Alarm Problems - 1998 Passat 1.9TDI

[Col]

Had to take the car to the local VW dealer when the immobiliser packed up and the car would not start. Everyone I spoke to said that only a dealer could fix it, so the AA took me there and it has cost me an arm and a leg to get it done. Now, since the new unit has been fitted and all the keys replaced (a week ago today) the alarm keeps going off intermittently, so it was back to the dealer again.They now tell me that it is a totally unrelated fault. Well I never....... Funny that, 'cos I've had the car getting on for four years, done over 110,000 miles and the alarm has never gone off once. They said that the bonnet release/microswitch is faulty and for a measley £112 they will replace it for me. And for only another £79 they will have a look and see if any water has got inside and fouled the CCM under the passenger well. Aren't they kind???

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

Happy for any assistance anyone can provide.

Cheers, Desperate of Staffs.

[Turkster]

sounds like your having real fun mate, sorry but i cant help

[katies dad]

Col,

I've had a similar problem with my 2001 2.0 petrol model. My alarm started going off for no apparent reason. It turned out, that the water drainage holes which are located by the bulkhead were blocked. Water had got into the front passenger footwell and had caused the alarm to go off.

Check the carpet in the front passenger footwell. If it's damp this may be the problem.

My local garage unblocked them for £40. Touch wood, all seems ok now.

I've not had the car long, about two months now. I'm of the opinion VW aren't all they're cracked up to be.

Best of luck.

KD

[Col]

Thanks,KD. I've now heard this from a number of sources, but does anyone know whether it is all the drainage holes in the bulkead or jsut one in particular? I take it that any grommets will need replacing?

[witster78]

You dont need to replace the grommets just unblock them. One grommet is located by the brake master cylinder and the other is directly underneath the battery.

I would also suggest that you check under the carpets even if the top is dry. The carpets are rubber and foam backed and sometimes conceal the water (as mine did)...

Then check the wiring leading to a small black plastic box that sits in a recess in the floor in front of the passenger seat (RH drive). There are a number of splices (joints) in the wiring that 'rot' over time if they are left in this water. This will lead to all kinds of fun and games i.e. CDL, EW, EM, ALARM, Interior lights going AWOL or failing.

Rework is relatively easy as long as you are prepared to pull up the carpets (can be done with seat left in), cutting out the bad splices and repairing them. Most liable cause is flooding in the plenum chamber leaking in through the pollen filter....