Battery problems
Battery: It accumulates the electrical energy generated by the alternator. It provides energy to all the electric and electronic circuits of the car.
Read more
How to test your Passat‘s battery, step by step
How do I start my Passat with a dead battery?
More specific problems:
Related problems:
See owner's manual
Top problems
EPC, Battery, engine lights all on and won't turn over
Volkswagen Passat 2013 Passat 126923 miles
So I have a 2011 VW Passat, it was working fine yesterday and when I got in the car today it wouldn't start. The battery indicator light is lighting up in red, and the EPC and check engine light we're all popping up in yellow. When I start it, it's getting power but it's turning on and off on and off on and off. It's like trying to get power to all the other parts of the car and failing to do so. What's wrong with my car? I checked the oil and the oil is fine I tried to jump it and that wasn't the problem either. What do I do?
CommentBattery problems
Volkswagen Passat 1999 V6 20000 miles
I get in my car and start it up and drive off, 10 min down th road my car starts losing power and slowing down, I pulled over and turned the car off, then when I tried to start it again it wouldn't start the battery was flat. Now my car won't start at all, please help.
16 reports
The duchess from Great Britain 10 years ago
It's your airflow your turbo I had to get the auto elecktrition to
Check myne cost me 80 to fix I was getting garages saying 450
It's a 18 yr old Vw Passatt estate
Tdi diesel I paid 500
I am having problems with my passenger side wing mirror not heating up
My drivers side just heats
Up I have just returned from
Vw smash it hunslet Google it
Check myne cost me 80 to fix I was getting garages saying 450
It's a 18 yr old Vw Passatt estate
Tdi diesel I paid 500
I am having problems with my passenger side wing mirror not heating up
My drivers side just heats
Up I have just returned from
Vw smash it hunslet Google it
The duchess from Great Britain 10 years ago
I had my wing mirror
Fitted at Vw smash it hunslet
2 hand
They did a good job
Vw smash it tel
Number specialises
In all German cars
As some idiot the other night
As I was waiting at the traffick lights
Lights smashed it off
Coming the other way
I reported it to the police
But because I could not give the name of the other vehicle did not give me much help and if I claimed on my insurance
It goes up
So bang there goes
My lingerie money on a bloody wing mirror haha x
Fitted at Vw smash it hunslet
2 hand
They did a good job
Vw smash it tel
Number specialises
In all German cars
As some idiot the other night
As I was waiting at the traffick lights
Lights smashed it off
Coming the other way
I reported it to the police
But because I could not give the name of the other vehicle did not give me much help and if I claimed on my insurance
It goes up
So bang there goes
My lingerie money on a bloody wing mirror haha x
The duchess from Great Britain 10 years ago
To the gent
With the key problems it's your
Lock you need a new lock
So go to Vw smash it
And all your doors will lock
They mended myne
It all works now
Tickety boo
X
With the key problems it's your
Lock you need a new lock
So go to Vw smash it
And all your doors will lock
They mended myne
It all works now
Tickety boo
X
Try having the charging system tested sounds like it may have been running on uthe battery power only
The duchess from Great Britain 10 years ago
It's running great now
I will get output eleck to find fault with
Interior lights
And why drivers side does not heat up mirror
Thank you by a trusted garage Wayne
I will get output eleck to find fault with
Interior lights
And why drivers side does not heat up mirror
Thank you by a trusted garage Wayne
Any one have issue with 2002 bmw? I have a PO 444 code and I changed the Vapor Canister Purge Solenoid Valve and it still showing code. And a PO505 for idle air control, what do I have to fix or replace?
CommentHigh battery usage
Volkswagen Passat 1997 passat b5, manual, 1.9 TDI 248000 miles
When the battery is pluged to the car, the battery will be dead in 2 - 3 days, its usage is very high, i tried to change batteries but that didnt help.
7 reports
Parasitic draw, could be a running light staying on
CommentThe battery was losing power
Volkswagen Passat 2009 Electronic, losing power of battery 157000 miles
I have volkswagen passat 2009, the battery was losing power every day and the battery is new, after I removed all fuse to find the problem, i can't find the fuse with short...
5 reports
Draind battery in 2 days
Volkswagen Passat 2014 19000 miles
Starting problem long self and hang self for few minutes
Replaced battery and alt but alt will not charge cars runnin funky
Volkswagen Passat 2004 Passat wagon 1.8 turbo 200000 miles
Alt and battery replaced alt won’t charge
1 report
Wont start all lights on replaced battery
Volkswagen Passat 2011 1 .9 12000 miles
Replaced battery after motor went dead used plastic opener to open doors
1 report
No start issue 
Solved
Volkswagen Passat 2006 4 dr 2.0 172000 miles
My 2006 VW Passat 2.0 has a short somewhere which drains battery if not driven for a while. I started checking fuses and didn't find anything but when I went to crank my car it turns over but won't start up any ideas. I don't have book for fuse diagram and I just took 1 fuse out at a time I just don't understand why it won't run now. Was running before I checked fuses
6 reports
I'm still working on it I'm beginning to think it's the ecm. It has a short when you hook battery back up after having it off it arks
Best answer (according to t1turbo)
I finally figured it out it ended up being fuses in the fuse box on the driver's side interior. I rechecked them and found out #10 and #34 was not in the right spot. What I did first was spray starting fluid in throttle body and it fired up that's when I rechecked my fuses
CommentPossible Failing Alternator?? Solved
Volkswagen Passat 2012 TDI SE 192000 miles
I have a 2012 VW Passat TDi SE that I have owned since April 2025. I put in a brand-new battery when I bought it, and it lasted me all summer into august as I was starting and driving it almost every other day. In September my battery died and had to get it replaced. At that time, I thought that I had some sort of parasitic power draw specifically from my new radio I got. In late august I bought an RCD360 radio to add CarPlay/Android Auto to my car.
When I replaced my battery, I went ahead and just manually wired the power input for the radio to 12v ACC so that the radio will not receive pow… Read complete
1 report
Hey there, so the problem you're describing COULD indicate a problem with the Alternator. Since you have already fixed the issue with your radio -> it now being on only when the ignition is turned on. The new Radio wont be the problem.
Since you measured aroung 13V-13.2V (Which is a little bit lower than you want it to be) I'd suggest doing this:
Measure these directly on the +/- of the battery.
Let it idle, but turn on all Loads (AC, Heated seating, Windshield, Radio, basically everything that buts a load on the battery/alternator electically)
When you measure, you should not drop below 13.5V and not above 15V
Also try measuring with midrange RPM, also should'nt drop below 13.5V and 15V.
If you see it below 13.5 you should also, before settling on the alternator, measure the Resistance on the Cables that go from the alternator to the battery. If you see a high resistance it could also be corrosion taking place here.
Note: Please disconnect the battery when measuring the resistance in the cable. It should still work but to be 100% sure do it, since the multimeter sends its own current through the cable that could alter the result.
I hope it helps :)
Since you measured aroung 13V-13.2V (Which is a little bit lower than you want it to be) I'd suggest doing this:
Measure these directly on the +/- of the battery.
Let it idle, but turn on all Loads (AC, Heated seating, Windshield, Radio, basically everything that buts a load on the battery/alternator electically)
When you measure, you should not drop below 13.5V and not above 15V
Also try measuring with midrange RPM, also should'nt drop below 13.5V and 15V.
If you see it below 13.5 you should also, before settling on the alternator, measure the Resistance on the Cables that go from the alternator to the battery. If you see a high resistance it could also be corrosion taking place here.
Note: Please disconnect the battery when measuring the resistance in the cable. It should still work but to be 100% sure do it, since the multimeter sends its own current through the cable that could alter the result.
I hope it helps :)
Best answer (according to Aaron)
It ended up being a bad ground wire. It was the one that connects the transmission motor mount to the chassis.
CommentBattery Drain issue. Solved
Volkswagen Passat 2012 TDI SE 192000 miles
I bought an RCD360 Pro 2 off of eBay for my 2012 VW Passat TDI se and I just had to replace my battery for the second time, once back in September and once today. It has a mqb to pq plug adapter and I'm trying to figure out the best way to prevent this radio from draining my battery. I actually did end up splicing to voltage wire to the radio and connecting to the voltage wire for on of the 12v sockets back when I first replaced the battery, but apparently that didn't do the trick, which I find puzzling. I added some pictures of the eBay listing and the plug type of the radio and my car. I've done some research and it seems like some canbus adapter/converter would be the fix, but I'm not sure where to find a correct one or if that would even work at all.
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2 replies
I have owned my Passat since April 2025. I put in a brand-new battery when I bought it, and it lasted me all summer into august as I was starting and driving it almost every other day. In September my battery died and had to get it replaced. At that time, I thought that I had some sort of parasitic power draw specifically from my new radio I got. In late august I bought an RCD360 radio to add CarPlay/Android Auto to my car.
When I replaced my battery, I went ahead and just manually wired the power input for the radio to 12v ACC so that the radio will not receive power unless the key is in the ignition. I thought that fixed it because I had no issues with it from September to December. Mind you I am a first-year college student, so I really only drove it to go places during the weekends. Then when I drove home for winter break, I still started and ran it about once a week, until the battery died on me again.
Now I will say that there were signs of either the battery or starter failing because maybe sometime November it started to start rough and a little sluggish. I don't think it's the starter because when we put in a new battery for the second time it started no issues, no lag, no nothing. And this new battery was put in end of December. And it's already starting to be sluggish and rough when leaving it for a few days. I've pretty much started it every other to every other two days now since I got back to college on the 11th of January. I think the cold weather might be contributing to that a little bit, but I'm still skeptical.
This past week, I did some power draw testing where I put my multimeter in-line with the negative terminal of my battery and my car. After connecting it, I got an initial reading of around 1 amp after just opening and closing the door and after about 2 minuets it dropped off to 0.8 amps, then down to 0.5 amps, then to 0.1 amps, and after a total of around 5 to 10 minutes my multimeter settled at around 0.01 amps of power draw. And I also re-did the test with all the doors already closed and the car locked and ended at the same 0.01 amps of power draw.
I also did some voltage testing as well, where I tested the voltage of the battery before starting, which was around 12.5v. After starting it and letting it run idle for a good minute, I remeasured the voltage and that highest that I was able to get was 13.2v, I also tested it a couple times before as well and I've gotten readings of 13.05v, 13v, 13.15v. So, it's been fluctuating over the past week and a half between 13v and 13.2v. If anyone as any idea if this is my alternator starting to fail or if it's something else, I will be glad to have your input. Any and all help and suggestions will be helpful as well.
When I replaced my battery, I went ahead and just manually wired the power input for the radio to 12v ACC so that the radio will not receive power unless the key is in the ignition. I thought that fixed it because I had no issues with it from September to December. Mind you I am a first-year college student, so I really only drove it to go places during the weekends. Then when I drove home for winter break, I still started and ran it about once a week, until the battery died on me again.
Now I will say that there were signs of either the battery or starter failing because maybe sometime November it started to start rough and a little sluggish. I don't think it's the starter because when we put in a new battery for the second time it started no issues, no lag, no nothing. And this new battery was put in end of December. And it's already starting to be sluggish and rough when leaving it for a few days. I've pretty much started it every other to every other two days now since I got back to college on the 11th of January. I think the cold weather might be contributing to that a little bit, but I'm still skeptical.
This past week, I did some power draw testing where I put my multimeter in-line with the negative terminal of my battery and my car. After connecting it, I got an initial reading of around 1 amp after just opening and closing the door and after about 2 minuets it dropped off to 0.8 amps, then down to 0.5 amps, then to 0.1 amps, and after a total of around 5 to 10 minutes my multimeter settled at around 0.01 amps of power draw. And I also re-did the test with all the doors already closed and the car locked and ended at the same 0.01 amps of power draw.
I also did some voltage testing as well, where I tested the voltage of the battery before starting, which was around 12.5v. After starting it and letting it run idle for a good minute, I remeasured the voltage and that highest that I was able to get was 13.2v, I also tested it a couple times before as well and I've gotten readings of 13.05v, 13v, 13.15v. So, it's been fluctuating over the past week and a half between 13v and 13.2v. If anyone as any idea if this is my alternator starting to fail or if it's something else, I will be glad to have your input. Any and all help and suggestions will be helpful as well.
Best answer (according to Aaron)
Failing Alternator is the cause. Will see if it fixes my issue when I replace it.
Comment1 report
Best answer (according to Atol)
CommentWont start and some white steam from exhaust when it was running
Volkswagen Passat 2007 80000 miles
Occassionally refuses to fire. Plenty of battery power but won't start. When garage start with ethonol ran okay for a bit but I noticed white steam from exhaust. Now won't start again. Any ideas?
7 reports
It needs two starts in the morning but then it would start all. In the evening after parked for whole day it gives starting problems. Anyone have got any ideas...
CommentAbs light on dash won't go away
Volkswagen Passat 1998 1.8 20v sedan 226938 miles
Ru s fine abs light just won'tever turn off I tried to disconnect the battery but that didn't work
5 reports
Abs light on, how to fix ie turn off all tests show brakes good etc
Has the problem been resolved? If so, what did you repair?
CommentNo Crank No Start
Volkswagen Passat 2015 TDI SE 2.0 72000 miles
I drove over a cone back in October 2024 and it cut the nox sensor wire harness and ground wire harness which runs next to it. The car still drove fine after without issue. It wasn't until I spliced the wires back together that the car will not crank or start.
I replaced the battery and still nothing. I tested all the fuses and relays, all good.
I have no clue what the problem is. The codes it has are:
P048E
Permanent
Exhaust Pressure Control Valve 'A' Position Sensor/Switch Circuit High
P229E
Permanent
NOx Sensor Circuit Bank 1 Sensor 2
C0300
Permanent
Check report for des… Read complete
1 report
Sorry to say but it sounds like you potentially spliced the wires incorrectly or shorted them
Pilotovarela from United States 9 months ago
Tengo un golf tdi 2016 y hace poco encendió el check con el código P048E pero solo quiero saber si con cambiarlo es mas que suficiente
CommentCrank no start, don't hear the hum, replaced Fuel pump control module
Volkswagen Passat 2017 S four door Sedan 1.8L TSI 151000 miles
There's still no hum after the replacement. So now I'm thinking it's a fuse. Reversed polarity with a dead cell battery, got new battery now. Everything thing is in working order as in lights, windows,radio, signals,wipers, etc. Just cranks with no start...
1 reply
CommentEngine turned off
Volkswagen Passat 2014 2.5 L 62000 miles
The engine in my 2014 Volkswagen Passat turned off on me while I was driving and the battery indicator came on red, I had to wait a few minutes to start the engine again. Why did this happen?
1 report
CommentStart/Stop Button
Volkswagen Passat 2018 SEL/3.6L 70000 miles
After driving for approximately 250 miles on the Interstate the engine on my car wrould not turn off when pushing e start/stop button. I had to pull a fuse under the hood to stall the engine and then disconnect the battery to shut down all the fans and lights after parking in my garage. Now the dash lights say to put the gear selector in park when I sit in car with battery reconnected and the gear selector is in park. I can't move the selector our of the park position?
1 report
After the fact, I found a fuse box diagram for the VW Passat on Start My Car. After getting the engine to shutdown by pulling all the 40 amp fuses that I could find in the engine bay and disconnecting the battery overnight, I couldn't get the system to power up the next day. The information display kept saying to put the gearshift in the park position (It was locked in the park position at the time!) I tried the capacitor discharge drain technique with the negative battery cable disconnected and using a jumper wire between the negative cable end and the positive battery terminal for 30 minutes and then manually unlocking the gearshift per the owners manual. The next day it started up after connecting the negative battery cable and except for getting error messages about the ACC being inoperative and the clock and trip odometer resetting to 0, everything worked. I even took it into the VW dealership that sold the car to me when new and where it has had 99% of services and repairs done over the past 7 years and they couldn't reproduce the problem. My confidence in VW is wearing thin and I'm not sure how much longer I will keep driving it.
CommentStarting issue
Volkswagen Passat 2015 Tdi 125000 miles
About one year ago my Passat would crank over but not start. Since then I’ve had the fuel filter, battery, crank sensor and additional warranty issues fixed. I’ve had it into specialized Volkswagen mechanics and the dealer ship in about 8 times total. No one can figure out why the car intermittently does not start because there is no fault reading. It has happened during warm and cold days, right after driving and when starting up the first of the day. And ideas would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
John
John
11 reports
A me è successo ...ho cambiato il quadro intero degli strumenti del cruscotto
Dollz 02 Passat 2.8l from United States 2 months ago
Check the vacuum lines maybe dry rotted if the car carnks but not start
CommentNot starting when cold, cranks
Volkswagen Passat 2012 Diesel 70000 miles
Won't start after driving home from dealership who replaced battery. Weather below freezing. Followed cold weather starting procedure glow plugs twice...
2 reports
Fuel could have been gelled maybe? Sounds like it could be a fuel related issue
CommentKey trouble
Volkswagen Passat 2008 179973 miles
My key won't lock the car doors the car will lock all doors Manuel inside the car the battery works
29 reports
Bubba123re from Canada 7 years ago
Go to dealer ship and get code or google and try to set up your self lots of vidio YouTube
CommentSteering wheel
Volkswagen Passat 2005 215000 miles
Steering wheel gone really havy light came on ,been on holiday came back after 3weeks battery was flat start with jump lees and this problem was waiting for me. Call the AA they said car not picking the code
5 reports
Hi have you tried doing the reset on your electric steering I believe you have to start the car drive for about 100 yards stop and whilst engine still running turn full lock and hold for 30 seconds then opposite lock do the same straightend up turn off the engine for a minute and that should reset it
CommentLes voyants sont affichés sur le tableau de bord
Volkswagen Passat 2009 Break 26000026 miles
Le voyant moteur, voyant allumage, voyant filtre à particule du a un changement de batterie
No dashboard lights when key inserted
Volkswagen Passat 2011 Sedan 2.0 l closed top 13553 miles
Hi
I have check all fuses thy fine But no lights on dashboard and can start. Yellow steering lock sing flushes on dash and dissapear
Fuses checked Battery 12.2v
I initial problem - button handbrake sweetch had problem
I have check all fuses thy fine But no lights on dashboard and can start. Yellow steering lock sing flushes on dash and dissapear
Fuses checked Battery 12.2v
I initial problem - button handbrake sweetch had problem
1 report
Intermittent No Start / Rough Start and or crank
Volkswagen Passat 2012 TDI SE 194000 miles
Have a 2012 VW Passat TDI SE with 194k miles on it. I just ran into another issue with it not wanting to start with the DPF light and flashing glow plug light only on while turning over the engine. When it does want to start after 5 or 6 tries, the lights go away. And sometimes it will start and then immediately die, or it will start and drive with no issues, or it will not start at all and just keep turning over.
Some more info on this car, I do have a power draw coming from the newly replaced remanufactured alternator (about 0.6 amps) so I have to unplug the battery every time I park it. I… Read complete
Engine will not start
Volkswagen Passat 2015 125000 miles
Help! I was trying to hook up a amp on my 2015 Passat tsi. After no luck the went to start car it did not work. Had the battery checked and it is good. Lights and key fob works. The dash is not on and no sound when turning over. What can be wrong
1 report
No power in cabin
Volkswagen Passat 2018 Passat Gt 150000 miles
Battery is good but nothing in cab works. No lights or electrical
The starter get damaged all the time i even brought new one twice and
Volkswagen Passat 2006 sedan 160000 miles
Imy car damages starter and they told me lots of things to change but still kill the starter bought new one and new battery is changed sensors but sill damages starter bought the second starter yesterday today is dead can i get helped im loosing money with this car when upand down but still some problems
1 report
How to reset throttle body
Volkswagen Passat 2006 2.0t sedan 180000 miles
Need to reset throttle body after battery removal and replacement I don't have a vag com
1 report
Everything electrical
Volkswagen Passat 2012 Passat 2L TDI 100000 miles
Really cold out -35. Heard a bit of possibly belt noise. Drove about 20 miles. Fan didn't work until i hit the Max heat. Seemed to run ok. Stopped and shut engine off. Tried to start within 5 minutes, battery dead, all lights on dash flashing. Jumped with booster. Started. Would not go into any gear. Steering wouldn't work. Engine slowed and died with a thunk. Would not start again. After recharging battery disconnected from vehicle 13.25 volts. Hook to vehicle and it drops to 7.5 volts.
4 reports
Cant start
Volkswagen Passat 2008 Engine is 2.00 diesel 360500 miles
I starter the car and it went off so taught was shortage of fuel, i refuel it but cant start and have use about 4 powerful charged batteries but still cant start
12
Problems with a Passat? Share them
A friend told me the same thing about the new battery, have to take it to a repair shop so they can set the computer and battery together