Your Volkswagen owns the roads. Whether you have a sporty Golf, an iconic Beetle, a roomy Tiguan, or any other model, all are well-known for their power, handling, and elegance, being ready to offer you a premium driving experience each time you hit the road.
However, like all great pieces of modern machinery, your car also relies on a number of electrical components that rely on seamless connections to function. So, any disruptions in the electrical system may lead to weak, intermittent, or no operation at all, creating potential troubles while driving, preventing you from achieving a peak road time experience.
Knowing about common electrical issues with VWs, their causes, and when to seek professional assistance at our Lewisville auto shop can save you from unnecessary hassle. Thus, let’s dive in.
Typical Causes and Symptoms Behind Your VW’s Electrical Problems
Weak or Dead Battery
Not only your VW but also every automobile usually suffers from battery issues due to a lack of regular care. Once the battery weakens, you may see dimming interior lights or headlights, blinking dashboard lights, or malfunctioning other electrical components, along with ignition issues or no ignition at all.
Apart from neglecting routine maintenance, factors such as leaving interior lights or headlights on or connecting products like phones to the dashboard, especially while the engine is off, can stress the battery, draining its charge constantly.
Moreover, a battery of more than 3 to 5 years or a failing alternator can also cause similar complications. Sometimes, dirty or corroded battery terminals also disrupt the current flow and prevent the battery from transferring power to different electrical parts.
Problematic Starter Motor
The starter motor is nothing but an electric motor responsible for converting the electrical energy from the battery to mechanical energy and spinning the engine’s flywheel to begin the combustion process, followed by ignition. Sometimes, due to electrical faults like damaged internal electronics, corroded wiring, or a worn ignition switch, the motor turns sluggishly or becomes unable to engage, preventing the engine from cranking or getting ignited, leaving you stranded on the roadside.
Blown Fuses or Circuit Breakers
The fuses and circuit breakers usually restrict the heavy electrical charge from flowing into the wires and reaching the electrical parts, which prevents the respective systems from potential damages or fire hazards caused by short circuits or overcurrent. Since the fuses and the circuit breakers are responsible for interrupting the current flow, they regularly come across electrical overloads, which usually blow or burn them prematurely. This becomes more usual if you frequently use the cheap aftermarket fuses, not of equal amperage while replacing them.
Glitching Infotainment System
The modern VW models are engineered with an infotainment system on the dashboard, including a lot of features such as entertainment, navigation, stereo, audio management, radio, different car settings, etc. Since this system fully depends on software and electrical system to run, even a single software bug, malfunctioning control modules, or worn wirings can freeze its screen, hamper Bluetooth connectivity, or show abnormal GPS signals, frustrating you at the end of the day.
Your car can still be driven, but it’s not wise to continue driving your car in this condition since the electrical issues might escalate over time and destroy the entire electrical system, causing more expensive repairs down the line.
Glowing or Flickering Multiple Warning Lights on the Dashboard
The dashboard warning lights are the indicators connected to the ECU, as well as the sensors equipped with different auto parts so that when any of those components malfunction, the sensor can send correct data to the computer system to turn on the respective warning light. However, when your vehicle encounters issues like a defective electrical sensor or poor control module, different warning lights like ABS, airbag, battery, transmission, or engine check lights might glow or flash simultaneously on the dashboard, which can be really shocking. You might think your car is going to burst, but that’s not true it’s only the faulty sensors, worn wiring harnesses, or software glitches.
Why We Are the Right Choice to Tackle Your VW’s Electrical Faults?
Our Fifth Gear Automotive is now available near Lewisville and other areas in TX, where we have an exclusive team of specialized professionals having expertise in handling electrical issues of VW cars. Doesn’t matter if you own the latest model or have a traditional one, our experts are capable enough to diagnose the issues from the root to the surface and resolve them effectively using high-end tools so that you won’t experience similar issues again. Thus, schedule an appointment with us today and let your VW soar on the streets again.