have just joined this site. Just after the last service of my Passat Highline '04, the interior lights stopped working. Wasn't too concerned at the time, but a few weeks back the electrics went. Key fobs wouldn't work, nor the windows, and I couldn't open the boot manually either. Took it to VW who informed me that wires had got damp and new Control unit required at a cost of over £400. Was told by mechanic that it could be due to filter not being put in properly at service but could not be proved, but they could couldn't find any source for the leak. As this was done at another VW garage overseas, I had to take it up with them if I wanted anything done about it. Oh well, shell out the money, what more could I do. Low and behold, a few days later, the kids noticed that the rear interior lights were still not working, and I still couldn't open the boot manually. After several messages to the VW garage, no one got back to me, so I demanded to speak with the manager who eventually got a mechanic to speak there and then. Got the car in this morning, only to get a phone call to say that more wires are damp and it's due to pollen filter hsg and is a known problem. After saying it was supposed to be all checked out the first time it was in the garage, he informed me that I might still have to cough up another £200 when I collect tomorrow, but would have to look at the previous notes. I am so glad I read your message, as for a car that's only 3 and a half years old, I don't expect to be coughing up this much money for a problem that clearly lies with VW. I shall take it up with them then, and if I get no joy I'll take a leaf out of your book, and go down the road of legal advice

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Hi ,

I had a meeting with the service manager at my VW garage today, re: water ingress/cost of work, and a further problem with an oil pressure warning lamp coming on after the CCU had been replaced and the car supposedly dried out (including new carpet). At the time I originally took the car in my car was less than 4 years old, but VW changed their goodwill slant on this problem as more faults were reported. So, it's currently at 100% repair cost covered for water ingress due to the pollen filter seal not behaving. At the time I took the car in, that wasn't the case.

Interestingly, they did have a certain amount of leeway even then to refund customer's costs - but not 100%. Please be aware of this, if you are not already - always argue the point if your repair is down to the design of the car rather than your own neglect!

I'll cover my oil pressure warning light saga elsewhere in the forum, but want you all to know that VW are giving my car a long-life service, completely flushing the oil sump and renewing the oil, testing it on a long journey (100+miles as that was when I was getting the warning lamp) and replacing the petrol used,

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Originally Posted by nextcarsajap

Hi ,

I had a meeting with the service manager at my VW garage today, re: water ingress/cost of work, and a further problem with an oil pressure warning lamp coming on after the CCU had been replaced and the car supposedly dried out (including new carpet). At the time I originally took the car in my car was less than 4 years old, but VW changed their goodwill slant on this problem as more faults were reported. So, it's currently at 100% repair cost covered for water ingress due to the pollen filter seal not behaving. At the time I took the car in, that wasn't the case.

Interestingly, they did have a certain amount of leeway even then to refund customer's costs - but not 100%. Please be aware of this, if you are not already - always argue the point if your repair is down to the design of the car rather than your own neglect!

I'll cover my oil pressure warning light saga elsewhere in the forum, but want you all to know that VW are giving my car a long-life service, completely flushing the oil sump and renewing the oil, testing it on a long journey (100+miles as that was when I was getting the warning lamp) and replacing the petrol used,

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Sorry - hadn't finished - all work to be completed FREE OF CHARGE. Remember they also paid more than 50% of my repair bill for the water ingress, even though my car is more than 4 years old.

So, it's really worth persevering. I'm still reviewing the legal route - possibly via 'Which' magazine, as I still don't think I should have had to pay £660 to repair what is essentially their design fault.

Hi there. I had the same problem with my 99 Passat, I pulled back passengers carpet and had a few drops of condensation in the electrical box. i just unplugged it and dried it with some kitchen roll then it worked fine, Pulling the carpet back was a pain tho having to remove some trim on the way
Scott

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Originally Posted by scottjenkins

Hi there. I had the same problem with my 99 Passat, I pulled back passengers carpet and had a few drops of condensation in the electrical box. i just unplugged it and dried it with some kitchen roll then it worked fine, Pulling the carpet back was a pain tho having to remove some trim on the way
Scott

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I'm glad you were able to sort it out so simply. I returned from holiday and moved my car to hear a sloshing sound - when I looked round the rear passenger footwell was under 3 inches of water! So unfortunately, kitchen towel wouldn't have sorted it out.....It had also happened the previous year, so I took their word for it that the water had damaged the wiring and CCU. My stereo system had started to play up and I had a problem with a headlamp which wouldn't, then would light, so these could well have been due to the water ingress affecting the wiring. The main cost of my work was replacing the carpet.

Would be interested to know how much water you had in your car to start with, before you pulled back the carpet?

Cheers
NCAJ

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Originally Posted by nextcarsajap

I'm glad you were able to sort it out so simply. I returned from holiday and moved my car to hear a sloshing sound - when I looked round the rear passenger footwell was under 3 inches of water! So unfortunately, kitchen towel wouldn't have sorted it out.....It had also happened the previous year, so I took their word for it that the water had damaged the wiring and CCU. My stereo system had started to play up and I had a problem with a headlamp which wouldn't, then would light, so these could well have been due to the water ingress affecting the wiring. The main cost of my work was replacing the carpet.

Would be interested to know how much water you had in your car to start with, before you pulled back the carpet?

Cheers
NCAJ

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Hi, the problem startrd last summer when i woke up to find the same problem (about 3 inches of water in the back footwell behind the front passenger seat) after looking around i was told that it could be caused due to the seal going around the pollen filter which is located on the passenger side under the bonnet just right of the battery. There was also loads of water under the battery caused by a draining hole blocked up by leaves and crap. (take out the battery to get to the draining hole )
hope this helps, if you need any more info get in touch
Scott

Think you might find that there is now a recall to take out the grommets which stop water draining from the plenum chamber which is one cause of this CCU problem. I've suffered twice from the plenum chamber filling up, first time the chamber filled up it wrecked the brake servo (& a holiday), the second time wrecked the CCU. When I took the car in to have the latest problem diagnosed, the dealer said "funnily enough we've also done a recall job to remove the grommets ..." I didn't quite take in all that he said because I was reeling from the shock of how much the repair would cost. Anyway it's worth trying - my invoice shows recall 51B8. I'm not happy, it's a clear design fault and my next step is the sale of goods act - anyone know anything useful about this?

I have had a very similar problem and am now being fobbed by VW do you want to compare notes - perhaps start legal proceedings? joe at streamuk dot com

02 passat owner

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Originally Posted by nextcarsajap

Hi there

Sorry, I think I misled you by saying 4 years from purchase - that's because I bought mine new. What I should have said was 4 years from new (ie one year beyond the normal warranty). The important thing though, is that they are clearly admitting culpability. Also, the legal advice I got was that you are entitled to claim under the Sale of Goods Act within 6 years of manufacture (it was brief free advice from my insurers, which I need to follow up more fully).

So, even with an 01 car, it may be that you have a whisker of a chance of claiming something - or at least, getting the fault repaired at a reduced price? Or even checked out for free??

As soon as I find out more about the legal position, I'll post anything useful here.

Hope this helps clarify things - and sorry to have misled you.

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vw are trying to fob me off saying that on page 28 or the manual it is written hat the air plenum drain whole should be cleared. They fail to tell you HOW to do or what the consequences or not doing so. In may case I experienced lack of braking becuase the water had entered the brack master cylinder and possibly the servo (yet to be diagnosed). In by book this should be a recall due to safety reasons. VW state that they flagged the problem only in sept 07 and that it is currently a "workshop action" not a full recall. Which is why it isnt routinely done under normal servicing. I am quite sure that this should legally come under "not fit for purpose" and since the problem is a design fault there should be no time limit. My car is 73 months old and the damaged caused at about 68 months. I would appreciate any information regarding other peoples sucessful claims and the conditions of which they occured.

There is a US based class action suite addressing this exact problem.. Anyone out there know of any UK based suite?

Thanks