Car keeps dying... Anyone help on finding the cause?

[Jordz_GTI]

Help... I drive a 60 plate GTI with dsg that has only done 40,000 miles. Standard it came with normal headlights (now retro fitted xzeon headlight) both headlights and fogs have got HIDs in. Came with the normal stero unit (fitted a rns510) also I have put some LED number plate lights in as well. There's nothing else in or on the car elictrical that I have changed.

When I go to start the car it's making a clicking sound, so I have been getting it to start by jumping it. I must have jumped it 10 times in the last month alone.

I don't know if it could be the battery, alternator or the starter motor. Have any of you guys experienced this problem?

Thanks

[itavaltalainen]

Did you properly retrofit Xenon or did you fit cheap aftermarket HID kits in halogen headlights? Am guessing the second (illegal) option?

Did you get error when fitting LED number plate lights? Which ones have you fitted (ideally links to all stuff changed, Xenons/HID and LEDs)?

My guess is that your mods prevent a controller from going to sleep, which means it keeps sending data on CAN signal, preventing ever more stuff to properly go to sleep. This drains the battery.

[Jordz_GTI]

The xzeons I put it are for the gti, Iv coded them in so they don't bring up error warning lights. Now the number plate lights iv fitted came with resites so I connected it all up and again they was fine but now I occsionally get a error popping up saying my number plate lights are out. When I go and check them there are working fine.

I might just put the normal number plate lights in. But would the lights cause such a problem as they are only on when the car is ticking over.

The only thing I thought it could possibly be is the rns510. But I don't know.
Thanks for your reply

[itavaltalainen]

Did you fit genuine Xenon GTI headlights or did you put HID bulbs in the existing headlights?

Can you put up an ADP map of relevant controllers you coded?

[Jordz_GTI]

Yes there are the genuine xzeon headlights with the HIDs installed in them. And unfortataly I can not put up my coding at the moment but I will try and get it off the car as soon as I can.

[mustard]

Do I understand that you keep finding the battery flat, hence the clicking. It could be related to the RNS510, if it doesn't shut off, it will keep drawing power and drain the battery, particularly if the battery is on its way out. The RNS should shut off after 20 seconds or so. Had this problem when I retrofitted a MFD2 into my Mk5, it needed a later model control unit.

I would have thought that this would not be a problem with the Mk6, but it may help to narrow things down, it is possible to check using VCDS that the unit shuts down correctly, I will try and find the procedure and post it.

[itavaltalainen]

Ah overread RNS510 is retrofitted... yeah that is another possible cause for high power consumption and flat battery.
Gateway might need flashing to a higher version and/or recoding. You'll need VCP for that though, VCDS won't do ECU flashing.

[Jordz_GTI]

Just read up on the rns510 draining batteries on earlier cars than mine. Seems to be a common issue with the unit. The VCP what exactly is this? Where would I get one, or do you know where I could get this fixed?
Cheers matey I think you've found the solution to my problem.

[itavaltalainen]

VAP = VAG CAN PRO

You can buy it but it is around 300£.

Can you post a full scan of ECUs? This should give part numbers and software versions.
If you can also do ADP maps of central electrics, gateway, rns.

I do VCDS and VCP stuff but am probably a bit too far from Sheffield (and got no work gigs up there in near future).