Check Battery light and squirrel nest--any connection?

[aktartt]

For the past four days, the Check Battery light on my 2000 Golf has been coming on right after startup and staying on continuously until I turned off the engine. This happened every time I drove the car, but with no starting problems or electrical issues. So I took the car to my regular VW mechanics for diagnostics. The one-year-old battery checked out fine, as did the alternator, and inspection of the harness and other connections didn't turn up anything. No codes were being thrown. However, they found a large squirrel nest on top of the engine (packed with leaves, pecans, large twigs). They cleaned it out, and then different mechanics took turns driving the car around the block. The Check Battery light didn't come on a single time. They told me to come back if it happened again. I drove it home, and the Check Battery light never came on. Is there any explanation for why the squirrel nest might trigger the Check Battery light, or is this just some weird coincidence?

 

[Mozambiquer]

For the past four days, the Check Battery light on my 2000 Golf has been coming on right after startup and staying on continuously until I turned off the engine. This happened every time I drove the car, but with no starting problems or electrical issues. So I took the car to my regular VW mechanics for diagnostics. The one-year-old battery checked out fine, as did the alternator, and inspection of the harness and other connections didn't turn up anything. No codes were being thrown. However, they found a large squirrel nest on top of the engine (packed with leaves, pecans, large twigs). They cleaned it out, and then different mechanics took turns driving the car around the block. The Check Battery light didn't come on a single time. They told me to come back if it happened again. I drove it home, and the Check Battery light never came on. Is there any explanation for why the squirrel nest might trigger the Check Battery light, or is this just some weird coincidence?

Check the battery fuse block. The other thing is is if the slip rings on the alternator are wearing, it will cause the battery light to be on or if there is a short in the wire to the alternator

 

[PakProtector]

Intermittent battery light is a very fine warning the brushes in the regulator assembly are about to quit, and prevent the alternator from charging the battery.

Douglas

 

[jayb79]

Clutch pulley

 

[P2B]

Is there any explanation for why the squirrel nest might trigger the Check Battery light, or is this just some weird coincidence?

Coincidence. Any damage was caused by squirrel teeth, not their nest. Expect the issue to reappear.

 

[Genesis]

Yeah and all those punctures are fun to find and liquid electrical tape or crop out the impacted wire and replace it too.