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OK, I just joined the forum this morning. We're a long-time VW family, but making our first foray into Touareg. We found a 2005 V8 for a GREAT price, but she needs some help. Just got it home Saturday, but here's what I know so far:
1. When we start the car, we get the "System Fault - Workshop" message in the MFI with the differential selector blinking.
2. After running for a few minutes and shutting down, a restart usually clears the message and Diff blinking.
3. The seller (a used car dealer in NJ), installed a new battery last week.
4. I charged the battery using the under-hood terminals when I got it home. Since then, it has started (sometimes harder than others). But I don't think the battery is draining to zero.
5. Last night I pulled the wire off the positive terminal under the hood and it was date stamped 01/07/02, made in Germany, so I would assume the alternator cable replacement was never done.
6. The remote key is not locking/unlocking the car (though to be fair, I have not checked the batteries in the remote yet).
7. The rear hatch will not open remotely or using the exterior latch. I can pull the cord release behind the access panel, and then it will open using the latch.
8. The navigation system seems to be funky and will not initialize (again, to be fair, I know NOTHING about this navigation system).
So to my untrained eye, the first thing I think, based on lots of Forum searching, is that the alternator/battery cable needs to be upgraded. That could explain the System Fault error (I think). But is it possible that those other issues could also be low-voltage related, or is that not likely. I tend to lean away from a parasitic battery draw, since it started last night (granted not easily), after sitting since Saturday in sub-zero temperatures.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated before I spend the money on a new alternator cable and lay on my cold, unheated garage floor for a few days trying to fix this.
Thanks
1. When we start the car, we get the "System Fault - Workshop" message in the MFI with the differential selector blinking.
2. After running for a few minutes and shutting down, a restart usually clears the message and Diff blinking.
3. The seller (a used car dealer in NJ), installed a new battery last week.
4. I charged the battery using the under-hood terminals when I got it home. Since then, it has started (sometimes harder than others). But I don't think the battery is draining to zero.
5. Last night I pulled the wire off the positive terminal under the hood and it was date stamped 01/07/02, made in Germany, so I would assume the alternator cable replacement was never done.
6. The remote key is not locking/unlocking the car (though to be fair, I have not checked the batteries in the remote yet).
7. The rear hatch will not open remotely or using the exterior latch. I can pull the cord release behind the access panel, and then it will open using the latch.
8. The navigation system seems to be funky and will not initialize (again, to be fair, I know NOTHING about this navigation system).
So to my untrained eye, the first thing I think, based on lots of Forum searching, is that the alternator/battery cable needs to be upgraded. That could explain the System Fault error (I think). But is it possible that those other issues could also be low-voltage related, or is that not likely. I tend to lean away from a parasitic battery draw, since it started last night (granted not easily), after sitting since Saturday in sub-zero temperatures.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated before I spend the money on a new alternator cable and lay on my cold, unheated garage floor for a few days trying to fix this.
Thanks