immobiliser or battery?

[BlackVr6ix]

how old is the battery?

it is possible that a cell has failed completely during your last drive or possibly during the night which will give you a very dead battery.

the clicking you hear will be the solenoid engaging and disengaging.

the couple of doors locking is due to the vacuum style central locking VW uses obviously there is only enough vacuum created to lock a couple of doors.

[dancet]

A few weeks after I got my GTi I started my car and was reversing our of my parking spot at my unit complex. I managed to stall it as I was driving down the driveway. No bother, turned the ignition all the way off, then tried to start it again but it was completely dead. All my electrics were still working fine, and the clock still had the right time. No engine turning over, no clicking, just total silence when turning on the ignition.

It turned out to be the wires connecting the battery to the starter motor. The mechanic said it looked like they were chewed through by a rat or something. Apparently they like the warmth of the engine and climb up into the engine cavity and start chewing on stuff. I think the previous owners may have had a rat problem, and stalling the car jolted the chewed wire and caused it to break (I have since put rat baits in my garage...no sign of any rodents).

So......if you can hear clicking when turning on the ignition and your clock has zero'd, it probably indicates your starter motor is OK but battery is kaput. See if you can push start it and get some charge into the battery. Or maybe just push start it and drive to the nearest battery place.

Though I don't know if driving a car with a dead battery is harmful for the car. Anyone?

[sim2002]

thanks guys!
i will check for any rats (i do leave car on street)and any chewed wires!


but i guess its the battery then - is there any tricks in changing the battery to a new one i should know about in addition to the cars instruction manual?
thanks

[quozl]

thanks guys!
i will check for any rats (i do leave car on street)and any chewed wires!


but i guess its the battery then - is there any tricks in changing the battery to a new one i should know about in addition to the cars instruction manual?
thanks

The easiest thing to do is just call Marshall. Mine went in the R and they were here within 30 minutes and did all the work for around 100 bucks if I remember correctly.

Cheers Al