radio will not turn on

phil_p · Jul 28, 2008

I have a 2002 Passat 1.8T which I bought a couple of months ago and it is playing games with me.... The radio will not turn on after it was working fine. I drive home w/ radio on and then turn off the car. Later drive off and the radio is off. I did not turn it off, so I press the power/on button and it doesn't turn back on. There is a little red lite that blinks below the power/on button which blinks every 20 seconds it seems.
Any ideas? I have turned the car off, lock using remote -press alarm on, alarm off /unlock w/remote, and still nothing.
The first time it did this to me I check the fuses (they r good). Removed fuse and reinstalled it and it seemed to work after that. I don't want to do that every time if I don't have to.
Thanks all!

kenblasko · Jul 28, 2008

It's not a common problem but sometimes radios locks up and the way to reset them is to pull the fuse. If you have access to a VAG-COM, run a scan the next time it does it.

johnlarrybell · Oct 12, 2008

i have same problem with my 2002 1.8. what did you do to correct problem. where is the fuse in the panel

DSIM · Oct 13, 2008

Pull the fuse for 30 seconds. I dont remember what fuse # it is but it should be listed in the owners manual

Ryukinrobo2 · Sep 9, 2012

This has happened to me twice in the past few months and I've owned the car for 10 years. I've fixed it twice after pulling out the radio fuse to reboot it, but can anyone tell me why it happens in the first place? We've gone 10 years with this never happening!
thanks

scotts13 · Sep 9, 2012

Same thing we tell people in the computer industry - "because".

Humble Mechanic · Sep 9, 2012

HAHAHA! That is perfect. If you start trying to figure out "why" you will lose your freaking mind. Trust me I stopped after about a year of wrenching on VWs.

I have always pulled the radio and removed the fuse at the back of the radio. That works every time.

scotts13 · Sep 9, 2012

Well realistically, these cars are infested with little computers. Computers aren't perfect; with thousands or millions each, of transistors and lines of code, every now and then something unexpected will happen. Sometimes you have to CTRL+ALT+DEL and reboot the darned thing. Same with the car. The girlfriends Acura was all wonky; voice control not working, power seat programming moved the seat to HER settings on MY key, and the GPS showed the car traveling parallel to, but not on, the road. Reboot time! All OK.

Darrell91242 · Dec 31, 2012

I have a 2002 Passat wagon that has this same problem. Do you have to pull the radio? Would the fuse is the panel work the same? If need to pull, How do you pull the radio?

I did pull fuse #37 on panel, turned on ignition to "accessory" position for 30 seconds; turned off ignition and replaced fuse. Monsoon radio now works. Also, reference Mobile Electronics forum which also points this out.

Thanks for the help.

2002GLXV6 · Dec 31, 2012

It's happened to me twice and I just pulled the fuse in the panel on the side of the dash by the driver's door. Should be fuse 37. No need to pull the radio.
http://www.passatworld.com/forums/42-volkswagen-passat-b5-discussion/336438-b5-b5-5-passat-fuse-layout-reference.html

radio will not turn on

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