Difficult to Diagnose Electrical Issues Are Typically Due to Ground Issues : Volkswagen Jetta Common Electrical & Lights Problems

Volkswagen Jetta Difficult to Diagnose Electrical Issues Are Typically Due to Ground Issues

Volkswagen Jetta Problem

41 Reports

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Model Years Affected: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Average Mileage: 99,664 mi (23,000 mi - 300,000 mi)

Electrical issues that are difficult to diagnose—and sometimes intermittent—are typically due to ground wiring issues. The most troublesome ground locations are under the battery or at the engine.

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dcg129, 2004 Volkswagen Jetta, 124,000 mi

Enthusiast
headligh low beam went out . replaced switch. not it. now the lowbeeams on in the DLRunning light position . in the low beab position the headlights work but the dash board doesn't light up. RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

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Harlodio, 2001 Volkswagen Jetta

Rookie
The main source of my problems was the ground located under the windshield wiper cowling. Remove the cowling and there is a bolt with 3 grounds running to it. Remove and clean the grounds and it should help. I was getting a Cam Sensor Code. Car actually seems to run better too!

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bif03, 2005 Volkswagen Jetta, 103,000 mi

Rookie
2.5 liter 2005 has had repeated intermittent engine light issues

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Visitor, 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, 86,000 mi

Cost me a new fuel line system to realize it was a bad ground and that my fuel line was just fine..

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Visitor, 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, 75,000 mi

Door locks,electric seats,lights etc

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abx, 1990 Volkswagen Jetta, 152,000 mi

Rookie
I have a lot of trouble with fuses and electrical under hood. Trouble finding problems and still haven't fixed all.

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Visitor, 2006 Volkswagen Jetta

a/c fan does not come on when a/c is on. both fans have electrical power. also when hooked up direct both fans work

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Visitor, 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, 41,000 mi

Light for hood up is staying on, windshield wiper fluid will not spray and wipers sometimes won't work, also having problems with car alarm going off.

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Visitor, 1997 Volkswagen Jetta, 90,000 mi

code p0340 cam sensor

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Visitor, 2008 Volkswagen Jetta, 46,000 mi

The ignition cylinder had to be replaced and now the trunk sensor fails and when you open the door with the key the trunk opens.

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Visitor, 1997 Volkswagen Jetta, 77,500 mi

Air conditioning comes and goes also check engine light shows memory for the radio no repair needed

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Visitor, 2002 Volkswagen Jetta, 95,000 mi

Battery draining every few days. Typically there is a low drain on battery. What is tricky about this problem is most times you can install a amp meter at the battery and pull fuses to find the circuit causing the problem. What I determined so far is that you need to start the car, and you can not pull 30 amps from the starter motor thru a small amp meter needed to start the car. When you dis connect the battery to install the amp meter the drian stops.(so most mechanic don't realise they make problem go away when they install teh amp meter.) So to see the problem you remove the positive terminal of the battery and connect to red lead of a jump cable, put other red lead of jumpe cable back on the battery. Start the car and shut it off. Next connect the red lead of the ampmeter to the battery, and hold the black lead of the amp meter on the red jumper on the battery. Now remove the red terminal from the battery and the amp meter will now be in the circuit. ( Positive battery terminal to red probe on amp meter, ther meter to black terminal of amp meter to red jumper cable to red car cable.) So now you see the 2 amp drain. Next we pulled all fuse we could, and problem remained. If you open this circuit and reconnect, the 2 amp drain is gone. Nothing appears to be on, so I am wondering if the relay that pulls in the AC clutch is latching on. This is where I am at. Some relay is pulled in, and not releasing when car is shut off.

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Visitor, 2004 Volkswagen Jetta, 100,124 mi

I had the same symptoms. It was a loose cable. Remove main battery cover. Remove the BLACK ground cable on the right side of the battery with 10mm socket or wrench. You will see a smaller box that the RED battery cable feeds to, with 5 smaller wires feeding out the back. Flip open the lid on the smaller box. Check the 5 smaller wires and make sure the connections are TIGHT with your 10mm socket or wrench.

The first wire on mine was loose. Vibration from the engine would cause an arc and stall the engine.

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Visitor, 1992 Volkswagen Jetta, 189,000 mi

Code for open circuit, trunk leaks water, alarm goes crazy all tht time, car will run awhile, then die, sometimes start, sometimes won't....stuck in my yard with me scratching my head in wonder...damn car!

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Visitor, 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, 73,000 mi

Trunk,fuel door, blower fan, and before that the computer for the braking system, head gasket 8 out of 10 head bolts not torqued to specification(loose) and now the fly wheel springs are rattling, all toll a german engineered lemon. Never again! And where is VW too bad pay up you stupid American. Just think I could have bought a jag and at least been cool by the side of the road and know why the repair bills were so much.

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hyperhank, 1997 Volkswagen Jetta, 300,000 mi

Rookie
my low coolant lite keeps on flashing I have replaced the sensor and is not low on coolant. Also my air bag lite is on even though there are no airbags in my car.

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coffeegranny, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta, 28,000 mi

Rookie
Battery goes dead if not started every day

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Visitor, 2004 Volkswagen Jetta, 85,000 mi

short caused burning wires in side view mirror

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Visitor, 2004 Volkswagen Jetta, 23,000 mi

Battery loses its charge. Replaced battery a year ago. Bad battery, other electrical problem?

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Visitor, 1993 Volkswagen Jetta, 200,000 mi

Our car won't re-start immediately after being running for more than an hour. When stuck in traffic going up a hill after running for a while will stall and won't start for while. Still not fixed

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