GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: sveed1.8T on 28 December 2011, 11:20
-
I know there have been several posts over the last couple months with regards to people having issues with their car not starting because of a flat battery etc, n I have read every one, as my GTI is suffering the same problem :sad:
It all started when the car wasn't driven for a month. Went to start up, didn't want to know! The central locking decided that it didn't want to play ball either, which meant that I could only get in using my key (n even that would set the alarm off)! My airbag warning light would always come on from that point also. IIRC the fault code was saying insufficient voltage to the airbag (which made sense, because the battery had died).
I removed the battery and charged it up. I put it back into the car and it started up first time, but I noticed that the trip display screen was slightly dull (what it looks like when your battery is flat). I read up on here about getting key fobs resynced, so that's exactly what I did! £54 later, VW had sorted out my central locking :smiley: I tried deleting the airbag warning light fault code, but it instantly flashes up again.
As the car is hardly being driven, I have connected a solar panel which you plug into the cigarette lighter, just to try n pump some juice back into the battery. A week of the car being stationery, I start it up no problems. I went to start it up last night and it was completely flat again! :angry:
After bump starting it, and driving it for a good 20 minutes, turned it off and started it up again no problems. Waited an hour and started it up again no problems. Started it up again this morning, again no problems!
Went down to my local garage and got a drop test done on the battery; to my delight, the battery is healthy (which I'd expect, as it was new in April 2011). I then asked that the mechanic check the voltage. I recall Rich saying that with the engine running, the voltage should be 14v. I looked as he did the test and it said 13.73v. His response was, your alternator is fine. Now surely if the alternator wire was fooked (which has been the culprit for some people's issues on here) the voltage wouldn't be anywhere near that?! :huh:
He said, charge the battery for as long as you can, then drive the car to get the battery to its fullest charge. If that doesn't resolve it, it may be an idea to replace the battery?
Now to me, if the alternator works, the wire to the battery is sending pretty much the right voltage to the battery, and the battery does not have any dead cells, have I got something that is draining the battery when the cars in situe? I checked the boot light and the glove box light, but they go out when they're meant to! :undecided:
This is a proper head scratcher for me! :lipsrsealed:
If anyone can shine light on something i've missed, then I'd be most appreciative!
-
Check fuses on top of battery and check all connections and earths are clean. Could well be an alternator fault. Especially if the dash is dim while the car is running.
-
Check fuses on top of battery and check all connections and earths are clean. Could well be an alternator fault. Especially if the dash is dim while the car is running.
Forgot to add that I've checked the fuses and connections! :undecided: Since jumping it last night, the display doesnt seem dim anymore. I'll charge the battery up again, but my money is on that it'll gradually drain back down again :sad:
-
Bloke in work has the same problem with his Audi A4. Something is draining your battery. He's getting an auto electrician to have a look.
-
Bloke in work has the same problem with his Audi A4. Something is draining your battery. He's getting an auto electrician to have a look.
We had the same on an A4. Water was running down under the carpets and into a control box under the passenger side carpet. Common fault.
-
Same things been happening to my workmates mk4,he had the battery drop tested at bullseye and told him it was fine.However he still was getting problems so he asked me to have a look for him.
I re-tested it all and all seemed fine but i have a sell tester (its like a pipette which sucks the battery fluid out of each cell) one cell was weak.New battery - job done.
The voltage is fine on yours at just under 14v but id put money on it being a bad cell :wink:
-
Does the far left black alternator cable get hot on top of the battery in the fuse box ?
-
Same things been happening to my workmates mk4,he had the battery drop tested at bullseye and told him it was fine.However he still was getting problems so he asked me to have a look for him.
I re-tested it all and all seemed fine but i have a sell tester (its like a pipette which sucks the battery fluid out of each cell) one cell was weak.New battery - job done.
The voltage is fine on yours at just under 14v but id put money on it being a bad cell :wink:
What would be the likelihood of the battery having a bad cell, when I purchased it at the beginning of the year? :undecided:
Does the far left black alternator cable get hot on top of the battery in the fuse box ?
Don't know, would have to check in the morning. What would this indicate if it was?
-
That the cables got some form of damage to it and is causing resistance same happened to me i swapped it out for some 4 gauge amp cable now all is fine
-
if you bought the battery in April, dig out your reciept and take it back to where you got it and get it replaced with a new one as it'll still be under warranty. does seem like a bad cell as it is not holding its charge. when running at around 14v it is showing the alternator is working fine by keeping the current up.
-
Ive known brand new batterys with bad cells :wink:
-
if you bought the battery in April, dig out your reciept and take it back to where you got it and get it replaced with a new one as it'll still be under warranty. does seem like a bad cell as it is not holding its charge. when running at around 14v it is showing the alternator is working fine by keeping the current up.
If only I knew where the damn thing was?! :lipsrsealed: I know I wouldn't have thrown it out, but i possess a lot of crap! :laugh:
Starting to sway me into thinking new battery though! If I can't find the receipt, it'll be ECP with 25% discount! :smiley:
-
it doesnt take much for batterys to get a bad cell, you normally find it happening over winter if the cars arent used on a regular basis