VW Taigo Starting Issues: Troubleshooting Guide

I had a similar starting issue with my VW T-Cross from 2021. As someone with some experience working on VW electronics, I initially thought it was the ignition switch too, but it turned out to be much simpler. The car electronics were acting up exactly like yours, dashboard lights working fine, but inconsistent engine start behavior. When I took it to my regular workshop, they diagnosed a blown fuse in the main ignition circuit. The whole repair, including diagnostics and fuse replacement, cost 52€. The key turn problems stopped immediately after the fuse replacement. If your symptoms match, normal dashboard light operation but unreliable car ignition response, it could be the same issue. Before jumping to conclusions though, could you share: Does the engine crank at all when you turn the key? Are there any warning lights on the dashboard when this happens? Have you noticed any electrical issues before this started? Did you recently have any electrical accessories installed? This information would help determine if youre dealing with a similar fuse problem or if its something else in the starting system.

After latest service at 38419km, my problem was actually related to a faulty ignition coil. The technician found that while the starter motor engaged properly and dashboard lights worked normally, one ignition coil was misfiring. The issue presented exactly like yours, rough idle and unusual stalling. When turning the key, the engine would sometimes catch but then die immediately. Multiple diagnostics confirmed the ignition coil failure was causing the intermittent starting problems. The repair involved replacing the faulty ignition coil and a full system check. The engine now starts consistently without any hesitation or rough running. From my experience, testing the ignition system components would be a good first step before assuming its an ignition switch issue. Would recommend checking if there are any error codes stored, this helped pinpoint my problem quickly.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the ignition coil issue. Your symptoms match exactly what I experienced before the fuse replacement in my T-Cross. After reading about your fix, I actually had my car checked again since the starting problems returned after a few months. Turns out my initial fuse problem was masking a failing ignition coil too. The mechanic found error codes pointing to cylinder misfires, and after replacing both the ignition coil and spark plug for that cylinder, the problem was completely solved. The total repair ended up being more expensive at 280€, but the car now starts perfectly every time. The dashboard lights no longer flicker during startup either, which I had assumed was normal wear. Your case reinforces how car electronics issues can be tricky to diagnose. While a blown fuse might be the obvious culprit with starting problems, its worth having the ignition system thoroughly checked. The engine start behavior and rough running you described are classic signs of ignition coil failure that I now know to watch for.

Thanks for the thorough follow-up about the ignition coil replacement. Your detailed explanation helps confirm my initial suspicions. I ran more diagnostics this morning and found error codes indicating intermittent misfires, just like you described. The dashboard lights staying steady while the engine start behavior was erratic matches my experience perfectly. After getting the ignition coil and spark plug replaced today, my Taigo starts smoothly every time. The repair cost came to 295€, which seems in line with what others paid. Looking back, the rough idle and stalling symptoms were clear indicators of an ignition system problem rather than a basic ignition switch issue. Having the error codes read made a huge difference in getting an accurate diagnosis. This entire experience taught me not to assume the obvious solution when dealing with modern car electronics. For anyone else facing similar starting problems, make sure to have the full ignition system checked, especially if you notice any engine misfires or rough running after the initial start.