Hello all. This is my first post!
I have a 2004 Jetta TDI. 8 months ago it started showing signs of electrical problems, but not consistently. The dash lights and head lights will flicker while the car was at low RPM's. If I used the power windows during this condition, often the car would nearly stall. Adding any electrical load with Windows, power seats or A/C would cause the car to nearly stall. When I shut the car off during this condition, the dash goes blank, resets the trip KM's, resets the radio time, and the car makes a strange humming noise and sometimes the horn goes. I have to put the key back in and turn it off and on several times or add electrical load (like the brake lights) to make it stop. After it stops, the radio clock is 12:00 and the trip KM reads 0.0.
I took it to a dealership and they said some kind of relay had gone bad and they replaced it. The problem occured again a few days later. (but it was always intermittent)
I took the car back to the dealership and they said they found a problem with the generator. I agreed to have that replaced. I asked them why they thought the relay was the problem in the first place but they said the codes came up with a bad relay first, and then they tested the generator and it was not producing enough amps. (30 - 40)
The problem came back, but not for several weeks. This time they said the generator was bad (again) producing a few amps. They figured the replacement generator was bad so they replaced it again under warrantee. But they also said the generator was not charging the battery to spec because the battery could not take the charge. They also said the generator would not be covered for future problems if the battery was not replaced because the battery could be burning out the generator. I was planning to replace the battery anyway because it was over 6 years old and I live in a cold climate. So I had them replace the generator and battery at the same time.
The problem came back after 4 months. (which is now) I suspect when I take it back to the dealership they will have some new story to feed me. But the generator and battery are covered for replacement for 12 months, so I am hesitant to take it to another shop at this point because if the generator and/or battery are toast again, then I need the original shop to replace under warrantee.
Not sure what to do next. This car is otherwise amazing and has been for many years. So I am not in the mood to sell it. has anyone seen this before? Any ideas on what the problem might be or what I can test myself?
Thanks everyone.
Chris
I have a 2004 Jetta TDI. 8 months ago it started showing signs of electrical problems, but not consistently. The dash lights and head lights will flicker while the car was at low RPM's. If I used the power windows during this condition, often the car would nearly stall. Adding any electrical load with Windows, power seats or A/C would cause the car to nearly stall. When I shut the car off during this condition, the dash goes blank, resets the trip KM's, resets the radio time, and the car makes a strange humming noise and sometimes the horn goes. I have to put the key back in and turn it off and on several times or add electrical load (like the brake lights) to make it stop. After it stops, the radio clock is 12:00 and the trip KM reads 0.0.
I took it to a dealership and they said some kind of relay had gone bad and they replaced it. The problem occured again a few days later. (but it was always intermittent)
I took the car back to the dealership and they said they found a problem with the generator. I agreed to have that replaced. I asked them why they thought the relay was the problem in the first place but they said the codes came up with a bad relay first, and then they tested the generator and it was not producing enough amps. (30 - 40)
The problem came back, but not for several weeks. This time they said the generator was bad (again) producing a few amps. They figured the replacement generator was bad so they replaced it again under warrantee. But they also said the generator was not charging the battery to spec because the battery could not take the charge. They also said the generator would not be covered for future problems if the battery was not replaced because the battery could be burning out the generator. I was planning to replace the battery anyway because it was over 6 years old and I live in a cold climate. So I had them replace the generator and battery at the same time.
The problem came back after 4 months. (which is now) I suspect when I take it back to the dealership they will have some new story to feed me. But the generator and battery are covered for replacement for 12 months, so I am hesitant to take it to another shop at this point because if the generator and/or battery are toast again, then I need the original shop to replace under warrantee.
Not sure what to do next. This car is otherwise amazing and has been for many years. So I am not in the mood to sell it. has anyone seen this before? Any ideas on what the problem might be or what I can test myself?
Thanks everyone.
Chris