VW Virtus Dead After ECU Check, No Start Issue

Recently experienced similar symptoms with a 2017 VW Passat TSI. The initial engine diagnostics pointed to an ECU issue, but it turned out to be a much simpler problem with corroded battery terminals. When battery connections are poor, the ECU receives inconsistent power, triggering check engine lights and creating starting problems that mimic engine fault conditions. The symptoms match exactly: key turning, dash lights on, but engine not cranking. The fix required cleaning the battery terminals, replacing the connectors, and applying anti-corrosion coating. This prevented future connection degradation and resolved the false ECU failure signals. After the repair, all systems returned to normal operation with no engine surge or starting issues. Would suggest checking the battery connections before pursuing complex engine diagnostics. Poor connections can create misleading symptoms that appear as serious electronic faults. A proper voltage test at the terminals while attempting to start will quickly confirm if this is the root cause.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the battery terminals. I had a very similar engine fault scenario with my Virtus last summer. The check engine light kept coming on and the ECU was showing all kinds of errors. Like you, I initially thought it was a major ECU failure but it ended up being a faulty crankshaft position sensor causing the engine stalling problems. After replacing the sensor the starting issues completely disappeared. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you paid for the battery terminal fix? And has everything been running smoothly since then? Its always good to know if these fixes actually solve the problem long-term.

Glad to hear you got the crankshaft sensor sorted. In my case, the battery connection repair at the shop cost 155€ total, which included cleaning, new terminals, and protective coating application. Best money spent, no more false ECU issues or engine starting problems since then. The repair completely resolved those misleading check engine warnings and prevented any further fuel injection glitches that were happening due to unstable power supply. Its been running perfectly for 6 months now with zero engine surge or ECU failure indicators. The mechanic explained that poor battery connections are often overlooked when diagnosing electronic issues, but they can trigger multiple fault codes that appear much more serious than they actually are. Regular inspection of battery terminals is now part of my maintenance routine to avoid similar problems.

Thanks everyone for the helpful insights. Wanted to update on my situation, took the car to a different mechanic who actually found multiple issues. The main problem was a failing fuel injection system that was causing the starting problems and triggering the check engine light. The repair cost 780€ but included a full engine diagnostics test, replacement of two fuel injectors, and cleaning of the entire fuel system. Much more expensive than I hoped, but the ECU is now showing all clear and the car starts perfectly every time. The mechanic also checked the battery connections you mentioned, but thankfully those were fine. Really appreciate the suggestions as it helped me ask the right questions during the diagnosis. Car has been running great for the past two weeks with no warning lights or starting issues.