Disconnecting the battery

[mini-beetle]

The Haynes manual I have cautions that disconnecting and re-connecting the battery can cause the engine to run poorly, and require that some software parameters be reset by a dealer. Seems kind of crazy to me. Has anyone actually had this problem? I have to remove the alternate to get to the AC compressor, so I need to disconnect the battery.

[noR]

Then go ahead and do it. Just make sure you don't put a key in the ignition w/o the battery connected.

And make sure you have your radio code, just incase you need to get past that.

I recommend you don't disconnect it unless you have to (As in, I'd never recommend unpluggging your battery as a method to "clear codes".) But sometimes you just have to. Like when you replace an AC compressor; or a battery. :P

It won't hurt anything; but yes, it may cause it to have to re-learn some of the adaptions it's picked up over the years. (You have an adaptive transmission that conforms to the way you drive.)

If you don't put the key in; it should retain most of the settings.

[mini-beetle]

Thanks for the advice. I've got the radio code, and I'll make sure to keep the key out of the ignition until the battery is hooked up again.

[antonym]

Take a look at this too: Radio code

[whitelighting]

i had to change my batt. and now since i installed the new one the flashers blink. i think its the alarm or something. but i got the car used and didnt get the key fob. anyone know how to fix my problem. and do i need to get my comp done at the dealer??

[PinkBug4289]

My battery had connection issues due to bad wires. One week I noticed I could floor my accelerator and go nowhere and my engine was shifting at the wrong times with high RPMs.

I took it to my mechanic and he said that beetle do sometimes have this problem if you disconnect the battery. The computer "forgets" how to shift and accelerate.He cleaned my throttle body and some other stuff and magically my car "remembered"

I'd be weary...but if something like this happens to you,you at least know what caused it and you can fix it!

[mini-beetle]

Update - no problems at all from disconnecting the battery. Simply had to enter the radio code. The engine runs perfectly.

[Cooky]

I got my NB and the batt come disconected and i have to get it towed to VW and have them reset the thortal control. and when they were thee i had them do a oil change and they noticed that i need a new $200 bat cover so i ended up paying about $370. so i wont disconect the bat unless i am at the dealer or use a cig lighter jumper i heard that that will keep what happened from happen

[SMG]

You got scammed. To reset the throttle you just leave your key in the accessories-on position for a few minutes and the throttle body will adapt by itself.

The battery cover had nothing to do with disconnecting the battery. You can open them easily without damaging anything.

[Cooky]

Originally Posted by SMG

You got scammed. To reset the throttle you just leave your key in the accessories-on position for a few minutes and the throttle body will adapt by itself.

The battery cover had nothing to do with disconnecting the battery. You can open them easily without damaging anything.

This is true about the cover and I did not know and I did post asking about it but dad said that he was going to get it fixed for me since it broke so soon ( with in 5 days of us owning it) I just like to save everyone else out. but it needed to be replaced because some of the connectors were bad i noticed that just didnt think that it would b $200.