2002 VW Jetta Wouldnt Start

by TROY BURNETT
(PASADENA TX USA)

I HAVE A 2002 VW JETTA WITH A 2.0 ENGINE. THE PROBLEM IS, ITS MY DAUGHTERS CAR AND IT WOULDN'T START THE OTHER DAY. I WENT OVER AND CHARGED AND THEN JUMPED THE CAR OFF TO GET IT RUNNING. I DROVE TO AUTO ZONE BY MY HOUSE. THE EMPLOYEE CHECKED THE CAR AND IT ONLY SHOWED A WEAK BATTERY. SO I PUT A NEW ONE IN THE CAR AND DROVE IT HOME. EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. MY DAUGHTER DROVE IT THE NEXT EVENING AND SHE STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THE REAR TAIL LAMPS ON WHEN SHE WAS AT THE PARK. SO I QUESTION HER FURTHER ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY THE CAR WAS DOING. SHE STATED THAT THE CAR IN THE PAST HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 OR 3 TIMES. SHE ALSO STATED THAT WHEN SHE GOT OUT OF CAR THE OTHER NIGHT THAT THE TAIL LAMPS CAME ON AND WENT OFF 2 TIMES. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT THE CAR LIGHTS ARE OFF BUT LATER TIMES ON SAME DAY SHE HAS NOTICED TAIL LAMP LIGHTS ON. {COULD EXPLAIN DEAD BATTERY}. I PUT IN NEW BATTERY BUT I DON'T THINK THIS FIXED IT. WHAT COULD BE MAKING THESE LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING.THE CAR HAS A SECURITY SYSTEM THAT CAME WITH IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT NEW.PLEASE HELP, CANT AFFORD MECHANIC AND NEEDS CAR FOR SCHOOL.

Steve Says,

There is not a lot for me to go on with this question. It sounds like (from the limited information that I have) you might have a brake light switch that is sticking on at times and causing your tail lamps to stay on when they are not supposed to.

It is possible that the car stalling was being caused by a bad battery. There are lots of things that could have caused it to stall, but I recommend driving it with the good battery and see what it does.

The brake light switch is located on the brake pedal. They are usually not too hard to change. You can either have it diagnosed at a shop (which I highly recommend) or you could just try replacing it.

I hope this has helped.