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Strange Electrical Problem   Printable Version Volkswagen Forums >> GENERAL Volkswagen Forums >> General Tech >> Strange Electrical Problem Page: [1] Login Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >> Strange Electrical Problem - 4/27/2008 12:35:41 AM    mpd2510   Posts: 4 Joined: 4/27/2008 Status: offline I've owned a 1997 Golf 2.0 Automatic since new, and currently have approx. 125,000 miles on it. The car is well maintained, and I have had few problems with it. Recently the red BRAKE light will light up on the dash, but only at half brightness. When that happens, the HVAC won't work, and the wipers won't work. If you shut the engine down and restart, it might go back to normal. Sometimes I have to restart it 4 or 5 times to eliminate the problem. I've heard of electrical problems with VW, but I've never heard of anything like this.  WTF?! Any ideas? Post #: 1 RE: Strange Electrical Problem - 4/27/2008 10:23:56 AM    bagel Posts: 1348 Joined: 8/16/2005 Status: offline wow...no other dash lights come on, just that one?  Something's going on behind your dash, chaffed wire somewhere.  Any other elctrical problems happen, like a speaker system was fried, or some other electrical was overloaded.  Have you checked your fuses?? _____________________________ 00 Jetta VR6 GLS 12V 2.8L Magnaflow Exhaust Custom Cold Air Intake Eurosport Underdrive Pulley GIAC Chip Diamond Mesh Front Grill Smoked Euro Tail Lights 18" ADR Rims www.myspace.com/volkswagenforums http://air2water.2ksite.com (in reply to mpd2510) Post #: 2 RE: Strange Electrical Problem - 4/27/2008 11:20:53 AM    mpd2510   Posts: 4 Joined: 4/27/2008 Status: offline Thanks for the reply. That is the only light that comes on. I've checked the fuses, to no avail. About 7 years ago the A/C would stop working on/off, until eventually the car shut off in traffic with no warning. It was FLAT dead from that point. The dealer replaced the starter?, and that fixed everything. Does that even make sense? Could it be related now? Thanks (in reply to bagel) Post #: 3 RE: Strange Electrical Problem - 4/27/2008 3:00:57 PM    Jrailer Posts: 710 Joined: 12/8/2007 Status: online check the fueses on top of the battery the left one will burn not blow so pull them out and check the contacts (in reply to mpd2510) Post #: 4 RE: Strange Electrical Problem - 4/27/2008 4:38:54 PM    mpd2510   Posts: 4 Joined: 4/27/2008 Status: offline Thanks again, I'll give that a shot. I did just clean/wash the engine compartment about 3 months ago, maybe water got in there and corroded things out. (in reply to Jrailer) Post #: 5 RE: Strange Electrical Problem - 4/28/2008 5:13:58 PM    bagel Posts: 1348 Joined: 8/16/2005 Status: offline is there a lot of corrosion on your battery???  try to look up under your dash, maybe you'll need a mirror, just kinda poke around and look at the wires...see if any one of them are questionable integrity. _____________________________ 00 Jetta VR6 GLS 12V 2.8L Magnaflow Exhaust Custom Cold Air Intake Eurosport Underdrive Pulley GIAC Chip Diamond Mesh Front Grill Smoked Euro Tail Lights 18" ADR Rims www.myspace.com/volkswagenforums http://air2water.2ksite.com (in reply to mpd2510) Post #: 6 RE: Strange Electrical Problem - 4/28/2008 5:42:11 PM    mpd2510   Posts: 4 Joined: 4/27/2008 Status: offline I think I got 'er figured out. When moving the car to my garage in the rain today, I noticed that when I was starting the engine (wipers were left on from before), the wipers would work. When I returned the key to the 'on' position, the wipers quit. I tried this several times with the same results. I then left it run with the wiper and fan switches 'on', and then jiggled the ignition key. Everything would then turn on and off. I've made an appointment for the dealer to replace the ignition. Thanks for everyone's help. (in reply to bagel) Post #: 7 RE: Strange Electrical Problem - 4/28/2008 5:44:35 PM    bagel Posts: 1348 Joined: 8/16/2005 Status: offline sweet!  Welcome! _____________________________ 00 Jetta VR6 GLS 12V 2.8L Magnaflow Exhaust Custom Cold Air Intake Eurosport Underdrive Pulley GIAC Chip Diamond Mesh Front Grill Smoked Euro Tail Lights 18" ADR Rims www.myspace.com/volkswagenforums http://air2water.2ksite.com (in reply to mpd2510) Post #: 8 Login OR Register now to post a reply to this forum topic. 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