VW Atlas Won't Start After Recent Ignition Repair

Had a similar situation with my 2019 VW Tiguan. The symptoms matched exactly, no start condition after ignition switch repairs. The issue turned out to be more complex than initially diagnosed. The root cause was a damaged starter solenoid wire harness that got pinched during the previous repair. The battery terminal connections were solid, but the power supply was inconsistent due to this damaged wiring. A complete circuit break was occurring intermittently. The repair required: Full testing of the relay switch system, Replacement of the damaged wire harness, Verification of all electrical connections, Recalibration of the starter solenoid This was indeed a serious issue that could have led to complete electrical system failure if left unaddressed. The problem wasnt necessarily due to poor workmanship, but rather a common oversight during reassembly. Would recommend taking it to a different shop for a second opinion, specifically requesting a complete diagnostic of the starting circuit and electrical system. These symptoms often indicate deeper issues beyond just the ignition switch.

Thanks for sharing those details about your Tiguan repair. Really helpful since my Atlas issue seems quite similar. The fuse box and ignition switch setup look identical between our models, so this gives me a good starting point. Did you remember roughly what the total repair cost came to? Also curious if youve had any electrical gremlins pop up since getting it fixed? My main concern is making sure all the power supply connections are properly secured this time around to avoid future issues.

Since my previous post, I took the car back to get checked and I was right about the power supply connections. The mechanic found Terminal 15 ignition positive was interrupted, causing the starting problems. They discovered a loose connection in the wiring harness that was creating a voltage drop. The repair was straightforward, 95€ to fix the faulty cable connection. The best part is Ive had zero electrical issues since then. The starter engages perfectly every time now, and all the connections in the fuse box are properly secured. Having seen both situations, I highly recommend getting your Atlas thoroughly checked for similar connection issues. These VW models can be sensitive to even minor wiring problems, especially around the ignition switch area. Make sure they test all the power supply paths to catch any potential voltage drops.

Thanks everyone for the input, I wanted to share how this all turned out. Took the car to a different mechanic who specializes in VW electrical systems. Smart move, since they immediately spotted issues with the previous repair. The original shop had damaged the relay switch during reassembly, causing an intermittent circuit break. The new mechanic found several pinched wires near the ignition switch that were creating voltage drops. They had to replace part of the wiring harness and reset the starter solenoid. Total bill came to 280€ for parts and labor. Been driving for 2 weeks now with zero issues. The car starts perfectly every time. The new shop also gave me a detailed report showing all the testing they did on the electrical system. Lesson learned, sometimes its worth paying a bit more to get it fixed right by someone who really knows these systems. The original cheap repair ended up costing more in the long run.