Another starter/battery mystery

jkaiser

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2011
Location
SE michigan
TDI
2002 jetta
2002 Jetta diesel no start/slow crank condition.
Please read entire post.
Nothing has been done to battery, connections or starter at this point.

Date Time Condition Temp
1/7 6:30am Slow crank like dead battery -30 wind shill
Charged battery, took like 10 minutes to full charge, condition continued, very slow crank appeared to be dead battery(dim lights when cranking, no warm battery cables)
Took battery out, put it in my truck and started right up multiple time(truck was already warm, not a huge amp draw)
Move battery back to jetta same condition as before
Tried jumper starter, barely any better

1/8 5:00pm Slow crank like dead battery +20 degrees
Put battery on charger for about 30 minutes, car started right up no problem

1/9 7:30am Started right up -6 degrees

What the HECK???
 

Metal Man

Vendor
Joined
Sep 29, 2001
Location
Sunbury,PA 17801
TDI
1998 NB TDI, 2006 Jetta TDI, 2014 Tiguan gas, , 2019 E Golf X2
I can't explain the last start. I've seen it many times where a bad starter will act like a dead battery on the first start of the day then after that be fine for the rest of the day.
 

Jeepaholic

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 1, 2013
Location
Fenton, MI
TDI
1999 Golf, two door. Manual trans, manual everything else.
At this point, I'd check every connection, and clean them as well. The two battery posts, the starter and alt. cable connections as well as the main ground on the bell housing. Faulty connections are a major player.
A little trick I've learned when the battery is marginal (sounds like your's wasn't marginal, but flat) is to turn on the headlights for 20-30 seconds before you start it. The current flow from the headlights will warm the battery a little bit, helping it to recover.
 

ffemtp

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2008
Location
SE WI
TDI
2001 Jetta GLS TDI Deceased 11/2012, 2004 Jetta GL TDI Sold, 2012 Jetta TDI (Retruned to VW), 2004 Jetta TDI GLS 5spd
Stop at an AutoZone or Advance Auto Parts and get a charging system test. They can also do a starter draw test. If either fail, the next steps should be obvious.
 

jkaiser

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2011
Location
SE michigan
TDI
2002 jetta
Update:
Car has been starting fine but I believe I have a battery issue.
I purchase a load tester and load tested the battery with and without the cables up to 300amps. The voltage dropped well below nine volts after about 150 amps draw in both scenarios. I did both with/without cables to rule out a bad connection. Battery voltage is fine without draw. I tested on one of my boat batteries and in a good battery there will be little voltage drop even with 300+ amp draw.
I am charging the battery one more time to verify.
I purchase the 500 amp tester from harbor freight and it seems to work well. With the coupon it was about 45 bucks.
 
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