Major Electrical Problems!!

[kriskros]

My 2001 Passat has suffered some serious electrical failure this morning. The alarm went off for 10 minutes, the key fob has stopped working and electric windows and all internal lights no longer operate. Great!

I have had ongoing problems with the alarm and had the key fob replaced recently. I have read in another thread of the same problem and VW (i'm sorry but i have no faith in VW dealers what-so-ever!) diagnosed corroded wires in the wiring loom - replaced at extortionate cost to the owner.

Has anyone got any better ideas.

[Lex Luthor]

That will be water in the passenger footwell.
It may seem dry but there are several cms of sound deadening in there.
If you pull the cill trim off you can see the CCM in its box and see if the area is wet.
The usual source of the water is blocked drains in the firewall plenum. The drains are under the battery and the brake servo.
Alternatively the pollen filter could be installed incorrectly or the seal to the body in that are has failed. There is a similar seal in the ECU box on the opposite side if the car.
Further info in this thread : http://tinyurl.com/yj36o3

[kriskros]

I unblocked the drainage holes in front of the bulkhead a few weeks back.

Since posting this and having done some further research, I was wondering if it wasn't a blown fuse or faulty power connector behind the kick plate in front passenger footwell. I have also read about corroded splice joints in line with the CCM; also corroded wiring looms?? I'm wondering whether further damp hasn't got in under the pollen housing and caused a fuse to blow. Should have sealed under the pollen filter when i cleared the blockage problem before - tusk!

Main problem at the moment is the car is sat in the multi-storey with the boot unlocked - presumably there's an electrical locking mechanism which has failed as well. Jeez..

[kriskros]

OK well it was something quite simple in the end - a blown fuse!

Now my boot lid won't catch!