Happy New year my fellow B5 owners.

I wanted to run by an oddity that i experienced yesterday with Audina.

I went to drive her and my key less entry didn't open the doors. so i inserted the key in manually and noticed there were no lights on the dash,everything was blank.

I inserted the key in the ignition and turned,nothing happened,so i figured i left the dome light on and looked up and i saw the dome light switch in the flat position,so the lights were not left on.

So i swing my 1997 vw jetta in front of the house and jump Audina,she started right up without a issue.

Thinking it was a fluke,i got up this morning and got ready for work and it happened again,key less would not open as there was no power.

I go in the house and call a mechanic i know and he said to take out the battery and have it checked. I told him that the battery is only a few months old,from walmart.

So then i planned to have the battery checked,i go in my car to look for the receipt for the battery i purchased at walmart and what do i see? The lights on the dash lit up.

I inserted the key and blam! started right up without any sort of "hesitation" like you get from a battery that is almost dead and struggling to start the car,the battery had good power.

So i call my mechanic and tell him what had happened,he told me to have the alternator and charging system checked at a local shop near me,he is in New York,so it wouldn't make sense to drive all the way down there for him to diagnose my problem i have been experiencing for 2 days now.

So now i have the car running as i type this,before i take my mechanics suggestion to have the charging system checked,can anyone else give me some advice? I don't think its the battery as it had power and started the car,should i hit it with the vag-com?

I am taking the day off from work to dedicate to finding the problem and a solution.

Thanks in advance guys,i'll check back later for responses.

 

Sondis, what's up? Hope you're gonna join us at another meet this year

Take the car to Autozone or Advance Auto - they'll do a charging system test and tell you if there's an issue, and it's free. Definitely hit it with a full Vagcom scan - you may find a clue in there. You'll see a code most likely for output low at terminal 30 (ignore it - it just means there was no juice at the ignition switch output), but look for other clues to a battery drain. One possibility is if you see a vacuum pump run-time issue indicating a leak in the locking system. That can cause the locking system vacuum pump to keep running and drain the battery.

Post your codes and we'll see what comes from it.

 

Hey Jeremy! Yes,i do plan on coming to the next meet. i'll be ready this go round. ^_^

I'll take to advanced auto just down to street for me and see what they find,i'll hit it with the vag-com right now,just got back from getting a used tired for the vw jetta,tire was flat.

I'll post the codes i find,thanks for the quick replay friend.....

 

I just got back from Advanced Autoparts and they did a complete testing on the charging system. Audina's charging system got a clean bill of health.

The receit they printed out says as follows:

Results:Good - Recharge

Voltage: 12.21v
Measured: 474 CCA
Rated: 600 CCA
Temperature: 50F

Battery is good but low on charge,charge battery and return to vehicle.

Starter Test:

Cranking normal

Voltage: 10.0.6v
AMPS: 0.0A
TIME: 1.01S
IDLE: 4000RPM-12.00v <---sales associate had me idle high for 20 seconds
IDLE: 1000RMP-9v or so...inbetween 10.00v and 8.00v

Charging System Test
Results=no problems
Loaded=13.19v
No Load13.19v
Ripple 19mV
-0.24v

I don't have a clue what all of this means,i am just posting what is on the receit.


Here is the results of my vag-com reading:


VAG-COM Version: Release 311.2-N


Chassis Type: 8D - Audi A4 B5
Scan: 01,02,03,08,15,17,25,35,45,55,56

Address 01 -------------------------------------------------------
Controller: 4B0 906 018 CH
Component: 1.8L R4/5VT G 0001
Coding: 16251
Shop #: WSC 63351
No fault code found.

Address 02 -------------------------------------------------------
Controller: 8D0 927 156 DF
Component: AG5 01V 1.8l5VT USA 1010
Coding: 00002
Shop #: WSC 06435
No fault code found.

Address 03 -------------------------------------------------------
Controller: 8E0 614 111 A
Component: ABS/EDS 5.3 QUATTRO D10
Coding: 0273004284
Shop #: BB 24334
No fault code found.

Address 08 -------------------------------------------------------
Controller: 8D0 820 043 P
Component: A4 KLIMAAUTOMAT D58
Coding: 00140
Shop #: WSC 63351
1 Fault Found:
00787 - Temperature Sensor in Fresh Air intake duct (G89)
30-10 - Open or Short to B+ - Intermittent

Skipping Address 15-Airbags

Address 17 -------------------------------------------------------
Controller: 8D0 920 980 Q
Component: B5-KOMBIINSTR. VDO D12
Coding: 02444
Shop #: WSC 19411
No fault code found.

Address 35 -------------------------------------------------------
Controller: 8L0 862 257 N
Component: CV-Pump, Alarm, RC D16
Coding: 16232
Shop #: WSC 63351
No fault code found.

Address 45 -------------------------------------------------------
Controller: 4B0 951 173
Component: Innenraumueberw. D03
Coding: 00101
Shop #: WSC 63351
No fault code found.

End -------------------------------------------------------


That Temperature Sensor code is suspect

 

wow,nobody has any suggestions as to what may have caused this? am i over analyzing this? maybe it was just a fluke and the battery was low and needed a recharge by the alternator?

 

you can't expect ppl to automagically diagnose electrical problems that are common over the internet. i say check your grounds, use seafoam in the gas tank and keep driving it

 

I would say to check connections on the battery. If it happens again just wiggle **** under the hood see if anything comes back on!

 

Could very well be a fluke. I've seen that kind of crap out of my car before too.

 

Do you have a digital volts olm meter? I would check for battery draw

 

OK guys,i think it was just that, a fluke as Audina's been fine for 3 days now without issue.

Thanks for the suggestions,though. So when was the meet scheduled? I can smell that BBQ already.....mmmmm