Battery issue

[fraser33]

Tried to start my '02 TDi the other night and got a very faint turnover, then nothing. (There had been no gradually worsening signs of trouble.) After borrowing a friends jumper pack, I got it started, ran it for 25 mins or so, switched off and tried to restart. Same as before - virtually nothing. :( I'm hoping it's just the battery that has finally died - I'm on almost 127k miles now on what I assume is the original battery. I checked that nothing had been left switched on, including the boot light.

Any tips or suggestions as to what else to check for before I haul out the battery? Alternator brushes maybe?

ALso, if I do disconnect and remove the battery, how does this affect things like the immobiliser, alarm, fob, radio code etc?

Cheers for anything folk can add or suggesting precautions I should take.


F

[NickPicks]

Virtually every car battery supplier will test the battery for you for free. Halfords are quite good at this in my experience, and they don't then make you feel obliged to buy one from them.

I'd say it's easier to take the battery out and get it checked than to check the alternator brushes.

If you disconnect the battery, the only thing which will be affected is the radio code.

It's best to turn off the Aircon before you disconnect it, and leave the ignition on for 15 seconds before startign the first time to let the aircon flaps sort themselves out (I'm not sure if it's entirely necessary, but I think it was Peter D who said that, so it sounds like good advice).

I think that getting the battery out can be a bit tight - there's a moulded cable running accross the bulkhead in front of it which needs to be carefully unclipped to make enough space. The wierdlittlebiscuit (http://www.weirdlittlebiscuit.com/passat/leak/index.htm) guide to the plenum chamber drains has a step by step on removing the battery, and it wouldn't hurt to check the drains while you're doing it.

[kenney]

If the battery is 7 year old it has done well.You need to note the radio code otherwise you should have no problem

[STEWY L]

If the battery is 7 year old it has done well.You need to note the radio code otherwise you should have no problem

does the car not know it's own radio code?
i'm sure my 2001 bora does,and only when replacing radio do you need it's code?
regards,
stewy.

[kenney]

Depending on which type of radio is in the vehicle,but most radios loose the coding when the battery terminal is removed,

[STEWY L]

Depending on which type of radio is in the vehicle,but most radios loose the coding when the battery terminal is removed,
best write it down then,
regards,
stewy.

[fraser33]

Thanks very much for the tips people - that WLB link looks very useful too, and a good how-to guide.

Now then, just need to figure out how to find the radio code!

[martin1810]

You can buy a little gadjet to plug into the cigarette lighter socket that will keep the radio powered when you take the battery off. That way you don't need the radio code. Assuming you can't find the code.