"random" electrical issues

Howdy
Car is a 2009 Jetta TDI with 80K miles. Has been in a deer induced crash in the front left corner, repaired and ran great.
I have had several electrical problems and it seems be cascading into more.
Some of these I have posted about but now it seems to be getting more involved so Ill start a new post.

Initial problem- Radio stopped working, blowing the 15 amp underhood fuse instantly.
Ran a scan- Only codes related to the radio were sat radio not responding(I don't have one) and radio was not talking to the computer. it also had a code for the rain sensor that I wasn't aware I even had. I stored and the cleared the codes, disconnected the Battery, replaced both the radio fuse and the rain sensor fuse. Hooked up the battery and all the codes came back AND the headlights came on. I attempted to read and clear again and the Rosstech VCDS lost "gateway" and have been unable to get back into the ECM.

Found that the fuse box AND 15amp radio fuse were melted. replaced fuse box and main "panel" fuse block.

So right now:
- car will turn over but not start
- Headlights come on with the key
- after initial glow cycle the glow light flashes
- under hood radio and interior rain sensor fuses blow instantly
- Unable to communicate with ECM via OBDII or VAG with Rosstech. OBDII connector never sees signal from the car.

What I've done:
- NEW proper battery
- NEW VW underhood fuse panel and fuse block
- inspected and cleaned all grounds that I can find.
- Tried all three keys that I have
- removed rain cowl, unhooked ECM and visually checked the harnesses and connections. Cleaned said connections.
- visually inspected the interior wiring.
- removed the remote start system that never worked and we never used.
- read, stored and cleared initial codes with rosstech VCDS.
- removed and visually inspected all fuses

With all the (seems to be) unrelated problems it sounds like a harness issue?
Is there a good way to trouble shoot a wiring harness in these cars?

ANY IDEAS and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You !

I would start taking things apart in the area of the crash, and look for any wire harness damage. I would also check all of the grounds. Was there any air bag deployment? That can sometimes damage things too.

Right,
That was kind of my first instinct and I have visually inspected the outside of the harness from the UH fuse panel to the ECM to the firewall. No visual scuffing, frays or damage.
No air bag deployment. Most damage was in the front radiator support area and minor cosmetic to the front fender and door.
In reading the other posts, it sounds like many of the harness chafing issues, both door and engine, are resolved by year 2009?
How durable are these wire systems?
Am going to be up against minor cracked wires from vibration or does it normally take something serious to damage the harness?
Thanks!

First scan


01-Engine -- Status: OK 0000
03-ABS Brakes -- Status: OK 0000
04-Steering Angle -- Status: OK 0000
08-Auto HVAC -- Status: OK 0000
09-Cent. Elect. -- Status: OK 0000
0F-Digital Radio -- Status: Cannot be reached 1100
15-Airbags -- Status: OK 0000
16-Steering wheel -- Status: OK 0000
17-Instruments -- Status: OK 0000
19-CAN Gateway -- Status: Malfunction 0010
1C-Position Sensing -- Status: Malfunction 0010
25-Immobilizer -- Status: OK 0000
42-Door Elect, Driver -- Status: Malfunction 0010
44-Steering Assist -- Status: OK 0000
46-Central Conv. -- Status: OK 0000
52-Door Elect, Pass. -- Status: OK 0000
56-Radio -- Status: Malfunction 0010
62-Door, Rear Left -- Status: OK 0000
65-Tire Pressure -- Status: OK 0000
72-Door, Rear Right -- Status: OK 0000
77-Telephone -- Status: Malfunction 0010

last scan before i lost the gateway

01-Engine -- Status: OK 0000
03-ABS Brakes -- Status: OK 0000
04-Steering Angle -- Status: OK 0000
08-Auto HVAC -- Status: OK 0000
09-Cent. Elect. -- Status: OK 0000
0F-Digital Radio -- Status: Cannot be reached 1100
15-Airbags -- Status: OK 0000
16-Steering wheel -- Status: OK 0000
17-Instruments -- Status: OK 0000
19-CAN Gateway -- Status: Malfunction 0010
1C-Position Sensing -- Status: OK 0000
25-Immobilizer -- Status: OK 0000
42-Door Elect, Driver -- Status: OK 0000
44-Steering Assist -- Status: OK 0000
46-Central Conv. -- Status: OK 0000
52-Door Elect, Pass. -- Status: OK 0000
56-Radio -- Status: Malfunction 0010
62-Door, Rear Left -- Status: OK 0000
65-Tire Pressure -- Status: OK 0000
72-Door, Rear Right -- Status: OK 0000
77-Telephone -- Status: OK 0000Address 19: CAN Gateway Labels:. 1K0-907-530-V4.clb
Part No SW: 1K0 907 530 S HW: 1K0 907 951
Component: J533 Gateway H07 0071
Revision: H07 01 Serial number: 101208F2001887
Coding: E9807F07001702001002
Shop #: WSC 00066 000 00000
VCID: 3728231343429C8FAA0-8062

2 Faults Found:
00469 - Infotainment Databus in Single Wire Operation
012 - Electrical Fault in Circuit
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01101100
Fault Priority: 3
Fault Frequency: 4
Reset counter: 146
Mileage: 145834 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2000.00.00
Time: 16:24:08

02649 - Digital Radio Tuner
004 - No Signal/Communication
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 01100100
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 146
Mileage: 145834 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2000.00.00
Time: 16:24:12

Ok- I picked a spot in the harness that seemed to be a pinch point to examine. Up under the cowl going to the ECM.

I carefully slit open the wrap and found many things that would lead me to believe that it is not factory.
-Several heat shrink butt connectors
-Many wires that were folded and double backed.

In other words lit looked pretty sloppy. The wrap seemed to be factory done.

Can anyone tell me if that is typical or if it sounds like its been hacked.

Thanks!!!

Can you post some pictures, and include both a closeup as well as a further back one so I have context as to its location in the car.

Couldnt get the pics to down load to the forrum so I sent an email.
Thanks!