# 2006 VW Passat Electrical or Computer Issue?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-vw-passat-electrical-or-computer-issue/67650>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [September 5, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-vw-passat-electrical-or-computer-issue/67650 "2011-09-05T01:35:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ctswanson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@ctswanson](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ctswanson)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-vw-passat-electrical-or-computer-issue/67650/1 "2011-09-05T01:35:47Z")

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Not sure what the problem is and hope to have a better idea before I take the car to a mechanic (non-dealership). When I drive I always have the radio or CD player on and when I turn the car off the radio is still “on” (I don’t turn it off first). When I start the car again sometimes the radio comes back on and sometimes it doesn’t. There are other intermittent items, like opening/closing the sunroof, etc… No issue with the power locks or windows (yet). Should I be concerned?

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**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 9:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-vw-passat-electrical-or-computer-issue/67650/2 "2011-09-05T09:47:47Z")

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There could be a problem with the ignition switch causing the trouble. One of the switch sections may be intermittent.

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**Author:** ![steveng](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@steveng](https://community.cartalk.com/u/steveng)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 12:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-vw-passat-electrical-or-computer-issue/67650/3 "2011-09-05T12:16:04Z")

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I had the same problem with my 2002 passat. I would be driving and the sunroof would just open on it’s own. My car was under warranty and every time I brought it in they never found a problem. I got rid of it in 2005 because of many other problems.

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**Author:** ![ctswanson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@ctswanson](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ctswanson)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-vw-passat-electrical-or-computer-issue/67650/4 "2011-09-05T23:11:16Z")

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Steveng - fortunately my sunroof doesn’t open and close on its own. It just doesn’t always respond properly when I turn the dial.

Cougar - thanks. I figure it has something to do with the ignition. This will help me send them in the right direction.

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**Author:** ![chaissos](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/chaissos/32/2347_2.png) [@chaissos](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chaissos)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-vw-passat-electrical-or-computer-issue/67650/5 "2011-09-05T23:18:35Z")

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Has your battery disconnected for any significant amount of time (more than a couple minutes)? Sounds to me like the computer got confused, and needs to be reset.

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**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\
**Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2006-vw-passat-electrical-or-computer-issue/67650/6 "2011-09-05T23:27:00Z")

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Chances are the trouble is with the ignition switch but if not I would then check out the power connection to those points having trouble starting at the fuse connection.