Cold weather starting issue fixed

[gooddogs]

This might sound far fetched for the cold weather starting problem, But I have been fighting the same issue for 4 years now. The car starts great until it gets below 15 degrees. It then acted like the battery was drained. Sometimes then battery would have enough juice to just barely turn the starter other times the started did not even click over. I have had it to the dealer at least 20 times and put over $3000.00 into it trying to fix the problem. The dealership had me hating my beetle. Guys would wait for me in the parking lot to jump it after work. It almost always started when jumped.

Well two weeks ago my brother was over and it did the same thing. Acted like a dead battery we tried jumping and still the starter barely turned like it was a dead battery. So we hooked another battery up to it. (2) cars to jump one, still dead battery. My brother then pulled out a volt reader and checked the battery. 14.?? Volts. He then checked all the conections to the battery down to the starter. Still nothing. He said your starting is bed. I ordered a new starter off of eBay figuring I had tried everything else. Now the battery will turn the car over even when it is -10 like it is 90 out.

After looking through all the paper work from the dealership I found that they soldered a new wire between the starter and celiniod 4 years ago. While it was in there for the same issue. Since then they replaced the ignition switch, the alternator, the glow plugs and harness, etc, etc.... I am going back there to try to recoup my money but after the run around they gave me three weeks ago when I went back in because of the cold starting problem I am sure they will not be happy to see me.

Oh yeah I have a 2000 TDI Beetle

[DZLBUG]

$3000 and they still couldn't figure out that it was a weak starter? Anyone else want to tell me how great VW dealers are? Good luck getting your money back, that will never happen. I hope you will never take your car there again.

Whereabouts are you located? I can likely direct you towards someone more competent and far less expensive who will actually fix what needs fixing.

Trusted TDI Mechanics - Google Maps

[gooddogs]

I live in Eau Claire Wi. Just to top it off I had the Auto Trans in my 02 Jetta go out a while back. I took it to a differnt shop that installed a new trans and then took into the same VW Dealer to have a forced reboot of the computer done. The Dealer ship claimed to have done it and wrote a report saying that the forced reboot was not need, and that the issue was internal damage to the trans more then likely due to internal parts not installed correctly. The car will need a new trans and computer and then gave a quote on the cost.

The shop then contacted another independent shop who did do the forced reboot and the car shifted like it never shifted before.

No I will never deal with this dealer again and unfortunately after these two VW's are gon will more then likely never own another one again. It is amazing that a dealship can go out of it's way to drive poeple away from it.

[DZLBUG]

Owning a VW (particularly a TDI) can be a great experience if you are able to do the work yourself or you have someone nearby who knows how to work on them. With your dealer experience though, I can't blame you.

Unfortunately you aren't real close, but both JasonTDI in Madison and merkerguitars (Eric) in Hammond are good options. Eric is obviously the closer of the two, he is a former dealer service tech and a good guy who knows his stuff. I say Former because he didn't play the game of screwing people over and not fixing the problems correctly.

You can look these guys up on the forums at Fred's TDI Page. TDIClub.com. VW TDI Enthusiast Community

[gooddogs]

Thanks for the info. I changed the starter myself and have worked on my jeeps and dodge diesel. But because I was under the impression that Beetle was an electrical issue I took it in thinking the dealer would have a better grasp of what was going on.

As for the Trans I am going to have to get some sort of lift before I can do anything to that extent on a VW. It's not like the 4x4's that I can just climb underneath and slide the trans out and then back in.

I have since picked up a Code reader. Because the Dealer wants $40+ to turn off the check engine light because the battery went dead.

I would like to say that Jarima from Accurate Automotive has been great.