Great to be here....presenting my 1st challenge

[saudlin]

I've read a lot on this site...great people and very knowledgeable. Well I can admit how much I love my new beetle, I had a problem creep up the 2nd day I've owned it.

I went to the store, came back out and the car windows won't go up, the interior lights don't work, and the engine won't turnj over (all the lights and buzzers come on, the radio works and the headlights work.) I've cleaned the terminals on the battery but that didn't help. Any thoughts out there???

Cheers,

Shawn

[Mazzzja]

Hi Shawn

Clueless to carproblems, I'd like to welcome you to this great site

[wawalker]

How many miles on the car? If it is up there (over 100-120K or so) I'd guess the ignition switch. A few of our high mileage memebrs have had the issue and weird electrical stuff is the symptom.

[saudlin]

Originally Posted by wawalker

How many miles on the car? If it is up there (over 100-120K or so) I'd guess the ignition switch. A few of our high mileage members have had the issue and weird electrical stuff is the symptom.

Thanks, car has 122k and it seems like that could be it, but I'm not sure how the other electrical issues come into play with?

Found a VW place in Austin that was recommended, so I'll bring her in....

[saudlin]

For those of you wanting to know what the verdict was, ((drum roll))........A bad battery. I'm grateful that it was only a battery, but a bit bummed that they are charging me 2 hours of diagnostic for it. I've read here and some other forums (after the fact) that you should always make sure you have a good battery and good alternator before you even hook her up for diagnostics. Hope this will help others.

Cheers,

Shawn

[dnyed]

Well, it could have been much worse!

Welcome to the Org!

[saudlin]

Thanks, its great to be part of the club. I was very excited to pick up my fixed beetle. I made it 15 miles turned off the engine, came back out and the exact same thing again, all lights come on, but the windows and interior lights don't work and the engine won't turn over.

They towed the car back to the shop and are still trying to figure it out. They said the electric window fuse keeps blowing
and it is somehow related to whether the car will start or not.
The car has an aftermarket JVC radio that they think may be the the problem (They think it may not may been wired correctly.)

Any other thoughts on what this may be???

Thanks,

Shawn

[yellowsportbug71]

WElcome to the site Shaun.... I don't have too much experience with the new vws... I used to be a saturn tech and when our cars would come in flipping out like that... usually you could figure a ignition switch or a bad BCM (Body control MOdule). Seems like the anti theft pass code info would go bad and need a new switch and or puter.. Hope that might help you? Is it throwing any codes ???? is the anti theft on blinking like a wild animal at you?? My 2 cents I hope they can fix it It is possible that the radio could be mis wired ...but then again how long has it been in there. If its been a while why the problem now?

[saudlin]

Thanks yellowsportbug71. You mentioned several things I thouhgt it might be as well. I am happy to announce it was much more minor and amazing that they found it. It was a short in the vanity light above my drivers seat. They were going nuts trying to find it because it didn't throw any codes, and as quickly as they put a new window fuse in it would blow. I am happy to motoring down the road again...

Cheers,
Shawn