Battery Troubles

Maverick2083 · Post by **Maverick2083** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 9:00 am

Can a dieing battery cause my VW not to idle? I just bought this battery a year ago, it is filled with water. I think it may be the generator, but the light isn't on. I also checked my fan belt and there are a few places that have a couple of teeth missing. What to do??

bogaat · Post by **bogaat** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 9:12 am

If it starts, then the battery is prob fine. The generator is prob ok as well. You may want to replace the brushes for the heck of it. I used to replace mine every year or so before I got an alternator. Fan belt missing teeth? Teeth? If it is just the belt, replace it before it pops. If the fan itself is missing fins, then the engine may overheat (may), but none of the above would prob cause a problem with idle. Maybe a clogged fuel filter? Points? I would give your baby a tuneup and see what happens. Good luck :]

Maverick2083 · Post by **Maverick2083** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 10:02 am

The car won't turn over at all. I had to push start it. The thing is,is that I just bought the battery less than a year ago. So I think that maybe the gen isn't recharging it like it should.

fivelstang4 · Post by **fivelstang4** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 10:25 am

dont rule out the battery just cause it is a year old. there are brand new batteries on the shelf that are bad cause i have run across quite a few. in my experience if the charging light stays on then it is the generator. if is is the regulator then the light will come on and go off depending if u are putting a load on your charging system. i just fought battery,starter,regulator problems. just my .02 Ryan

Maverick2083 · Post by **Maverick2083** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 2:25 pm

Sounds good. I will see if I can get a replacement battery from my warranty. Any other suggestions?

Post by **Marc** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 2:53 pm

I can tell you how to do a quick check of your generator if you have a voltmeter available... DC volts, preferably with a range of at least 30 volts.

JonR · Post by **JonR** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 12:29 am

The quickest way to test the Gen or Alt is to start the car, and then pull the positive waire to the battery. If the car dies, then the Gen or Alt is bad.

Also, Batteries can have a cell go dead at any time! My 2 year old batt just had it snap.

Good luck,
Jon