Battery Issue?

[ashok77]

Hey everyone,

I have an odd (at least odd to me) problem that I hoped some forum members could help me out with. I'm not very mechanically inclined so this eludes me.

For reference it's a 2004 Jetta TDI, 120k km

Yesterday my gf got back from driving around doing errands, parked the car, went inside for about an hour and then came back out to leave again but the car wouldn't start. She thought the battery was dead so she called AMA. They came, tested battery and it showed fine. THe AMA guy thought it was due to some corrosion on the negative battery terminal (suggested baking soda and water) so he wiggled the connections on the battery posts (the jumpers were on at the time) and the car started up fine. This morning I went out to take the car and it wouldn't start. When I turn the key all the dash lights start to flicker and there is a rapid clicking sound. Seems like the battery has juice. The engine doesn't even turn over. I did the baking soda and water thing and it seems like the connections are pretty solid. Still wouldn't turn over. I wiggled the cables but nothing.

Do i have a battery issue? Grounding issue? the starter maybe?

I have a service appointment with TuneDub but that's almost 3 wks out. Northland is only a 5min drive away but I wanted to get an idea of what i might be dealing with before i go there.

Any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks in advance!

[MechEngg]

Re: Battery Issue?

I would try to tighten down your battery terminal connections as a start. I have had that issue before with the instrumentation cluster clicking and it came from a loose chassis to battery ground

[ashok77]

Re: Battery Issue?

Tried tightening up the battery terminal connections and checked the other ends, all pretty well fastened down and snug. Still get the clicking sounds and all instruments lights continue to flicker.

[witchcraftz]

Re: Battery Issue?

I think MechEngg was asking if you removed the battery and checked underneath to see if the ground connection to the car was properly bolted down?
(Sorry if I'm asking the same question again but I wasn't sure from your post if you just tightened the top connectors to the battery or you also looked at the negative connector under the battery)

1 - If it's well bolted down, is your battery connection to ground rusty? If so you could try some Deoxit 5% on the ground connection.
2 - Check to make sure all wires going to/from the battery have a solid connection.
3 - Also try giving your alternator a good thump with a piece of wood, if it starts there's your problem.

[Geobmx4life]

Re: Battery Issue?

Do not take your car to northland!!!!

[ashok77]

Re: Battery Issue?

witchcraftz,

1. it's bolted down pretty good and i wasn't able remove the battery itself from the vehicle (don't have proper tools to either)
2. wires to and from seem to all have a solid connection
3. will try giving the alternator a thump

push comes to shove where would be the best place to take the car? I'm in the NW near market mall. I know with Tunedub they are pretty booked up, Bert and Jacks?

[BaggedGLI]

Re: Battery Issue?

Come see me at Calgary autoworks! Pm me your info and I'll give you a call tomorrow on whether we can squeak you in tomorrow, otherwise Monday.

[witchcraftz]

Re: Battery Issue?

You'll have to remove the battery to look at the connector underneath. The negative of your battery goes to a piece of the frame of your car to create the ground for your car's electrical system. If that connection isn't good, your exact problem happens.

Here is how to do it as well as how to access the starter, you just need some sockets.
http://www.ottawa-vdubbing.com/forum...p?f=22&t=16644

[ashok77]

Re: Battery Issue?

okay, i was able to get to the bolt holding down the battery...i'll have to take a look tomorrow morning but I can get it out now. I put it back together for the night and put the key back in the ignition. This time the dash lights come on as usual but no crazy flickering, the glow plug light goes out and when i turn the key i just get the fast clicking sound and the battery light and engine light stay on afterwards.

BaggedGLI, you got a pm

[Stonewall]

Re: Battery Issue?

Still sounds like a bad battery to me. Your alternator could be shot instead. If you jump it does it start fine?
You could always give Paul at Bert and Jacks a call he should be able to fit you in if George can't.

[ashok77]

Re: Battery Issue?

i believe the AMA guy jumped it according to what i heard from the gf. she said that jumper cables were on the battery at the time when it started up again. FWIW the AMA guy thought it had to do more with him moving the cables and thought the connection was bad. He also indicated the battery was fine so maybe it is the alternator.

[Benjamin]

Re: Battery Issue?

How old is the battery in the car? TDi's take a good amount of juice to get going due to a heavy draw from glow plugs and a much larger starter. The glow plugs are not cycling probably, but a dead cell in the battery will do this. If the battery is 4-5 years+ just replace it and get a new one as 4-5 years is typically what I would consider their operating life. Some get more, but I don't see the reason to push it when it typically hurts the $300 starter as well.

[Geobmx4life]

Re: Battery Issue?

You can also check your main fuse under the rectangle plastic cover, closest to the dash, if its blown your alternator won't charge the battery.

[BaggedGLI]

Re: Battery Issue?

a dead cell in the battery will do this.

Ding ding ding! We replaced the battery and it works like a champ.

[Benjamin]

Re: Battery Issue?

When I was doing automotive I found the little hand held testers didn't work for crap. We had a large, but a little older battery tester that would put a good load on the battery and that was typically able to determine the battery's status the best. Both the hand held and larger battery tester were snap on, and even had the hand held replaced to make sure we didn't have a defective one.

Glad to see the problem was fixed, hopefully the new battery is a good one. I found OEM's were actually really good and I would bet one's from Natty's source would be good as well.