My VW Bug has a bullseye on it's back... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

surferlove007 · 03-19-2007, 03:16 PM

I drive a 99 VW Bug 2 liter. Well I was going to ask a question about the battery but I need to rant about something that happened today and I will here. Since moving to Lubbock, TX my car has been hit twice in parking lots while I was not in it. Where is the common decency of people nowadays

? When you back into someone and damage their car you should leave a goddamn note. So now I'm left to either pay out of pocket to fix the damages or get the insurance people involved which my parents desperately don't want me to do. My back lights keep popping out while I'm driving and my bumper just need replacement for a third time. Once when the people changing my oil backed it yet into another car before this happened.

Ok back to the question at hand.
Whenever I leave my car sitting for more than 3 or 4 days I have to jump it in order to start it. I don't know why it does this, and has done so since the
battery was changed last summer. Any ideas?

Lucifer · 03-19-2007, 03:45 PM

no idea, but why not just go out and start it for 5 minutes every other day?

DEI37 · 03-19-2007, 06:35 PM

That will hurt more than help, really. It's either a bad battery, or a bad alternator. You'll need to get it somewhere to have it checked. Where did the battery come from? VW has changed the source for their batteries, and they are a good battery. Might be advisable to replace it with a genuine VW battery, if that isn't what is in it.

Either way, get the charging system checked.

Psycho Dad · 03-19-2007, 07:40 PM

There quite possible may be something putting a constant draw on the battery. Something like the glovebox or trunk light staying on.

Edit: Quite possible may be? WTF?

souzafone · 03-21-2007, 05:42 PM

What psychodad said. Willing to bet you have a constant draw killing your batteries. VW's of your body style (A4) are known for electrical gremlins. Right now theres a recall on the brake light switch. Get the recall done, but have it checked by the dealership first to see if it's the cause of your draw, and if not have them diagnose it.

MSD · 03-22-2007, 08:25 PM

Park it in a bad area of town where cars are known to go missing. Insurance will take care of the rest

Plaid13 · 03-29-2007, 01:04 PM

Sell it drive a beater and park really really close to expensive cars that people park in the very back of the lot.

Take it in to get the recall done and make sure you get any damage that was done when it was hit fixed. if the battery is still draining like that... go for the half assed fix and buy a optimia deep cycle battery. That will work better at starting the car when the battery is half dead then a normal battery would. Once you get it fixed... sell it. buy something new. electrical problems can be very expensive to find and fix if you dont do it yourself. and if you do do it yourself it could take you forever to find it.

AquaFox · 03-29-2007, 03:16 PM

what color is your car? there was a recent study that showed earthtone and darker color cars are 70% more likely to get wrecked into on the road and anywhere else... so I'm assuming your car is dark blue?

the best way to go for safety would be to paint your car school bus yellow and put some of those bright reflective stripes on the bumpers... or just a nice racing red!

now speaking of that.... shouldn't i be getting a discount from my insurance agency for having a bright car?

03-19-2007, 03:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
surferlove007 Junkie	My VW Bug has a bullseye on it's back... I drive a 99 VW Bug 2 liter. Well I was going to ask a question about the battery but I need to rant about something that happened today and I will here. Since moving to Lubbock, TX my car has been hit twice in parking lots while I was not in it. Where is the common decency of people nowadays ? When you back into someone and damage their car you should leave a goddamn note. So now I'm left to either pay out of pocket to fix the damages or get the insurance people involved which my parents desperately don't want me to do. My back lights keep popping out while I'm driving and my bumper just need replacement for a third time. Once when the people changing my oil backed it yet into another car before this happened. Ok back to the question at hand. Whenever I leave my car sitting for more than 3 or 4 days I have to jump it in order to start it. I don't know why it does this, and has done so since the battery was changed last summer. Any ideas?

03-19-2007, 03:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lucifer Husband of Seamaiden Location: Nova Scotia	no idea, but why not just go out and start it for 5 minutes every other day? __________________ I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. - Job 30:29 1123, 6536, 5321

03-19-2007, 06:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
DEI37 Go faster! Location: Wisconsin	That will hurt more than help, really. It's either a bad battery, or a bad alternator. You'll need to get it somewhere to have it checked. Where did the battery come from? VW has changed the source for their batteries, and they are a good battery. Might be advisable to replace it with a genuine VW battery, if that isn't what is in it. Either way, get the charging system checked. __________________ Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

03-19-2007, 07:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
Psycho Dad Mulletproof Location: Some nucking fut house.	There quite possible may be something putting a constant draw on the battery. Something like the glovebox or trunk light staying on. Edit: Quite possible may be? WTF? __________________ Don't always trust the opinions of experts.

03-29-2007, 03:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
AquaFox WaterDog	what color is your car? there was a recent study that showed earthtone and darker color cars are 70% more likely to get wrecked into on the road and anywhere else... so I'm assuming your car is dark blue? the best way to go for safety would be to paint your car school bus yellow and put some of those bright reflective stripes on the bumpers... or just a nice racing red! now speaking of that.... shouldn't i be getting a discount from my insurance agency for having a bright car? __________________ ...AquaFox... Last edited by AquaFox; 03-29-2007 at 03:19 PM..

03-21-2007, 05:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
souzafone Insane	What psychodad said. Willing to bet you have a constant draw killing your batteries. VW's of your body style (A4) are known for electrical gremlins. Right now theres a recall on the brake light switch. Get the recall done, but have it checked by the dealership first to see if it's the cause of your draw, and if not have them diagnose it.

03-22-2007, 08:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	Park it in a bad area of town where cars are known to go missing. Insurance will take care of the rest

03-29-2007, 01:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
Plaid13 I want a Plaid crayon	Sell it drive a beater and park really really close to expensive cars that people park in the very back of the lot. Take it in to get the recall done and make sure you get any damage that was done when it was hit fixed. if the battery is still draining like that... go for the half assed fix and buy a optimia deep cycle battery. That will work better at starting the car when the battery is half dead then a normal battery would. Once you get it fixed... sell it. buy something new. electrical problems can be very expensive to find and fix if you dont do it yourself. and if you do do it yourself it could take you forever to find it.