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Strange electrical problem on passat

I have just replaced a faulty ignition/starter switch on my 1996 Passat.

The radio used to stay on even when the key was turned to the off position, and only switched off when I removed the key. If I put the key back in within a second or so it came back on again.

This happened temporarily a couple of times before I replaced the switch, so I doubt it was caused by the switch replacement.

I have also noticed that the light on warning buzzer no longer sounds when I open the driver's door with the lights on and the key out - presumably this use the same mechanism.

There is a ring with a lead which fits round the end of the switch housing, and someone suggested that this was a key sensor, but I can't find any reference to it in the workshop manual. Was he right? If so, what is it called? Should I replace it?

Any advice much appreciated.

-- Chris Melluish

Reply to
Chris Melluish
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That's what it's supposed to do.

It is but it's for the immobiliser.

John

Reply to
John Greystrong

I seem to have missed out the vital bit describing the fault - the radio now stays on all the time, even with the key out.

Reply to
Chris Melluish

Did you disconnect the battery when you replaced the faulty parts? It may be that there is a setting in the radio that controls / sets this behaviour which has been lost / retruned to the default setting when the battery was disconnected.

Andy

Reply to
Andrew

Yes I did, but have done so many times before without this happening.

-- Chris Melluish

Reply to
Chris Melluish

My Passat, M reg used to do this. I just thought there was some kind of switch in the ignition barrel and over the years it had got gummed up and was sticking on occasionally.

I squirted some WD40 on the key and shoved it in and out several times and it resolved the problem.

Reply to
Steven Campbell

AFAICR VW radios always stayed on with the key out of the ignition. Later VW's with digital radios had a programmable option to cut the radio when the ignition was switched off. It sounds like this setting has been lost somehow.

I had a Polo for a while, and for the first few weeks I frequently left the radio on by accident! (I also had a Renault 9 where you could leave the wipers on without the ignition, but that's another story altogether!)

If it's the original radio do you have the radio instruction manual/car handbook?

Reply to
Doctor D

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