2003 Beetle TDi - Relay went out?

Danno210

New member
Joined
Jun 30, 2018
Location
Charlotte, North Carolina
TDI
2003 New Beetle
Newbie, first post. Didn't know where else to put this so dropping it here in hopes it can be put in the correct location. Thank ya.

Hey folks - one day during the rain, I had 4 things stop all at once on my car while I was driving it on the interstate:

:confused: Wipers
:confused: Headlights
:confused: Turn Signals
:confused: HVAC Fan blower

Everything else works great - just those 4 went dead simultaneously.

When I went digging on the internet, apparently the power distribution box on top of the battery is famous for melting down on '02 and prior Bugs, but my '03 is fine. Like brand-new fine. There's power on all of the lugs and none are burnt out. No corrosion, again like-new there.

Fuses all check out too.

Guessing there's a master relay somewhere in between the battery and those 4 particular fuses, at least I'm hoping there is.

Took it to a garage, they couldn't find it either but they're also not VW-specific so I guess this is one for the pros [you guys]. Got a new battery while I was there.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance
 

Danno210

New member
Joined
Jun 30, 2018
Location
Charlotte, North Carolina
TDI
2003 New Beetle
I did find one fella who has an '01 GTI with the exact same symptoms. Others in that post cited the same issue with theirs. They claim a new ignition switch cures that issue, but they also say those dead items will work when the key is in the accessory position - which isn't the luck I'm having.
 

wonneber

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 12, 2011
Location
Monroe, NY, USA
TDI
2014 Jetta Sportwagon,2003 Jetta 261K Sold but not forgotten
Maybe the load reduction relay?

Can someone here confirm if it's part of the wiper washer intermittent relay?

Also with 4 different circuits involved I would check the big ground wire under the battery tray.
If it's bad then anything that grounds to the body is bad.
I would also think you would have seen other anomalies s/a gauges jumping, radio sounds or such.
 
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