2011 Jetta wagon suddenly dead

[ferson206]

2011 TDI wagon, automatic... We went for an errand this morning. Shortly after arrival my wife moved the car to a closer parking spot so we could unload some things. She reported that the car seemed hesitant to start, but it started. Car was then parked maybe an hour or 90 minutes. When I tried to start it, it didn't turn over at all. Dash lights on, no apparent battery failure. Seems like some sort of lockout feature? On later attempts I noticed ESP Error message came on. I pulled and tested the battery, and it's at 12.5 volts. I'm at a loss about what to check next. Other warning lights on (traction control, steering problem, etc.), but I don;t know if those are just on because they come on (and go off right away) when starting the car.

 

[borninabus]

push button start? when you say it wont turn over, you mean that nothing happens when you turn the key/push the button, right? did you charge the battery when you took it out? 12.5V is not great, but workable. if you disconnected the battery, all the warning lights will come on until you drive it a bit. the immobilizer would allow the car to start, but immediately die.

 

[DrGERTol]

@ferson206 -- Scan with a proper VAG diagnostic tool like VCDS, OBDeleven, and others (even Carista is better than generic OBDII here). Otherwise, you're just guessing. Our '11 TDI wagen uses immo-paired keys -- was push-button start even available for MY11 ? --g

 

[ferson206]

Tha

push button start? when you say it wont turn over, you mean that nothing happens when you turn the key/push the button, right? did you charge the battery when you took it out? 12.5V is not great, but workable. if you disconnected the battery, all the warning lights will come on until you drive it a bit. the immobilizer would allow the car to start, but immediately die.

Thanks for the reply - no push button start on this one. And yes, nothing happens when I turn the key. After some reading on the forum I suspected weak battery (even though it went from seeming fine to just a click -- not turning over at all), so I tried jumping it before pulling and testing the battery. Still just a click when trying to start it, with all the dash lights on. Thinking of taking battery to a shop to get tested and/or dropping newer battery from other car in to see if that has any effect.

 

[roadlust]

Check the ground wire on the battery where it attaches on the frame for corrosion.

 

[ferson206]

Sorry to drop out of updating... turns out the starter was apparently dead. New one arrived and I'll update after I install it.

 

[ferson206]

OK... Replaced the starter and now it starts and runs. But... now since this latest issue, the steering warning light and the ESP/ASR (Electronic Stabilization Program/Anti-Slip Regulation) light are illuminated on the dash. Any sense of why/how this might have been triggered by starter replacement? One thing I am wondering about is that I moved one of the 50A fuses when I was troubleshooting the lack of starting, and I am not positive I put it back in the right place.

Photo shows where those are now.

fuse photo

 

[ferson206]

Whoooops, scratch that last post! After I drove around the block a few times those lights went off.

 

[Racerman27410]

LOL yeah i kinda freaked out too the first time i had a dead battery and the dash lit up like a christmas tree when i connected the new one.

 

[calimustang]

LOL been there and done that!