Electrical Issue on a Passat VR6
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Electrical Issue on a Passat VR6
Couldn't get much help searching other boards; so I figured I'd pose the issue to you fellows/ladies:
The car is a 94 Passat VR6. The issue (other than figuring out why the parking brake doesn't work-probably needs a new cable) is that the battery discharges overnight. It was found by the previous owner to have a 1.5v current draw after the car is turned off. In my own test; I disconnected the negative cable and grounded the battery with a test light. Since there is a current draw; the light was lit. I proceeded to pull and replace all the fuses I saw under the dash and the only fuse that would cause the test light to dim was the interior lights fuse (15) even though i believe i had the interior lights off. Other than that the automatic seatbelt motors don't work so I wonder if that is pulling current trying to run the motor; but i can't seem to find the fuse for them. Anyone have any ideas/suggestions?
Thanks all.
The car is a 94 Passat VR6. The issue (other than figuring out why the parking brake doesn't work-probably needs a new cable) is that the battery discharges overnight. It was found by the previous owner to have a 1.5v current draw after the car is turned off. In my own test; I disconnected the negative cable and grounded the battery with a test light. Since there is a current draw; the light was lit. I proceeded to pull and replace all the fuses I saw under the dash and the only fuse that would cause the test light to dim was the interior lights fuse (15) even though i believe i had the interior lights off. Other than that the automatic seatbelt motors don't work so I wonder if that is pulling current trying to run the motor; but i can't seem to find the fuse for them. Anyone have any ideas/suggestions?
Thanks all.
AudiWorld Super User
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You need to isolate the power taps to see where the draw goes. Connect a DVOM as an ammeter to
isolate which voltage run from the battery or at the fuse box has the draw.
The previous measurment is suspect, as you cannot measue a "current draw" in volts.
your statement that you have a 1.5v current draw is questionable.
You may mean, or perhaps you did not understand what the previous ownewr meant. Perhaps it's a 1.5 Amp draw, which would be a lot.
Suspects are the radio power amp not turning off.
You can isolate the power to the fuse box by pulling the main relays under the dash, the 30-40A ones, or the 75A relays to see where the drop is.
If the Passat has a similar voltage "manifold" like on the TT, you can at least find out which brach has the draw.
The previous measurment is suspect, as you cannot measue a "current draw" in volts.
your statement that you have a 1.5v current draw is questionable.
You may mean, or perhaps you did not understand what the previous ownewr meant. Perhaps it's a 1.5 Amp draw, which would be a lot.
Suspects are the radio power amp not turning off.
You can isolate the power to the fuse box by pulling the main relays under the dash, the 30-40A ones, or the 75A relays to see where the drop is.
If the Passat has a similar voltage "manifold" like on the TT, you can at least find out which brach has the draw.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: Nov 2001
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Very possible that I mis-quoted the figure for the current draw...
but I definately know it was 1.5 something. It is enough that I can leave the battery connected for a few hours and it will be fine; but overnight and it dies. I'll try the relays to see if one of them is pulling the current. Thanks for the suggestions.
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