My 1.8T Beetle began having starting problems last week. This is how it starts. The instrument panel lights up. Then everything dims, there's dead silence and then it catches. Sometimes.
Wile driving the car odd warning lights come on -- electronic immobilization, speed spoiler deployed (at 40 mph).
I live in an area where there is packrat damage to engine wiring. There is evidence of packrats in the engine.
I took the car to the dealer. No packrat damage, but their engine computer scan showed 3 faulty parts : mass air flow sensor, overboost valve and kombi valve.
I asked why the instrument panel lights up like a Christmas tree -- faulty VW key, speed spoiler deployed at 5 mph. They had no idea. The problems they found wouldn't cause that. "Maybe there's an intermittent electrical fault."
I had them replace the overboost valve and MAF. I have ordered a kombi valve
Now the car will not start without a jump.
What could be the problem here?