1998 Volkswagen Passat Logo
Posted on Mar 15, 2017

Electrical failure of headlights, heater fan, signals, wipers.

I drove to work in the dark and everything worked on my 98 Passat 2.8L, 231,000 miles. When I left for home the car started normally (January in Minnesota 10 deg F). The red BRAKE light was on (full brake fluild, e-brake off). The heater fan did turn on (COLD ride home!!). Seat heaters worked. Wipers and washers did not work. Signals did not work. Rear window defrost did not work. Headlights and foglights did not work. Parking lights, 4 way flashers, brake light, radio, tailights, locks, windows, dash lights all work. Headlights came on when pulling back on dimmer lever. I don't have a wiring diagram. All fuses appear to be okay. Is there a main fuse somewhere? Bad ground to fuse block? I don't know what would cause the power to drop on all of these systems at once. Any advice or sketch would be greatly appreciated.

  • rwsogn Jan 20, 2009

    Poor proof reading. The heater fan did not turn on. rwsogn

  • htodaizzofoo Feb 18, 2009

    i have that same problem. everything that you've explained. i think it is a relay, but i am not sure the exact one. email @ [email protected]

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5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Sep 17, 2008

SOURCE: daytime running lights and wipers wont work

Had the same problem with my 97 Jetta it turned out to be the ignition switch. No problems since

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Anonymous

  • 1586 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 21, 2008

SOURCE: I have a 99 1.8t Passat with multiple electrical failures

Strange that they all failed at once. The headlights and directional signal could both be of a common cause - a faulty column combination switch. They're known to fail on the A4. Can you pull back on the turn signal stalk and have the high beams come on? If so, but the low beams don't work, then your stalk switch is bad. A new one is about $150 and installation involves removal of the airbag and steering wheel. Not a difficult job, but if you're unfamiliar with airbags you should have it done for you. Replace that and see if it fixes both the lights and the turn signals. If the signals still don't work, you have a dead signal relay (also common). It's built into the hazard switch on the dash. A new one is about $40. You have to slide the radio out of the dash, and reach inside to push up on the bottom of the switch to free it. Then it just pulls straight out and off of its harness. Plug the new one in and put it back in the dash, push the stereo back in, and you're done.

The wiper failure could be the other side of the column switch - that's less common but it does happen. I'm not sure what they run offhand, but you can get them at www.ecstuning.com. Replacement would be done at the same time as the combination switch, as they're screwed together.

The AC and fan failure could be many things, and that is best diagnosed by a shop.

darkoh69

danny

  • 77 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 13, 2009

SOURCE: Headlights/heater fan/wipers don't work. e-brake light on faintly

Check your taillight bulbs. Usually the interior accessories are connected to the taillight circuit as a warning system for when your laillight or breaklight bulbs are blown

jamie

  • 1810 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 06, 2010

SOURCE: I have a 2001 VW Passat sedan, and my tail lights

check the bulbs ofcourse but also check the wiring harness at the conectors

Anonymous

  • 1244 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 20, 2010

SOURCE: 1999 vw beetle driving car lost

check behind the fuse box your main power wire is burnt and or lose

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http://vwtech.no-ip.info/images/golf/post90.gif

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