When turning ignition all lights come on but nothing happens for starting.

540

Asked by Swnemo Jul 14, 2013 at 01:03 PM about the 2002 Volkswagen Passat GLX

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Moved car after sitting for couple of weeks. Turned off.  Came back out approx 10 min
later and tried to start car but there was nothing.  Ignition lights all turn off but no sound of
starting.   Certain electrical functions work (radio, fan, power locks) but others do not like
remote entry, power windows, power sunroof.  Battery appears to be good.  Put on
battery charger just to check.  Electrical switch perhaps?

22 Answers

get a NEW battery if this one is more than five years old...if it is young slap a battery charger on there for eight hours~ you can check the date on the "knock-off" labels on the top of the battery~

7 people found this helpful.

Clean the connection from the 1/0 battery cable to the chassis/ground...undo the bolt and coarse wirebrush that spot and the lug too....put them back together, not only does this connection provide the necessary AMPerage for the starter...connection is shared by the onboard computer....kind of a touchy situation~

11 people found this helpful.
540

Thinking it could be the battery; kinda makes sense considering the symptoms. How do you get the battery out of there? Large plastic cover must come off somehow. Any tips?

8 people found this helpful.

look at the date on the knock-off labels...this will indicate of the batteries first charge~ five years old is too many...there is a mechanical clamp across the top with 12-13 mm hex bolts...use a penetrant (not too much) if you need to break 'em free~

4 people found this helpful.
540

Argh! Put in new battery, still doing same thing. No crank. Any other ideas?

18 people found this helpful.

the chassis ground has the necessary area to pull 300 cold cranking amps...the red wire that goes to the solenoid should also be free of corrosion...check the ground strap leading to the motor block...this one also must have a 1/0 battery cable connecting it (or a braided connection) obviously you are not getting the needed amperage to rotate the starter around...good that you got a new battery, have to make sure the power gets to the starter~

5 people found this helpful.

You have to wirebrush the chassis SHINY...this one wants to re-weld it's connection with every use....it is touchy business~

7 people found this helpful.
540

Someone mentioned to me the idea of my security system possibly being engaged thus causing my situation. Sort of is believable considering the symptoms. I've noticed the red light is not flashing on the door. Is there a way to reset security?

28 people found this helpful.

disconnect the battery cable for 15 seconds....pump the brakes switch the a/c off and on...then put the cable back on...this should clear any codes~

16 people found this helpful.
1,415

If it's manual check out the clutch sensor

10 people found this helpful.
150

I have a 99 Volkswagen Passat I just purchase off my friend when I turn the key off the mileage stays on and so does the time on dash ...why

15 people found this helpful.
100

Check your 10 amp fuses on the inside of your driver door... I have a 99 passat and a 99 gti that have both done this and it was just a fuse

10 people found this helpful.
30

Check the battery terminals, my car did the same thing and it was because my negative terminal was cracked and even though it seemed tight enough it wasn't. I put a new terminal on and that solved the problem.

3 people found this helpful.
170

I am having the exact same problem with my 2002 Passat. Turning ignition lights come off but there is no crank. I was wondering if you could solve your issue.

17 people found this helpful.
80

Check for a corroded or broken little blue wire to the back of the alternator. That fixed mine. Everything else worked, but just 1 click when I tried to start

7 people found this helpful.
60

I have a 2010 Passat and mine did this 2 separate times, both of which I had to have it towed and left me stranded. Some accessory features would work, but it wouldn’t read the key going into the ignition, and my key fob wouldn’t work. One of the times I was in a pretty shady part of San Francisco and didn’t get a tow till about 2:30am. Anyway, first time the shop said it was the ignition. A lot of people on the forums have had steering column/anti theft system replacements for the same issues. Just search for it and you will find threads about threads on the topic. For most it ended up costing around $1200-1500, but may be cheaper now that they know about it. This last time (this weekend) it did the same thing, not reading the key, but some features would work. Be careful not to turn on the parking break if you can help it, since it ended up being a pain to tow all 4 wheels off the ground. It was just a fuse this time, which still worries me that it’s having the same issues. I love my Passat, but I’ve had so many problems with mine over the last 2 years I’m really looking at selling it. I replaced the motor, trans, fuel pump, tires, timing belt, and ignition....a lot of work, but I guess it’s also got a lot of new parts depending on which way u look at it...

5 people found this helpful.
80

Check fuse #14 (Comfort system 10A) ...also it controls the anti-theft and some interior lights. The anti-theft prevents starting even though most everything else works. In MY case this fuse blew out due to faulty cigarette/power outlet in the console ashtray (2000 Passat). Check/replace the socket part in the ashtray or it may happen again. The power socket has its own fuse (#33 i think, 15A) but strangely it was fuse #14 that was blowing out.

8 people found this helpful.
40

Fuse #14 fixed my 2000 Passat...thanks for the tip!

4 people found this helpful.
10

I have a 02 Volkswagen passat every thing powers up but no crank I can jump the starter relay and it will crank like that but no power to the coil packs can someone please help

1 people found this helpful.

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