VW GTI Issues, battery?

Question

Hi there! My VW GTI has some strange issues lately. When I turn the car on (which sometimes fails, i turn the key and nothing happens, only the dashboard lights come on) and let it sit on park, the radio and AC will stop working for a second or two. When I drive up to a stop sign or red light, same happens, except this time the car jerks a bit, as if the transmision gets disengaged and then engaged again. Sometimes it happens when I just start driving from a stop sign or red light.

Now the kicker is, when I turn the AC off, it all runs fine. It seams like the car demands more juice than it can get.

Any ideas?

mvorbrodt · Accepted Answer

One more thing, the engine is running fine when that happens, it doesn't drop the RPMs.

HLS · Answer

My first thoughs turn to dirty or corroded electrical terminals, perhaps at the battery cables or ground connections.

If you feel it is associated with the AC, run it for a while without the AC being activated and be sure that you are correct. Then, if you know this for sure you can start tracing out the circuits which might affect driveability and AC.

Just a very cheap guess. Hope you find it.

Don Byrer · Answer

Ditto. Sounds like a wiring problem (ground?) or maybe alternator, not battery. I'd clean and inspect the cable connections anyway, won't hurt + it's cheap.

Don Byrer KJ5KB Power & Glider Pilot Guy kj5kb-at-hotmail.com

"I have slipped the surly bonds of earth; now if I can just land without bending the gear..." "Watch out for those doves..."

VW GTI Issues, battery?

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