VW Beetle 2001, Battery keeps DYING
Discussion
Hey All,
Thanks for any help in advance!
We have a little VW Beetle 2001 as a runaround, It’s used maybe 2/3 times per week for short journeys to the supermarket etc.
We upgraded the radio in the car to a generic Bluetooth one from Amazon (cost around £20)... it was fitted by my husband who followed instructions and the radio was all up and running. I thought great! No more factory radio as all it had was cassette capabilities.
All was well for a few weeks, radio fine, car fine.
However around 10 days ago, I popped in the car to go to the hairdressers and it wouldn’t start, The radio came on and the dashboard lights etc so there was SOME power in the battery , however when turning the key to start it just made a clicking noise.
I put it down to bad experience and luckily a neighbour helped me jump start it and I took it on around an hours drive to get it charged up. I then used it a few days later and it worked perfectly. The last time the car was used was on Sunday for a 40 minute round trip to the supermarket and back.
I’ve went to use the car this afternoon and it has reverted back to not starting but having enough power to play the radio.
After researching online, I am beginning to wonder if it is the new radio that is draining the battery. However the radio goes off when the car is off so not really sure if this is the culprit ?
The car was MOT’d a few months ago and passed, and the battery is around 18 months old.
The only difference than before is the radio... Also it has been relatively ‘hot’ recently, so I’m wondering if the sun can cause this also ? (May be a stupid suggestion)
Once I can get someone to jump start it, I plan to take it for a good drive and this time leave the radio off and not use the radio for a few weeks to see if this makes a difference ? Or should I buy a battery charger and charge overnight and continue to use the radio ?
Any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks for any help in advance!
We have a little VW Beetle 2001 as a runaround, It’s used maybe 2/3 times per week for short journeys to the supermarket etc.
We upgraded the radio in the car to a generic Bluetooth one from Amazon (cost around £20)... it was fitted by my husband who followed instructions and the radio was all up and running. I thought great! No more factory radio as all it had was cassette capabilities.
All was well for a few weeks, radio fine, car fine.
However around 10 days ago, I popped in the car to go to the hairdressers and it wouldn’t start, The radio came on and the dashboard lights etc so there was SOME power in the battery , however when turning the key to start it just made a clicking noise.
I put it down to bad experience and luckily a neighbour helped me jump start it and I took it on around an hours drive to get it charged up. I then used it a few days later and it worked perfectly. The last time the car was used was on Sunday for a 40 minute round trip to the supermarket and back.
I’ve went to use the car this afternoon and it has reverted back to not starting but having enough power to play the radio.
After researching online, I am beginning to wonder if it is the new radio that is draining the battery. However the radio goes off when the car is off so not really sure if this is the culprit ?
The car was MOT’d a few months ago and passed, and the battery is around 18 months old.
The only difference than before is the radio... Also it has been relatively ‘hot’ recently, so I’m wondering if the sun can cause this also ? (May be a stupid suggestion)
Once I can get someone to jump start it, I plan to take it for a good drive and this time leave the radio off and not use the radio for a few weeks to see if this makes a difference ? Or should I buy a battery charger and charge overnight and continue to use the radio ?
Any help would be much appreciated!
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