I have an 04 V8. I have had the vehicle for about 7 months now. When I bought it the battery would die when I locked it overnight. I did the Kessy repair (replace the 2 mosfets and 6 resistors) and it solved the problem. However, I live in North Dakota and if it would get below -10 I would need to jump the battery because it was a weak battery from all of the draining. When I would jump it, it would cause the Kessy to fail again and I would need to do the repair again. Finally I changed the battery and fixed the Kessy at the same time and life was good for about 3 months. Recently as I would drive the screen by the speedometer would tell me to move the shift selector to "P" while I was driving. Everything drove normal so I just figured it was another glitch with the electrical system and I ignored it for a while. Now the battery is dying again but the Kessy is still working (doors open when I have the key in my pocket and I open the handle - which it wouldn't do before when the Kessy was draining the battery). I have done some research on the "move selector to P" problem and it appears that you are supposed to change the 4 door handles because the antennas are shorting out. I however, suspect the antennas in the rear bumper to be the problem because the rear door doesn't always open when I have the key in my pocket and try to open it (it seems to work intermittently). I also have gotten this code on more than one occasion when I scan it with the Vagcom...
00181 - Access/Start Authorization Antenna (in Rear bumper) (R136)
011 - Open Circuit
...Right now the car is draining the battery even when it is not locked. I have decided I am going to pull the antennas out of the rear bumper and let it sit for a couple days to see if the battery drains, with the thought that if the antennas are removed they can't draw current and if the battery stops draining with them out then I have found the problem.
Is that logic correct, is this a way to effectively troubleshoot to narrow down which antenna is causing the problems?
If it doesn't stop with those pulled I was going to do one door handle at a time and monitor the draw
Has anyone ever replaced the rear antennas? I have the part number off the antennas themselves and they don't appear to be available anywhere. I guess I'll call the dealer tomorrow and see what they say, but I can't imagine that you can't get them anywhere.
Any other ideas to narrow down the problem?
Have the Kessy modules been updated at all? If I buy a new one and have the dealer program it will it be more reliable? This whole problem is pushing me to the brink of selling the car and I am a huge VW person so this would hurt my pride a bit if I did
Thanks.
00181 - Access/Start Authorization Antenna (in Rear bumper) (R136)
011 - Open Circuit
...Right now the car is draining the battery even when it is not locked. I have decided I am going to pull the antennas out of the rear bumper and let it sit for a couple days to see if the battery drains, with the thought that if the antennas are removed they can't draw current and if the battery stops draining with them out then I have found the problem.
Is that logic correct, is this a way to effectively troubleshoot to narrow down which antenna is causing the problems?
If it doesn't stop with those pulled I was going to do one door handle at a time and monitor the draw
Has anyone ever replaced the rear antennas? I have the part number off the antennas themselves and they don't appear to be available anywhere. I guess I'll call the dealer tomorrow and see what they say, but I can't imagine that you can't get them anywhere.
Any other ideas to narrow down the problem?
Have the Kessy modules been updated at all? If I buy a new one and have the dealer program it will it be more reliable? This whole problem is pushing me to the brink of selling the car and I am a huge VW person so this would hurt my pride a bit if I did
Thanks.