2003 Volkswagen Jetta: won't start

Filed Jul 3, 2017 · Electrical, Seats · 162,000 miles · WA · fire

When I was sitting in the driver's seat with the heated seat option turned to a 5 (high), while the car was warming up, I noticed some smoke coming from the right side of the seat. The heated seat started to burn through the cloth cover directly where my metal jacket zipper was making contact with the cloth seat surface. I immediately poured water on the seat to ensure a fire didn't start. I have not attempted to use the seat heaters since this incident.

Filed Jun 17, 2014 · Electrical · 116,898 miles · PA

The day before the car quit, it would not start after being parked in the mall parking lot. A battery pack got it started, and it was driven home, with the thought that it needed a new battery. The following day, it was being driven to the local sears, for a replacement battery, when the ABS and airbag lights came on. 30 seconds later lots of warning lights came on, and the car sputtered and stopped dead in the lane of travel. It would not turn over, and power accessories would not work. I was stopped on a very busy 2 lane back road, with no shoulders or side streets, uphill, on a blind hill. After 1 1/2 hours of white-knuckle directing traffic, and calls to: my auto club, and the local police; a local police officer, and a local tow truck showed up and gave me a lift to my repair shop. The mechanic's diagnosis of the problem was a partially melted fuse pack, that sits on top of the battery, and an overly resistive cable between the fuse pack and the alternator. The solution was: the cable end linked to the fuse pack was re-terminated, and the melted fuse pack was replaced. Between the tow and the repair, it set me back about $300.00. I also found a blog that listed many other vw owners with the same problem: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?4986219-fuse-box-above-battery-melting . I also discovered a class action law suit that was filed in 2012, that was based on this problem: http://gotaclassaction.com/volkswagen-named-in-class-action-over-fuse-boxalternator-cable-assembly/ . I hope that the current repair holds for the near future. Clearly, a fuse should blow before the overall fuse pack melts.

Filed Dec 23, 2013 · Fuel system · 45,000 miles · IL

My 2003 volkswagen jetta experienced a fuel pump failure while driving in traffic. My vehicle came to a stop in front of the entrance to an alley. The vehicle would not start after the failure. The fuel pump has to be replaced, but was no longer under warranty at the time of the failure.

Filed Jul 8, 2010 · Electrical · 111,000 miles · TN

As we were driving home, all the lights on the dash started blinking. The accelerator pedal stopped working in the middle of a busy intersection. The car engine continued running, but it just stalled in the middle of traffic and could not accelerate to get out of traffic. So we coasted the car for about 1.5 miles to a family members house. When we arrived, we turned off the car and tried to restart it, it would not start. After opening the hood we noticed that the fuse box/harness that sits on the battery was very hot. We opened it and saw the far left black wire/cable was burnt up and melting the plastic in the harness. The black wire was extremely hot. I had this problem before, it was 3 years ago, but I did not know where to look. I spent over $500 fixing what seems to me the same problem as before. On the dealership receipt it said "found generator harness at battery fuse box melted causing high resistance in voltage circuit.....replaced fuse box and generator cable". On that occurrence it was so bad the burns had ruined my battery causing it to leak. I called vw manufacturing, but they were not very helpful and just told me to call my local dealer for assistance. They said it was not a safety issue, even if there was a fire hazard. My car is currently being looked, looking for an underlying cause for this...if it is the cable or something else in the engine. The connection was reset but the wire/cable continued to get excessively hot.

Filed Jun 12, 2009 · Transmission · 128,250 miles · CA

Engine casing broke where the motor mount connects, got that repaired. 2 days later while driving on freeway, engine makes loud noise and seizes. Undriveable, wont start.

Filed Aug 13, 2008 · Electrical · 115,000 miles · AL

Lost power, radio stopped working, A/C starting blowing hot air, epc light came on, battery light came on, ABS light came on. Then the car would not crank. I thought the battery was dead so I jumped the car. I made it home then the car would not start the next morning. After examination I found that the fuse box on top of the battery had melted. The wire from the fuse box to the alternator overheated. Was told by two different volkswagen dealerships in birmingham, al that this was a very common problem. If it is a common problem why is there no recall?

Filed Aug 1, 2006 · Brakes, Electrical · 65,000 miles · NC

My situation is very similar to odi id number : 10136903. I have a 2003 jetta. I was driving about 65 MPH, my ABS warning light turned on, air bag warning light turned on, and my radio turned off. After stopping my car, it wouldn't start again. I had it towed to mechanic, who determined that my fuse panel (above the battery) had melted and he was very surprised that my car hadn't caught on fire. He replaced the fuse panel. A few days later, my car failed to start again. A jump start started it. Next day, my car failed to start again. A jump start started it. I drove it straight to mechanic. My alternator, which was fine last week, is now fried (after two drives), most likely because the fuse panel burnt it out. The alternator in my 2003 jetta is a 90 amp alternator. Vw stopped making these because they aren't powerful enough for the cars. I repeat, 90 amp alternators are no longer made for my car because it requires 120 amp alternator. Hmm.

Filed Oct 25, 2005 · Electrical · 52,000 miles · OH

Dt: the consumer was driving on the highway when the ABS light and the air bag light came on. She pulled off the road and the vehicle stalled . The vehicle would not start back. The mechanic informed the consumer the alternator cable burned the fuse box and cover. The consumer was concerned that if they same part will be put back on the same thing will happen again. *ak

Filed Dec 30, 2003 · Electrical · 2,300 miles · CA

My brand new 2003 jetta gli failed to start at a shopping center. The car was parked there for only two hours. Seems like the battery and ignition switch works, but the engine would not start. Called aaa. After 10 minutes and numerous attempts of cranking the engine, he was able to start the car. Took car into the delearship. They were not able to duplicate the problem after two days, but put 60 miles on the car.

Filed Oct 24, 2003 · Electrical · 8,800 miles · KY

This is the second time now that my 2003 vw 1.8t jetta would not start when I went to leave for work in the morning. I un-lock the doors with the remote and get in the car, press in on the clutch and turn the key, the headlights, radio, door-chimes and interior lights all come on but the engine will not turn over at all. I only have 8800 miles on the car at this point in time, the first time was about two weeks ago and the dealer can't seem to find anything wrong with it. I don't understand what could possibly be causing the problem except that both time it has been near freezing outside and the car had sat over-night. The first time the dealer had my car for three days, without giving me a loaner car before they told me to come pick it up because they couldn't duplicate the problem. This time they have had my car for two days now, and I haven't even received a phone call from them to let me know about the progress of my vehicle.