2006 Passat weird electrical issue #advice

mayhem#

I'm trying to resolve a weird electrical issue with my 2006 Passat.
Parked the car up briefly yesterday, came back and noticed that the remote power locking hadn't kicked in.
Got in, put the key in the ignition and yellow the power steering reduced warning light briefly came on but not other lights on the dash.
Car also wouldn't start, dead as a Dodo.
However the interior lights and the sound system works.
Check battery connections and fuses but they all seem OK on visual inspection.
Wondering if anyone here has come across this before and has any helpful hints on what to do?
Thanks.

E.

Toyotafanboi

The electronic steering column lock is a common fault on those and would give those symptoms.

Truckermal

Battery is knackered I'd say.

fullstop

Sounds like comfort control module. Pretty expensive fix if it is, unfortunately

darragh o meara

Try changing the battery. I had a lot of sudden electric problems with my Passat a few years back that we’re all sorted by changing the battery, happened around the same time of year too, weather started to get colder and the engine needed a bit more to start. Failing that, I’d start with a scan, plenty of copies of vagcom knocking about.

There is also a relay that cuts power to different modules when cranking that would also give similar symptoms, they can give problems too but I can’t remember which one it is.

sunnysoutheast

Not sure if that generation of Passat still had the blocked plenum drains/water problem?

Something else to check maybe.

Mine gave all sorts of weird problems because the module was sitting in water!

teediddlyeye

Blocked drains was the 2000-2005 years.

Sounds like steering column lock alright.