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I have a 1995 Jetta GL 5 speed with alarm the brake sensor red w/y stripewas cut now brake lights do

The original stereo is not in the car, there is a jumper wire w/fuse running to the battery positive terminal. When the fuse is installed and the fuse at the panel for brakes #20 is installed the alarm will sound when reset it stops as it should but car will not start. When fuse is removed and brake fuse #20 is keep in the brakes will not light up and the car starts. When the fuse is left in at the battery jumper wire and the fuse is removed from the brake fuse #20 the car will run but alarm will not reset if not running when you hit the brake pedal the alarm sounds. Can any one help?

—submitted by criminal_killer on May 1st 2009 at 9:19pm.

  • DannytheMechanic
  • Posts: 181
  • May 02 2009 10:43am

Has the car done this since you bought it? Do you know why the wire had been cut? I would start first by pulling back the rubber boots between the door hinges and checking for cut wires. They will need to be reconnected.

If you install both fuses, open the trunk with the key and leave it open, will the car then start?

Danny

  • criminal_killer
  • Posts: 2
  • May 03 2009 3:37pm

Hi Danny,
We just bought the car when we bought it we knew the brake lights did not work. I am not for sure when the wire was cut but did find the other part to the wire and have re-connected it and pulled the jumper wire. I replaced the brake fuse with a 30 amp blade fuse re-set the alarm by the key in the door the car started and brake lights worked re-connected the instrument panel, which began to smoke, disconnected it and turned the car off. The 30 amp fuse was blown and I cannot tell where the smoke was coming from. I also tried to get the trunk open but cannot it did work the other day but now does not want to open. I am sure it is a wiring issue or it has to do with the alarm but do not know enough about VW to track it easily.

Patrick

  • DannytheMechanic
  • Posts: 181
  • May 04 2009 9:45am

The smoke could have came from in the cluster, you should never put a larger fuse in than the vehicle had originally it almost always leads to further wiring issues. The alarm box is located right to the left of the instrument cluster in the dash. It is possible to bypass it but I am unsure if that will actually fix it. Does it seem like more damage has been caused by the smoking problem?