Won't Start

[2002MK4]

Seems to be a common thread. Okay so here's my schtick...2002 TDI Jetta ALH 250k amazing miles. The winter up here in Canada has been terrible like always but January and February saw extended cold snaps hit my area. My battery died, then was re charged, then died, then re charged again and this process continued a few times. All throughout it was a good 10-12 second of just cranking to get the old lady fired up. Today. No go. Not at all. So figured no problem hooked up the charger...when the needle was a the maximum I tried...no sir. Question is would this be my battery just flat out giving up and not being able to "hold" a charge. Or did I fry my starter from the cranking? Don't starters last YEARs...like Tens of Years?!??

 

[red16vdub]

Seems to be a common thread. Okay so here's my schtick...2002 TDI Jetta ALH 250k amazing miles. The winter up here in Canada has been terrible like always but January and February saw extended cold snaps hit my area. My battery died, then was re charged, then died, then re charged again and this process continued a few times. All throughout it was a good 10-12 second of just cranking to get the old lady fired up. Today. No go. Not at all. So figured no problem hooked up the charger...when the needle was a the maximum I tried...no sir. Question is would this be my battery just flat out giving up and not being able to "hold" a charge. Or did I fry my starter from the cranking? Don't starters last YEARs...like Tens of Years?!??

In your post you state several times the battery died. 10-12 seconds cranking should be nothing for a TDI battery to handle, get a multimeter and check your connections.

 

[RalphVa]

I've never had to crank any of our diesels more than about 1/2 turn of the crankshaft to start them, even in -20 F temperature. Has to be something wrong with your glow plugs.

Drove 2 to near or just above 200k miles.

 

[maxmoo]

I've never had to crank any of our diesels more than about 1/2 turn of the crankshaft to start them, even in -20 F temperature. Has to be something wrong with your glow plugs.

Drove 2 to near or just above 200k miles.

or its not turning over fast enough....or the timing is out....or the fuel is gelled....or the belt slipped or the asv is stuck or....

 

[JDSwan87]

Seems to be a common thread. Okay so here's my schtick...2002 TDI Jetta ALH 250k amazing miles. The winter up here in Canada has been terrible like always but January and February saw extended cold snaps hit my area. My battery died, then was re charged, then died, then re charged again and this process continued a few times. All throughout it was a good 10-12 second of just cranking to get the old lady fired up. Today. No go. Not at all. So figured no problem hooked up the charger...when the needle was a the maximum I tried...no sir. Question is would this be my battery just flat out giving up and not being able to "hold" a charge. Or did I fry my starter from the cranking? Don't starters last YEARs...like Tens of Years?!??

1. How old is said battery?
2. How did you recharge your battery? (Amps and duration of time)

If your battery is 5 years old its likely time to replace it or its nearing lifespan. With the numerous dead/recharge cycles you likely cooked all the acid right out of your battery or caused a short in the battery internally. My suggestion is to replace the battery and go from there...

 

[VWDAVID]

I never get more than 3-4 years at most out of my tdi batteries

 

[RalphVa]

We're at about 5 1/2 years on our TDI battery.

 

[dmoonen]

Most likely murdered your cell walls from running the battery dead and killed your battery. Replace it and see what happens.

 

[2002MK4]

Update, battery is fine. Gonna remove the tray check the cables and give the starter a few taps. Stay tuned...