My battery keeps draining and my car won't start in the morning.

i drained my battery by the trunk light,,might want to check that..

I know you had it to the dealership, but check your battery connections. and make sure the ground is good on both ends, clean and tight. Also have the battery load tested, autozone or a major autoparts store can do that.

I have a 2010 Jetta tdi and radio died AND battery has now died as well got a new battery and it went dead in 90 days. I never had radio repaired but now am wondering if there is a defect in the 2010 tdi model. It's at dealership at $130 an hour to diagnose problem.

Funny, me too. 2010 Jetta TDi.

Me too , exactly . 2010 Jetta TDI . Battery drain for over 2 yrs now . Had brought it to VW in Delray & coconut creek . Each time handed an absorbent amount of money , but the problem persists . Anyone find the solution?

Due to the recent discovery of the emissions cheating software, I don't have the confidence I once had in Volkswagen or my Jetta. Two weeks ago, every time I went to start my car the battery was dead. Literally, I met a friend for lunch & upon leaving my car wouldn't start. I went to three different places to have my battery & alternator tested. I was told that the battery was good, but needed charged, and the alternator was failing. The alternator tested at 13.77 volts, and barely failing. Two days later it showed a reading of 13 volts. I purchased a new alternator, as well as a new battery. The battery was replaced first- and the car started up just fine- without the new alternator. The original, 'failing/failed' alternator then passed the test. Truly bizarre.

2010 Jetta TDI here. Radio touch screen stopped working about 4 months ago. Car has been not starting in the morning for the past 2 months, off and on. I am going to have battery tested today. Currently cannot afford an alternator, so I hope that is not necessary. Seems to be only when it gets super cold outside.

Same problem, It happened in the past before the radio went bad and they replaced the battery cables, will be taking it in to the shop in the next few days to see what they say.

My 05 Jetta will not start recently without being jumped. I have had it in the garage 3 times and they claim they can't find a problem. So frustrating!!!! Help

My Jetta New 2005 drained 2 batteries (took 45 minutes to drain a brand new battery!)and then the diagnose was: the latch on the passenger back door was draining it! It was disconnected and I am fine but drive with 1 unlocked back door. On a test it used 0.140v and it should have been 0.025v.

It was my 1999 Mercedes SL 500>.Mileage is 62,000.The batter is one year old,,So my honey took the batter back to auto part store and Thankfully they r replaced it,,You usually get a 3 yr warranty with new Batteries ,,BUT always Check before you purchase..Thanks to All for Your HELP..ox

On my 2011 40k Jetta Sportswagon TDI there is a continuous (measured for 20 mins) drain of 2 Amps from the battery. All doors closed, hood shut, ignition key out. Dealer said "bad battery", 3 x auto parts shops said "battery OK". VW Dealer refused to investigate further. Car sitting in garage with battery disconnected. When is buyback actually going to happen? Given other issues, this has been a car experience like no other.

If you think it is the radio then remove the fuse for a night to see what happens.

Radio disconnected from battery resolved issue. The bigger problem, I hate not having a radio or hands free!!!!

If you can replace the radio or install a switch to turn off all the power to it.

Thanks for your answer, but a radio should not pull 2A + it is unbievable that VW does not identify the fuses even in the handbook. Looking forward to the buyback. I have never had a car like this. At the 1st or 2nd service I told the dealer of bearing noise in front drivers side wheel. Then at end of 3 yr warranty they agreed that the bearing was bad. By that time the tires were shot / chopped. Had to replace @ 30k. Then this issue with the battery drain , dealer says bad battery. NEVER VW AGAIN!

Two amps would kill the battery fast. This is clearly a bad radio.

I have a 2002 Jetta TDI. Started having battery issues. Took to dealership. They told me the 2002 had electrical / wiring issues. The replaced battery. Also replaced generator. Timing belt, water pump you name it. Thousands of dollars. Then they told me the driver's door latch was draining battery. They said the ignition is somehow related to the radio. What a cluster! Battery replaced in July 2014 Battery replaced again in Feb 2015. New battery problems started again with recent cold weather. Called dealership who told me battery only has 12 mo / 12 mi warranty. I asked for part number, year, make of battery etc. Said they would have to look in their files. OMG Another battery nightmare! No issues starting the car during warmer weather. So now I am ready to call VW Corp. What a cluster!

Afterthought - I had a feeling that the battery was being drained by the factory car alarm system. I stopped using it and it seemed to help. This was last winter 2015. Whoever designed the electrical on the Jetta TDI must have been on drugs! It is also a diesel 2.0 so it doesn't like cold weather anyway.

I was (retired) an electronics/electrical design engineer for +45yrs. If I had designed a system without layout I would have been fired. Sold my VW Jetta back last week. Never had a car like it and never again VW. VW Service Dealers here in Houston (3x I worked with) are incompetent and con men. Measured a 2A continuous drain on the battery with all systems shutdown but they told me battery was bad!

The electrical / wiring issues are insane! And when I ask the dealership for the diagnostic codes they never provide any helpful information! Plus, I have read that dead batteries and bad fuses can mess with the codes anyway. Dealership is arrogant, rude, sarcastic and incompetent. Can't afford a car payment but going in debt with all these repairs / batteries only under warranty for 12/12 - Since when is a battery only under warranty for one year?

Ha! My son's battery (2 yr old Passat) was dead. Took it out and to nearest dealer in Houston. "Can you check this battery?" Dealer - "You will need to get a service appointment, and we can't take you today". "Ok, can we get warranty replacement" . Dealer "you'll need to take it to where you bought the car". Son " I get the car serviced here." Dealer " The battery warranty is only pro-rated over 3 yrs, you wouldn't get much discount. But the replacement / same battery is 4 yr warranty". Never VW!

Holy cow! The ridiculousness is astounding! Since when are batteries not covered by a 3 - 5 year warranty?

Battery warranties like a lot of things are going down the tubes. I don't know if it is due to greed or poorer quality batteries.

I have a 2002 Jetta with only 26K miles on it. The battery dies all the time even though I disconnected the radio. I have a 2003 Ford Ranger with 120K miles on it. No problems at all. Ford doesn't make the Ranger anymore. Lesson learned, never buy VW! Buy Nissan, Toyota or even Ford. Never VW.

Guru I stopped using the car alarm system. After reading and researching for HOURS I learned that it could be draining the battery. I stopped using it and it has seemed to help alot. My batteries were being replaced every year. My last one lasted 2 whole years!

2010 Jetta that has been experiencing all of this: stereo died, alarm will set but car locks don't engage, and dead battery every morning. About a week ago I turned my overhead lamps to completely off, so it won't turn on when you open the door, and the battery issue has stopped. Obviously still not the answer but at least my car is starting in the morning! Also wondering if everyone had called VW directly? I did, and while they aren't doing anything to help a recall might possibly come out if the problem is reported enough?

Guru I turned off the lights that come on when you open the car door. I believe they are above the rear doors. I turned them completely off awhile ago. It seems to have helped. Turns out that the dealership agreed to put in a replacement battery at no charge. I have Finally found a local diesel engine mechanic who is very honest and knows his stuff. He did testing and work on my car and told me the battery is not the greatest. I told him that the dealership just put it in recently. It is supposed to be the proper heavy duty battery specific to my make and model 2002 Jetta TDI. He said the testing said otherwise. With the warmer weather I usually have NO problems starting the car. I will keep an eye on it and get documentation from my new mechanic to bring to the dealership if things start acting up. So glad to have found a new mechanic and this forum as well. Cheers!

I have a 2010 Jetta tdi wagon. The radio stopped working about a year ago, then the battery kept dying. Went through 3 batteries and a new alternator. VW finally agreed it was the radio (kept draining battery even though it didn't work) and replaced it but I got stuck paying for installation and a new alternator. 13 Months later, vw says the alternator is bad and out of warranty. Any help?

My battery kept dying during the cold winter months. I researched and found out the radio, alarm system, driver door latch are all in the driver's door area. The dealership didn't know this! I stopped using the car alarm since it is somehow related to the car alarm...sound system. The dealership told me that my battery was draining due to a bad driver's door latch. It said the computer thinks the left door is open. Not True!!!! I stopped using my car alarm and the battery issues resolved. I also turned to complete Off position the lights that come on when you open the driver's door. The lights are the small ones located above the rear doors. (I have a 4 door sedan). I did this just out of caution. I have been ripped off for thousands of dollars at the dealership. Even called VW Corporate and VW of America. All I can say is that if a part is bad then take it somewhere to have it tested to see if it actually is "bad". Keep fighting the good fight. Not sure I answered your question but I hope it helped. Good luck!

When I was having battery / starting the car issues a few cold winters ago, I would need to get my car jump started several times a week. It was beyond ridiculous!!!!!! Once I researched and got more info the issues stopped. Still an occasional issue with starting the car in really cold temps. When the dealership put in the correct battery for my particular vehicle that helped alot. But after 2 years, the battery pooped out. They tried to diss me and say that it was covered by a 12 months 12 miles warranty. I called BS. I told them that most car batteries are covered by the manufacturer's 3 year warranty. If a heavy duty battery, can be up to 5 years. It is a pain in the butt and I think illegal for these dealerships to rip people off. Keep fighting the good fight!

Its not the radio it is the amp in the trunk

Check the harness in the front doors, the harness that go between the door and the frame of the vehicle, this is a common problem with the Jetta, they made the harness to small and they tend to brake very easily, I have a car dealership and trust me that is the problem. the harness are about 70 dollars on amazon,very easy to replace them if you are handy.

https://youtu.be/ogcktg3kYOw This might help someone maybe. I will be doing this tomorrow night on my 2011 VW Jetta 2.5l

https://youtu.be/ogcktg3kYOw This worked for my issues on my 2011 Jetta 2.5l I just wanted to get it out there just in case someone was head scratching over the same problem. Started with replacing my battery. I must have charged and jumped to many times where I blew this fuse/terminal. Wasn't charging when I knew the alternator was probably still good. Anyway. If it even helps one person that would be good. Many thanks to the dude that posted this on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF1gijj03_0

So if you watch the video, which is very thorough, how do you disable the door open switch on a 2002 VW Jetta so you don't over amp your meter when you open the door? There's no micro switches as the sensor is located inside the door as part of the door operating assembly?

I have had the same problem. First my stereo died. It’s one of the touch screen radios. It will still turn on but there is no video. Then my passenger door is the only door that will not unlock but the rest will when I hit the unlock button. While driving you can hear the door locks clicking locked then unlocked. I thought it was just because my battery was a few years old so I downed $180 on a new battery with AAA, however, after a few days of the new one going in I still have to jump my VW every morning. This car has taken a licking and keeps on kicking but this is the only problem that I cannot seem to find a solution to and frankly I am done having every other mechanic charge me hundreds of dollars to diagnose it but the problem is still there. If anyone has an idea of how this can be fixed I am all ears. Other than junking it of course!!

Comfort control module, under the driver seat, it's a common problem with vw, the ccm gets wet and malfunctions

2008 Beetle. Same problem. Found parasitic battery drain on fuse #42, which powers the radio & amp. I have removed the fuse and we will see if battery maintains its charge. If its the radio/amp we will add a external power switch to be turned off when not using the radio.I'm not even going to ask VW how much their radio & amps cost because the radio works fine. More to follow.....

What about ignition switch? Feels like and shows that ignition is off but in mean time it isn't truly off and causing battery to drain as if on accessories mode?. Happened to my car. Not a Jetta but that was my problem..

Guru,is it possible for a battery to shift to the side by driving ?the cables connection are on the side instead of facing up.is this even remotely possible to happen just by driving into a puddle.

I suggest using a DC amp-meter at each fuse location to find the current draw circuit by circuit. After determining which circuit(s) draw an excessive amount of power the reason for the excessive current draw can be more closely examined. Obviously, it could take significant time to complete the task, especially if you are not familiar with that particular car model. No doubt the dealers could perform the task but it would require costly time and material billing since the length of time may vary greatly.

This is frustrating that so many of us are having similar problems. I have a 2010 Jetta and after the radio went out, the battery started having problems. Once driving, the car wouldn't die, but if parked for even 20 minutes, dead battery. Local mechanic said the radio and the aftermarket alarm were causing a draw on the battery. Pulled fuses for the radio, which slowed the draw, but still dead battery overnight. Anyone know of a recall or anything that VW is doing to address this? Any other solutions besides selling the dumb thing?