Questions and Answers

Volkswagen Jetta Power Windows Q. Hi there. I have a 1996 Volkswagen Jetta GLS. It's a 4 cylinder, automatic transmission and 213,000 kilometers. Lately all the windows have been going down on their own when my car is turned off. The motor for my locks is also continuing to run and this will continue until my battery is dead. When this happens I can put my windows back up with my key, but they will go back down as soon as I take my key out.

If I put the window down while I'm driving, sometimes it won't go back up? I've taken my car into the dealership and they can't find the problem. Now my cruise control has shorted out and has not worked for about a year. I saw the smoldering smoke come out of my steering wheel.

Could this have caused a problem in the wiring that controls the windows and locks, even though it happened some time ago? I really need your help. It's driving me crazy! Everywhere I go I have to pull my battery! There will be good days when my windows will stay up. This has lead me to think that there is power going somewhere when it shouldn't. Can you please help me in any way. Greatly appreciated.

Summer

A. It sounds likely that the wires in the harness running through the steering column and under the dashboard have rubbed the insulation off and shorted together causing circuits that would not normally have power to be powered during key off.

I’m sure that if you saw smoke coming from under the steering column that visual evidence of the problem will be observable upon removal of the steering column cover and inspection of the harness. Individual wires can be replaced or a replacement harness could be purchased and installed.