Just because there's so many threads on the subject thought i'd start my own.
We're having intermittent battery drain issues and have a hunch it's the battery-alternator cable. By intermittent i mean it'll be fine for literally months and then start acting up and drain the battery once or twice per week.
Replaced battery with a VW/VAG/Audi unit back in the summer, or about six months ago.
The dash cluster shows about 13.8V so a little shy of the 14v recommended.
Can't see a date stamped on the B(+) cable by the jumper post but would assume it's an older one from before the "best after" date.
Sometimes when jumping it'll start easily, other times it seems like it's not getting enough current (using the same fully charged jumper pack although had a tow truck jump the last two times).
I read the TSB procedure to replace (from bills webspace recall campaign vw.cc.n5) and it seems rather involved for just a heavy gauge power cable.
Questions i have for the forum knowledge base:
Does the damage to the cable occur between the alternator and the jumper post or the jumper post and the battery - seems like it's a two piece cable?
Would it be possible to just use a generic heavy gauge cable and connect alternator directly to battery bypassing all the convoluted routing that VW goes through just to make it look pretty?
Totally unrelated, my tailgate indicates it's not closing and the light stays lit on the dash all the time. Checked it and it is closed and latched. This is new but could it also put another drain on the battery?
Thx.
Frank
04 T-Reg
We're having intermittent battery drain issues and have a hunch it's the battery-alternator cable. By intermittent i mean it'll be fine for literally months and then start acting up and drain the battery once or twice per week.
Replaced battery with a VW/VAG/Audi unit back in the summer, or about six months ago.
The dash cluster shows about 13.8V so a little shy of the 14v recommended.
Can't see a date stamped on the B(+) cable by the jumper post but would assume it's an older one from before the "best after" date.
Sometimes when jumping it'll start easily, other times it seems like it's not getting enough current (using the same fully charged jumper pack although had a tow truck jump the last two times).
I read the TSB procedure to replace (from bills webspace recall campaign vw.cc.n5) and it seems rather involved for just a heavy gauge power cable.
Questions i have for the forum knowledge base:
Does the damage to the cable occur between the alternator and the jumper post or the jumper post and the battery - seems like it's a two piece cable?
Would it be possible to just use a generic heavy gauge cable and connect alternator directly to battery bypassing all the convoluted routing that VW goes through just to make it look pretty?
Totally unrelated, my tailgate indicates it's not closing and the light stays lit on the dash all the time. Checked it and it is closed and latched. This is new but could it also put another drain on the battery?
Thx.
Frank
04 T-Reg
