stellarsteve
Well-known member
So my wife called me on Thursday morning informing me that her 2004 VW Beetle's engine light came on. After a number of less than satisfactory visits to the local VW dealers I decided to take it to a private mechanic. I called him and was ensured that he had the required software to both diagnose and fix any and all error codes (some mechanics don't get all the software and can only diagnose problems and have to send to the dealer to fix, yet still charge you for the diagnosis).
Anyway, the mechanic determined that it was the thermostat and a couple of sensors. $750 to fix. Ouch. $100 in parts and the rest in labor and taxes. Wife picked it up and said the mechanic was very friendly. That evening we got into it to go pick up my truck from the in-laws and it was slow in starting. My wife said the mechanic cleaned the battery posts for free. I looked at them but they were still pretty dirty. I disconnected the positive terminal and used sandpaper to polish the post and the terminal. On the way home I noticed one of her headlights was burned out. The next day I went to an auto parts store with the bulb in question and found out that a replacement bulb was $100. :blink: HID lights. Plugged in the new light being very careful not to touch it with my bare hands. Went to start the car and the battery was dead. Pushed it out of the garage and jump started it with the truck (old faithful). Checked the volts on the battery while running and it was 14volts. Charging system was good. Drove back into the garage, shut it off and started it. It started right up. Shut it down and when I tried to start it again it was slow starting. I also noticed that the airbag light was on, the brake light was on and the seatbelt light was on. <_< Checked battery voltage when off and it was only about 8.7 volts. So I put on my little battery charger just to see if it would take a charge. Charged it for about an hour and when I checked the voltage it was about 12.9 but falling.
Took the old battery to the same place I bought it and they determined that it was bad. Luckily for me it had a 2 year warranty and it was within a couple of months from expiring. Free replacement. :yahoo:
But even with the new battery the warning lights are still on. Will need to take it in to the mechanic to diagnose. I hate this German car! I can't work on it!
I don't believe the mechanic did anything wrong. That is why I am taking it back to him. I am pretty sure that the drop in battery voltage is what caused the alarm lights and that they need to be reset by the software. I sure as hell hope that disconnecting just the positive battery terminal or charging the battery has not blown one or more controllers (this POS is full of them).
Rant over.
Anyway, the mechanic determined that it was the thermostat and a couple of sensors. $750 to fix. Ouch. $100 in parts and the rest in labor and taxes. Wife picked it up and said the mechanic was very friendly. That evening we got into it to go pick up my truck from the in-laws and it was slow in starting. My wife said the mechanic cleaned the battery posts for free. I looked at them but they were still pretty dirty. I disconnected the positive terminal and used sandpaper to polish the post and the terminal. On the way home I noticed one of her headlights was burned out. The next day I went to an auto parts store with the bulb in question and found out that a replacement bulb was $100. :blink: HID lights. Plugged in the new light being very careful not to touch it with my bare hands. Went to start the car and the battery was dead. Pushed it out of the garage and jump started it with the truck (old faithful). Checked the volts on the battery while running and it was 14volts. Charging system was good. Drove back into the garage, shut it off and started it. It started right up. Shut it down and when I tried to start it again it was slow starting. I also noticed that the airbag light was on, the brake light was on and the seatbelt light was on. <_< Checked battery voltage when off and it was only about 8.7 volts. So I put on my little battery charger just to see if it would take a charge. Charged it for about an hour and when I checked the voltage it was about 12.9 but falling.
Took the old battery to the same place I bought it and they determined that it was bad. Luckily for me it had a 2 year warranty and it was within a couple of months from expiring. Free replacement. :yahoo:
But even with the new battery the warning lights are still on. Will need to take it in to the mechanic to diagnose. I hate this German car! I can't work on it!
I don't believe the mechanic did anything wrong. That is why I am taking it back to him. I am pretty sure that the drop in battery voltage is what caused the alarm lights and that they need to be reset by the software. I sure as hell hope that disconnecting just the positive battery terminal or charging the battery has not blown one or more controllers (this POS is full of them).
Rant over.
