I have a 99 vw passat and one day i smelt what smelled like burnt plastic or like an electrical fire and it somehow caused my windshield wipers, horn, lights, blinkers, and heater to stop working. my husband said all the fuses are fine and not burnt out so it has to be something else wrong. what would cause this??

Ground problem maybe , Most of the time it's just a loose connection at a ground .A short would cause you to smell burnt electrical , did you ever smell burnt electrical wiring ? The way to find your problem is by viewing wiring diagrams an using a DVOM - digital volt ohm meter to test the circuits .
Free wiring diagrams here http://www.bbbind.com/free-tsb Enter vehicle info. year , make , model an engine size . Under system click on body & accessories ,then under subsystem click on wiper / washer . Click the search button then the blue links . Check the power ( fuse ) on the top of the diagram ,then the ground .(at bottom of the diagram ) Find the problem for the wipers an you will probably find the problem for everything . Watch these videos .

Mastering Voltage Drop Testing with Pete Meier and Jerry Truglia

Electric Testing Techniques You Need to Know

The Trainer 32 How To Read An Automotive Block Wiring Diagram

This is how professional automotive technicians fix electrical faults .

your wiper motor is bad. replace it and you should be back to seeing again.

It sounds like they are in the "service position" If memory serves correctly do this to get them out of the service position:

Service position To get into service position:

• After you turn your car off, tap the wiper stalk down. The wipers will move into the service position.

To get out of service position:

• To move the wipers back, switch on the ignition and tap the wiper stalk down.

I had this problem with my passat... the valve cover gasket is slightly leaking. If you take the big plastic piece off the top of the motor (4 plastic fake screws you just have to twist) you can see along the edge of the valve cover if there is oil or not. Mine wasn't bad, but was doing the same thing you describe. Here is a write up on how to do it... really easy (http://www.taligentx.com/passat/maintenance/valvecovergasket/) or you can get a Chilton manual which will show you how to do lots of things yourself, usually $30-$40 for the book.

Battery lives under windshield forward plastic panel and can be removed by peeling off the fire wall compartment seal to release the cover.

Put car in P or neutral.. remove ignition key. Obtain your radio code from records you have or dealership.

Open hood.

With 10mm wrench disconnect GROUND negative clamp on battery.

Ditto to Positive clamp. ( Do it in this order !.)

With 10mm socket, undo battery holder clamp in front of battery and lift away clamp and nuts.

Lift away battery.

Install new battery fitting the Positive battery clamp first then other parts as removed.

Do not bounce the GROUND battery clamp on the battery post as you install it as this can cause electrical damage to on-board electronics.

Thank you for using FixYa.com, Lee Davidian

Sounds like voltage concerne,have alt and battery checked.

Pop the heed, see the air box on the very left? On top of that box is the Ignition Control Unit. Little black square w/ winds about 1/2"
thick....

That is the problem. Or Your MAF sensor...
I don't know how to chech the Ignition Control Unit with out the proper tester.

But the MAF is located directly below in side the box.
If you POP off the large hose that comes out of the front of the air box. You can see the MAF, spreay it some contact cleaner for electronics not BREAK CLEANER>>>>>>.

Regards

it's burning oil the problem is either a burnt valve or piston rings

99 vw passat 1.9tdi was driving sound but just died just turns but wont fire up