Passat electrical problems!!!

[RobBentley]

Are these drain holes something likely to be checked during a service? My 2002 Passat has now done 126k miles but its had a full service every 10k. I've never had a problem with the car - and touch wood I won't

[davedefeet]

Hello Barry

The car has no sunroof and I have a very steep driveway entrance, but it's flat at the top, I parked the Passat on the slope to force the remaining water in the carpets and wells, to drain out of the holes I drilled through the rubber bungs in the floor (with the CCU removed) I used a wet vacuum to suck out most of the water, then pointed a fan under the lifted carpet, it worked.

My Volvo is parked on the drive, the Passat is mostly in the parking space below the house, which is on a slight slope. I don't think the slope had anything to do with the problem, Murphy's law and bad design caused this.

So to update on my previous post. I used WD40 to disapate the moisture and cleaned-up the CCU by carefully brushing it. The remote key-fob no longer works and the boot won't lock, even with the key. Luckily there was nothing else affected.

I can get a CCU/PCM for about £100; but have to get it programmed for the key fob, I'm trying to find out how much this will cost, I know a specialist (non dealer) I'll be calling them soon.

I'm selling the car once it's fixed, it's a liability I don't need.

David

[BarryHCM]

Hi Dave

Good to hear that at least you haven't got a roof problem.

I had a problem with the boot lock but only that it wouldn't lock electrically. The lock 'motor' - it's a 12v motor driving a worm screw - was burnt out and the relay on the ccu board was knackered. The lock motor only cost about £12 from a main dealer and the although the relays were difficult to find, my son (in Australia!) managed to buy me three - I've still got two if you want one.

It's a bit tricky desoldering and removing the relay but I haven't done much of that sort of thing and that particular relay was the easiest of the three I had to take off, so if you're really keen it might be worth a try. Trouble is of course that if you overheat one of the semiconductors you could end up with nothing at all working.

Don't blame you for getting rid of it though I'll probaly stick with mine as I've more time than money at present.

Just out of interest I checked my plenum today and though there was a fair bit of debris the drain was clear.

It reminded me that I'd replaced the front shocks abot 18 months ago and wrecked the plastic grommets covering the top fixing bolts when I took them out. Guess what - my VW dealer couldn't identify which grommet it was from their list so I never got around to replacing them. The holes are well above the drains but below the level of the pollen filter so if anyone wants an overflow drain in the plenum just take out the lower level grommet and spray the nut beneath with WD40 or Waxoil to stop it rusting too much.

Barry.

[BarryHCM]

Hi Rob

Don't think it's likely that an agent would check the drains on a service, but if you can't see any leaves or flakes of paint etc., etc., in the plenum when you open the bonnet, just pour some water in every couple of months or so when you fill up the winscreen washer bottle, - after all it's no different from the car being stood in a heavy downpour. If it runs out on the road from the shroud under the engine you're probably OK. If it doesn't, get it checked before it fills up.

Barry

[davedefeet]

Thanks Barry

I might take you up on the relay offer, but not yet.

I didn't mention it in previous posts, but one of the symptoms (before I drained the water etc.) was that I noticed a whining from the boot, which prompted me to remove the battery, the whining didn't come back when I reconnected the battery the next day (after I dried the CCU out) since then the boot refuses to lock, but it does lock/unlock the doors when the key is used on the boot lock.

I'll get a new motor, I have taken a look at it, it's a bit awkward to remove by the way it's attached, but I'll get the motor and go for it.

I'm sure there'll by further posts from me.

Cheers

Dave

[nextcarsajap]

I've just collected my 03 Passat from the dealer, having shelled out almost £700 for a repair due to the pollen filter seal failing. This is a long story, so get comfortable. I took it in last summer when I first discovered water in the footwell behind the passenger seat. I was about to load the car with cases to go on holiday, so I had to get it sorted out quickly. The local VW dealer, whom I had dealt with for 10 years, couldn't get my car in that week. They advised that it could be the pollen filter leaking and that it was a problem on some Passats. They told me it might not be safe to drive as water may have affected the electrics.

I called the AA who discovered water in the battery compartment - almost up to the top! Also there appeared to be no decent draining in that compartment (plenum chamber?) so the mechanic pulled out a tube which went from the battery to the bottom of the chamber and which appeared to be doing very little, which then allowed the water to escape through a tiny hole. Whilst on holiday (another) ignition coil blew (another story!), so had to call the AA out for that, as it was 3 months out of warranty, but the water problem seemed to dry up. Thought it must be a blocked drainhole - the car is parked under a tree which sheds tiny twiglets, which get washed into the car by heavy rainfall. (Bear with me - it's important that you read this to the end!).

I worried about the potential electric problem/pollen filter leak, so took the car into the VW dealer a couple of months later, and told them what had happened, how it was 'fixed' by the AA, and asked them to check for all potential electrical problems and leaks. I asked them to ensure that the water was draining out correctly. Also had my air-con serviced. When I collected it, they had done the air-con, but apparently no other checks!! I was told that it was awkward to check beneath the battery and if I wanted the electrics checking they would have to remove the carpet which would cost me £600!

I got a little upset at this point, and the service guy said he would contact VW to see if they could do the job at a lower cost, as the car was relatively new and only just out of warranty. He promised to ring me to let me know - but didn't.
Soooo.....I let the car dry out, the problem seemed to go away and I forgot about it all. That is, until I returned from holiday in September this year and moved the car to hear a sloshing sound - there was about 3 inches of water in the rear footwell. I went to see the VW dealer, furious that the checks I had requested hadn't been done, and that the problem had recurred as a result of that.

They checked the job sheet from the previous visit and found that the pollen filter seal HAD gone (but I wasn't told that) which was allowing water ingress through the heating ducts. I was also told - get this - that had I brought the car in within 4 years of purchase, VW would have paid %100 of the repair costs as it is a known Passat problem and design fault. As it was, the job would cost £1,400. and they would pay 35% of the cost, as they admitted some liability. Somehow, this ended up with my paying £660. which isn't 65% but who cares. They re-sealed the pollen filter, checked the plenum chamber drainage, sealed the E-chamber, which had also gone, removed and replaced the carpet and replaced the comfort control unit which apparently had been sitting in 3 inches of water.

I am currently getting legal advice, and have been told that the dealer breached their contract by NOT carrying out the checks I requested or letting me know about the problem they did find, and that VW have breached the Sale of Goods act as the car isn't fit for purpose due to a design fault and it is within 6 years of purchase. I am hoping to pursue the case through my motor insurance and will let you know how I get on.

I hope this helps the many Passat owners out there who have experienced this problem. Sorry it was so lengthy!

[Sam]

Nice first post - welcome aboard!

Are you saying, in summary, that if you take the car in within 4 years of the first purchase (or the current owners purchase?) the job will be done for free?

I have an '01 with early signs of water ingress (I've caught most myself and sorted it all) which I purchased in 2004. Can I now take it in to be sorted and be covered by this magic 4 year thing?

[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.

[nextcarsajap]

Glad I could help Fireblade (I hope it was my post that helped!)

Nacoya - the link works fine for me

http://www.weirdlittlebiscuit.com/passat/leak/ copy and paste it or start at http://www.weirdlittlebiscuit.com and work your way through.

Good luck

Sam

This is a fantastic link - I wish I'd seen it when I first had the problem with water ingress (see my post elsewhere detailing the problems). I am now thinking that I've got a real case against VW as the AA man who drained the plenum chamber took the little tube which is there for battery overflow out of the drain hole.....so supposedly somebody put it in there to start with? Which must have prevented a lot of water from draining out? And I bought the car from new??

I found the guide so easy to follow because of the photos. My Haynes manual photos are a little murky and the directions can be a little confusing and lack sufficient detail for a novice like me! I'll definitely try to clear my own drain holes in future (if you know what I mean!). It'll save me a fortune in expensive repairs. I love my Passat - hate the bills.

Thanks again for the link.

[Canetoad]

There are two drains in the battery compartment and they get blocked with crap over time. You need to clear them and the water problems will go away. They're big enough to get your finger into.