I have a 2000 jetta, I've been having problems with my starting system. I just put a new alternator,starter,and battery in it, and now I still have a amp draw while it is in rest mode. Ive unhooked the starter and alternator completely and still have a draw of 245ma. I've unplugged every fuse and relay in the dash while watching my meter, but nothing changed. I then went on top of the battery and started unhooking those wires one at a time. With all 5 wires unhooked still had 245ma, then I unplugged the 3 wire plug in on the end of the fuse pannel and my reading went to 0ma. I then tried unplugging the green fuses for this plug in one at a time, but my reading stayed at 245ma, and would only drop to 0 when I unplugged the plug in or took all 3 fuses out. I am very confused as to what is going on with my car, the only thing I know for shure is that my battery is dead every morning. Someone please help!
Dead Battery Every Morning
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silverstar03
Veteran Member
bad ground or short
it seems like it would have to be a bad ground or short somewhere. since you just replaced everything your suspicion is rightly on those 2 components, but if they're unplugged then the drain is elsewhere. I question whether 245ma is enough to totally drain the battery? That could just be the clock/stereo. Perhaps the alternator is simply not recharging the battery enough to get it started or maintain battery level. check belt tension... I had a Mercedes diesel with this problem.
it seems like it would have to be a bad ground or short somewhere. since you just replaced everything your suspicion is rightly on those 2 components, but if they're unplugged then the drain is elsewhere. I question whether 245ma is enough to totally drain the battery? That could just be the clock/stereo. Perhaps the alternator is simply not recharging the battery enough to get it started or maintain battery level. check belt tension... I had a Mercedes diesel with this problem.
Jeffmx5
Veteran Member
How long does the draw last?
Does the 245mA continue after the initial connection?
I was trying to chase down what I thought was a current drain just like you are doing. When I reconnected the battery with a current meter in series I got a fairly high current. If you wait a 10 to 20 seconds this current drops in 2 or 3 steps down to about 20mA. This keeps the clock going and the radio memory alive.
It was not until I checked our other TDI and saw the same behaviour that I determined that this is normal. It turned out we had an old battery that needed to be replaced.
245mA is about 10 times what it should be but make sure you wait a full minute to get the final minimum reading.
Good luck chasing this down.
Does the 245mA continue after the initial connection?
I was trying to chase down what I thought was a current drain just like you are doing. When I reconnected the battery with a current meter in series I got a fairly high current. If you wait a 10 to 20 seconds this current drops in 2 or 3 steps down to about 20mA. This keeps the clock going and the radio memory alive.
It was not until I checked our other TDI and saw the same behaviour that I determined that this is normal. It turned out we had an old battery that needed to be replaced.
245mA is about 10 times what it should be but make sure you wait a full minute to get the final minimum reading.
Good luck chasing this down.
rdkern
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- May 21, 2004
- Location
- Humboldt Co CA
- TDI
- Passat 1997 silver (sold after 11 years), Jetta 2000 atlantic blue
I'd guess bad battery. 245MA X 4 = about 1 amp hour. What - 12 hours at night or so = 3 amp hours. What's your reserve in the battery?
AndyBees
Top Post Dawg
- Joined
- May 27, 2003
- Location
- Southeast Kentucky
- TDI
- Silver 2003 Jetta TDI, Silver 2000 Jetta TDI (sold), '84 Vanagon with '02 ALH engine
My 2000 Jetta has he original battery. Of course, here in the mid-south, this winter has not been very cold.
Based on other comments, I believe it may be the battery on the way out.
Based on other comments, I believe it may be the battery on the way out.
Dick_Larimore
Veteran Member
A fully charged new OEM battery has 80 AH (amp-hour) capacity. A new Optima has 55 AH. A repeatedly drained used battery in this Jetta may have a low state of charge and the overnight drain takes it out.
The three 30 amp fuses on top of the battery are S178 and S179 for the ABS, and S180 for the cooling fans. Please pull all three fuses. Plug in and remove a single fuse in each position to determine which fuse location causes the battery drain to return. It is likely to be S180 for the cooling fans.
The three 30 amp fuses on top of the battery are S178 and S179 for the ABS, and S180 for the cooling fans. Please pull all three fuses. Plug in and remove a single fuse in each position to determine which fuse location causes the battery drain to return. It is likely to be S180 for the cooling fans.
Hi,
If I pull the two left fuses on the fuse box on the battery I eliminate most of my drain. If I understand the fuses correctly these are for the ABS. What in the ABS system could be draining the battery? Any suggestions? I am a bit stumped
Thanks
If I pull the two left fuses on the fuse box on the battery I eliminate most of my drain. If I understand the fuses correctly these are for the ABS. What in the ABS system could be draining the battery? Any suggestions? I am a bit stumped
Thanks
Dick_Larimore
Veteran Member
When looking down on the battery fuse block while standing in front of the car, the left-most fuse is S180, the middle of the three fuses is S179, and the right-most fuse is S178. Since S180 is for the low speed coolant fans and S179 for the ABS, these circuits have nothing in common.
Canadianram
Well-known member
I know of a person who bought a battery and didn't charge it fully before installing and it would be dead every morning. Did you charge the battery before installing it into the car. Should trickel charge for 8-10 hours before installing.
Well pulling those fuses as well as a few others has not eliminated the drain. I am now suspecting a bad ground. I am aware of a number of ground points in the engine compartment, but any comments on how to reach them, ie will I need to get under the car?
scurvy
Good Ol' Boy
So if the battery is dead every morning, clearly the solution would be to work 3rd shift so you get home just before the battery dies. In the evening when you started up the car to go to work, it would be charged up and ready to go. 
The grounds you should clean are under the battery tray.
Have you tried charging the battery overnight on a trickle charger, both in and out of the car? Checked the fluid level in each cell?
scurvy
The grounds you should clean are under the battery tray.
Have you tried charging the battery overnight on a trickle charger, both in and out of the car? Checked the fluid level in each cell?
scurvy
weedeater
Top Post Dawg
IIRC, about 250ma is the drain before the car goes into power down mode. And it won't go into power down mode if the alarm system does not arm. Which means you have to lock the car and hear the beep of the horn, somewhat of a challenge if the hood is open.
Correct weedeater, but when I disconnect the fuse on top of the battery that goes to the fuse box and associated electronics it should kill the alarm. With the 110A fuse pulled it still draws around 150mA (alternator checks good). Even with all fuses pulled on top of battery there is still 80mA that I can not account for