2007 GTI with short to ground

[Ron A]

With battery connected and with no lanyard, have following issues: I can hear something (??) power up and cycle about every 10 secs. At same time, the info center gets power and flashes different lights. If I disconnect the wires to beeper or if I disconnect wires to DESS.....the short goes away. I have disconnected fuel pump...but problem still there.
Also with the lanyard in, the start switch doesn't always engage....sometimes takes 10-15 hits before the motor will fire up.
Trouble shooting, I have disconnected the positive battery cable and using a test light, when I connect positive cable thru test light to batter....the light comes on. From this, I assume I have dead short somewhere. And because the issue goes away when disconnecting either the buzzer wires or DESS wires....the assumed short has to be somewhere in that wiring.
I have also disconnected the B side of EMC and of course, short goes away.
Reading other info, I'm confused if anything has power when batter connected. Does DESS draw power without lanyard?
Any suggestions/help appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Ron A]

Update:
Took ski into dealer and I have a bad DESS post. I can replace the post myself.

Question: Do I have to buy new lanyards or will old ones work? Also do I have to have DESS post programmed?

Any help appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Sea Dood]

No, the DESS post doesn't have any relation to key programming, just replace it and you will be good

 

[Ron A]

Thanks for reply Sea Dood. I've replaced DESS post and it's working great.