MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: em2evol on March 04, 2013, 02:00:48 pm

Title: Car totally dead - no electrics
Post by: em2evol on March 04, 2013, 02:00:48 pm

Got in my car this morning and when I turned the key, the dials lit up for a second then went dead, then it just made a clicking noise, there was no power anywhere - I had to lock the car using the key in the lock… But it had unlocked on the button fine...

I last used the car on Saturday and I only ever do short journeys (2-5 miles) - VW have told me over the phone today that the battery is dead because I don't use the car enough, but I find it hard to believe it can just go from being perfectly fine with no signs of a flat battery to having no electrics whatsoever... Is this really likely to be the case, or could it be something else?

Thanks a lot,

Em

Title: Re: Car totally dead - no electrics
Post by: E30Dom on March 04, 2013, 02:01:48 pm

Changed the headunit?

Title: Re: Car totally dead - no electrics
Post by: 56OctyVRS on March 04, 2013, 02:08:29 pm

Batteries are funny things and can collapse without warning. Id get it jump started and get a garage to do a load test to check the health of the battery.

Title: Re: Car totally dead - no electrics
Post by: camfollower on March 04, 2013, 02:12:04 pm

Does your battery have an indicator on it?  Should be Green. Easy to flatten a battery if your not charging it.

The headunit issue is a problem on the newer gen HU's: RCD/RNS 310/510 in older cars (sub 2008 iirc), you will need either need a new headunit or upgrade the gateway.

So, question is, what model year is your car, and what headunit do you have?

Title: Re: Car totally dead - no electrics
Post by: bacillus on March 04, 2013, 02:19:50 pm

I vote for charging the battery and look for a hidden current draw before renewing it.

Title: Re: Car totally dead - no electrics
Post by: em2evol on March 04, 2013, 07:17:48 pm

Thanks all. I jump started the car and took it for a long drive tonight so we'll see what happens tomorrow morning!  :driver:

Title: Re: Car totally dead - no electrics
Post by: camfollower on March 04, 2013, 09:54:51 pm

Quote from: em2evol on March 04, 2013, 07:17:48 pm

Thanks all. I jump started the car and took it for a long drive tonight so we'll see what happens tomorrow morning!  :driver:

No report on year of car or model of headunit!?  

Title: Re: Car totally dead - no electrics
Post by: Gene Hunt on March 05, 2013, 03:33:22 am

Sounds like the battery is on the way out to me.

Title: Re: Car totally dead - no electrics
Post by: andygo on March 05, 2013, 03:56:05 pm

Battery is there, its the electrickery thats gone.

Title: Re: Car totally dead - no electrics
Post by: em2evol on March 05, 2013, 08:22:49 pm

So I bought a new battery today and for the first time in months my stereo came on when I turned the ignition on, horay! Problem seems to be fixed... Perhaps I should just use my heated seats a bit less if I'm doing only 4 miles a day  :rolleye:

Title: Re: Car totally dead - no electrics
Post by: andygo on March 05, 2013, 09:10:47 pm

 :happy2:

Title: Re: Car totally dead - no electrics
Post by: Trev. on March 06, 2013, 11:17:25 am

If your only doing 4 miles a day the heated seats will drain the battery more than its charging haha, so yeh not using them is a good start!

Title: Re: Car totally dead - no electrics
Post by: Gene Hunt on March 06, 2013, 01:13:56 pm

Quote from: em2evol on March 05, 2013, 08:22:49 pm

So I bought a new battery today and for the first time in months my stereo came on when I turned the ignition on, horay! Problem seems to be fixed... Perhaps I should just use my heated seats a bit less if I'm doing only 4 miles a day  :rolleye:

.......thought that would cure it. :innocent: