2001 1.8 turbo new beetle battery keeps dying

[robertsnowden1990]

So last week my battery died and I brought a new one the next day and it worked fine for two days. So I took the battery back and they replaced it and the same thing happens the next day. I then decided to take the car to a local shop that work on vw and they hooked it up to a machine that scans the car for issues and nothing is showing up. The battery cable for the postive side looks kind of worn out. Could that be the issue?

[07BlackOps]

I would say youre alternator is shot. The Alternator keeps the electrical components in your vehicle powered as well as keep a charge on the battery. A little bit of wear on the battery cable shouldnt cause any issues. However it could wear out prematurely. I would imagine if the battery keeps dying you arent getting power to the battery or there is a short draining your battery.

[robertsnowden1990]

Originally Posted by 07BlackOps

I would say youre alternator is shot. The Alternator keeps the electrical components in your vehicle powered as well as keep a charge on the battery. A little bit of wear on the battery cable shouldnt cause any issues. However it could wear out prematurely. I would imagine if the battery keeps dying you arent getting power to the battery or there is a short draining your battery.

I was thinking it was the alternator at first but, I realized that the local vw dealer replaced that in the summer of 2011. I will have to take it to vw tomorrow but I'm just getting bummed about this because the place I went to yesterday said he couldn't find any problems. Keep spending money all of this money is ridiculous. Lol

[07BlackOps]

You wanted a VW. This is the one downfall German cars, especially VW's, have. They CAN be electrical nightmares! And so your noticing. An alternator can just go bad and if your battery keeps dying then I imagine it would be the alternator or some other source sucking down your battery on a consistent basis. Try this unplug anything you have connected to your battery other then the car. unplug phone chargers, system if you have one, anything and then see if the battery is drained in 2 days. If it is then I would recommend bringing your car to an Autozone they can test your alternator make sure its not bad, new or not! I had a buddy put a new fuel pump in his Honda Civic and 2 days later it was shot! Parts go bad at random times!

[marvins_dad]

Do you have a Monsoon sound system? Last year my amp had issues and wouldn't turn off...draining the battery overnight. I had had a new alternator installed the previous year as well so felt it wasn't the issue. It's a long shot, but might be worth having someone pop the rear panels and feeling the amp after it has set for an hour or so. Mine was still warm/hot to the touch after sitting for a few hours.

Sent from my ADR6400L using AutoGuide.Com Free

[robertsnowden1990]

Originally Posted by marvins_dad

Do you have a Monsoon sound system? Last year my amp had issues and wouldn't turn off...draining the battery overnight. I had had a new alternator installed the previous year as well so felt it wasn't the issue. It's a long shot, but might be worth having someone pop the rear panels and feeling the amp after it has set for an hour or so. Mine was still warm/hot to the touch after sitting for a few hours.

Sent from my ADR6400L using AutoGuide.Com Free

Yes! My radio has been acting kind of weird. The radio sometime doesn't work correctly and when I turn down the volume turns the volume up. I'm still waiting for vw to contact me back.

[robertsnowden1990]

Went to vw and they said the issue was the outside fuse box on top of the battery is competely fried. So I will have my other bug back tomorrow.

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by robertsnowden1990

Went to vw and they said the issue was the outside fuse box on top of the battery is competely fried. So I will have my other bug back tomorrow.

You may want to read this article and thread. It seems the wire from the alternator to the battery is of low quality and is the cause of the melting fuse box. Some replaced the fuse box mulitple times and not until they replaced this cable the problem went away.

As to the battery box, yes these are problematic, typically, not always, but typically, caused by the black lead from the alternator at the attachment point on the fuse block. It is a concensus of opinion that this is because of low quality wiring used. A good insight into this problem is found here -
MORAV needs some help helping someone else on the Org! - Battery Fuse Box Issue

It sounds as if you have enough knowledge to do voltage drop testing of the cable(s) involed, but that said -

Voltage Drop Test
Voltage Drop Testing

Alternator Voltage Drop Testing (excellent)
Alternator Voltage Drop Test

Alternator Amperage Output Testing
Alternator & Charging System Checks (Alternator Testing)


I haven't read where anyone who has replaced this particular cable has had continued problems. Several, however, who had replaced the fuse box multiple times until replacing the cable(s).

MORAV

Here is the link to the entire thread on the subject:

2002 Beetle 2.0L electrical surging and frying parts

[robertsnowden1990]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

You may want to read this article and thread. It seems the wire from the alternator to the battery is of low quality and is the cause of the melting fuse box. Some replaced the fuse box mulitple times and not until they replaced this cable the problem went away.

As to the battery box, yes these are problematic, typically, not always, but typically, caused by the black lead from the alternator at the attachment point on the fuse block. It is a concensus of opinion that this is because of low quality wiring used. A good insight into this problem is found here -
MORAV needs some help helping someone else on the Org! - Battery Fuse Box Issue

It sounds as if you have enough knowledge to do voltage drop testing of the cable(s) involed, but that said -

Voltage Drop Test
Voltage Drop Testing

Alternator Voltage Drop Testing (excellent)
Alternator Voltage Drop Test

Alternator Amperage Output Testing
Alternator & Charging System Checks (Alternator Testing)


I haven't read where anyone who has replaced this particular cable has had continued problems. Several, however, who had replaced the fuse box multiple times until replacing the cable(s).

MORAV

Here is the link to the entire thread on the subject:

2002 Beetle 2.0L electrical surging and frying parts

Thank you! I talked to the service advisor and he said that they tested the alternator and it was fine. However we all know some Volkswagen dealers can be crooks and set me up to end up coming back and spending money.

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by robertsnowden1990

Thank you! I talked to the service advisor and he said that they tested the alternator and it was fine. However we all know some Volkswagen dealers can be crooks and set me up to end up coming back and spending money.

I am sure the alternator is okay but the cable coming off the alternator to the fuse box on the battery may not be. That's why the fuse box keeps melting down.

[robertsnowden1990]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

I am sure the alternator is okay but the cable coming off the alternator to the fuse box on the battery may not be. That's why the fuse box keeps melting down.

Thank you, for letting me know this.

[esse10]

I'll put my two cents into this, try disconnecting your secondary air pump for a while and see if that help keep from getting the battery drain. I noticed that when the secondary air pump start to go bad they start drawing a lot of current. Mine even makes the headlights dim down when the pump kicks in.
If when your pump really go's bad it will of course draw way too much current to make your wires melt , poor design by vw i think. Good luck man.