> I've recently had my 2000 VW refusing to start for me. 2 mornings in
> a row ( where it was pretty cold -21 degrees celcius). I took it down
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
> > I've recently had my 2000 VW refusing to start for me. 2 mornings in
> > a row ( where it was pretty cold -21 degrees celcius). I took it down
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> Grid: CN89mg uncoordinated."
> ICBM: 49 16.05 N 122 56.92 W - Nomad the Network Engineer
Hi Laura.
It is a gas 1.8T. I don't hear any cranking when i try to turn on the
car. No clicking, no firing, no nothing. When the heater and radio
is on, and i try to turn the ignition, the fan goes off and the radio
goes off. The LCD on the radio also comes in VERY slowly. But when i
boosted it, it turned over on the first try; and once i was driving,
everything is okay. Today was like -18 celcius, and i turned it on no
problem on the first try when i went to pick it up.
I may not have arm'ed the car for a couple of days, do you think that
plays a factor? I read someone on the web, via google, that people
are saying that there is more of a power drain if you don't arm your
car. dunno if i believe this.
Nate Nagel - 25 Jan 2008 04:21 GMT
>>>I've recently had my 2000 VW refusing to start for me. 2 mornings in
>>>a row ( where it was pretty cold -21 degrees celcius). I took it down
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
> are saying that there is more of a power drain if you don't arm your
> car. dunno if i believe this.
CErtainly sounds like either a bad battery or a power draw. SWMBO's
Corrado has a bad diode in the alternator; however, several shops did
not correctly diagnose this. I had to remove the alternator to get the
supercharger out and on a hunch I took it to my local FLAPS to have it
spun up on their machine and they confirmed my suspicions. I haven't
had it rebuilt yet simply because the rest of the car isn't back together :(
nate

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laura halliday - 25 Jan 2008 05:15 GMT
> >>>I've recently had my 2000 VW refusing to start for me. 2 mornings in
> >>>a row ( where it was pretty cold -21 degrees celcius). I took it down
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> spun up on their machine and they confirmed my suspicions. I haven't
> had it rebuilt yet simply because the rest of the car isn't back together :(
Agreed: you have a bad battery. Get it load tested to be sure.
Make sure the electrical system is charging it properly. Accessories
cutting out may be the car's doing: many cars kill accessories
when the engine is cranking.
My 1986 Jetta's battery is three years old, and doesn't even
notice cold temperatures until about -10 C.
Laura Halliday VE7LDH "Non sequitur. Your ACKS are
Grid: CN89mg uncoordinated."
ICBM: 49 16.05 N 122 56.92 W - Nomad the Network Engineer
Jim Behning - 25 Jan 2008 04:27 GMT
>> > I've recently had my 2000 VW refusing to start for me. 2 mornings in
>> > a row ( where it was pretty cold -21 degrees celcius). I took it down
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>are saying that there is more of a power drain if you don't arm your
>car. dunno if i believe this.
-18c is not that cold. Well it is fairly cold but still a good battery
with a gas engine should turn over good enough. Most auto parts stores
can hook up a test tool for the battery. Have the battery tested
somewhere pther than the dealer. Also have the charging system checked
somewhere else. You could get a volt meter to see what your running
voltage is and the voltage before trying to start. If it starts with a
jump, to me that indicates that the battery is a dud. This of course
assumes that there is no corrosion on the battery posts or where the
battery cables clamp on to the battery. But then you say that it held
a charge overnight. I would have attached my battery charger to see
what happens after a good charge. On the other hand I drive an hour
one way to work which should charge up a battery.
I never press the lock button on my car at night. It can sit in the
garage for a few days or more unlocked without any starting problems.
It sometimes sits in a cold garage. Where I live it is kind of rare to
have more than a week where it does not get above freezing. I used to
live where it was cold. Cars started all winter if they had good
batteries, good alternators, good battery cables and good alternator
wires.
http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html
> > I've recently had my 2000 VW refusing to start for me. 2 mornings in
> > a row ( where it was pretty cold -21 degrees celcius). I took it down
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> Grid: CN89mg uncoordinated."
> ICBM: 49 16.05 N 122 56.92 W - Nomad the Network Engineer
Also, i have zero computer faults; i.e. battery light, engine light,
etc.