Flat battery

[aesmidz]

Been on holiday for 4 weeks, get back and my car won't start due to a flat battery
My golf never has never had this problem
As posted before, the battery seems to run down if car is not used for a short while
I don't think this can be right as they both basically the same car
The golf is 57 reg 1.9 TDI. and sirocco is 2.0 TDI

Any one got any views on this problem please?

[alanstead]

Hi, I wouldnt worry about it, mine does the same, I dont use it much and it usually has a fairly low battery after 2 weeks and if you leave it longer it will go flat. I have found if I leave it unlocked it will last a lot longer so I would assume it is just the alarm and interior monitors running the battery flat. I have since bought a CTEK smart charger and it seems to have given the battery a new lease of life, and if I am leaving the car for weeks I just leave it on charge.

[aesmidz]

Thanks for reply. Dealer originally told me the discharged battery was due to the car being left in the garage unlocked, as the computer shuts down after approx 45 mins after locking the car. So I left it locked, and still the problem remains
Seems so odd the sirocco has this problem and my golf doesn't. Highly embarrassing this morning when the car wouldn't start until the battery was charged

[Chungster]

Left mine for 6 weeks during winter storage and it fired up first time when I brought it back out!!!

[ZephyR]

Could try locking it with the ultrasonics disabled (the switch behind the driver's door) as that should save a bit of juice.
On my previous car I could hear all sorts of electrical noises under the bonnet whether it was locked or not. God knows what the modern car computer systems get up to when left alone.

[Sootchucker]

Funnily enough, the wife and I have just got back from a 2.5 week holiday. On Monday went to start her 1 year old new shape Polo and flat as a fart. Not even enough power to illuminate any of the dash lights. As the cars a DSG like mine, we couldn't get it out of the garage (couldn't select neutral), so called VW assist.

They came, car started immediately after being connected to a charger, but I asked the tech what could have caused it. After 20 minutes of checking, he told me it was showing a drain from the audio circuit. When I explained that she had quite an old 2nd gen IPod connected to the MDI socket in the glovebox, he told me it was probably this, as when the battery drains on the iPod (which is does very quickly as its so old), the MDI circuit kicks in to recharge it. He said after 2 weeks of doing this it could have caused the drain ?

Just a thought.

[aesmidz]

Thanks for idea, but No iPod connected

[ZephyR]

Interesting Soootchucker. Maybe, maybe not.
I've had the low battery warning bong a few times (particularly in winter) and I've also had the warning message that comes up telling me to start the engine or turn off the radio when I've been sat in the car for too long with the radio on. So the radio does seem to be a significant battery drain.
However regarding the iPod, I have a hard disk drive plugged in to the USB port on my MDI (which is in the centre console). Within 1 minute of turning the ignition off and removing the key the power LED on the hard drive goes out. And as far as I am aware stays out until the key is put in the ignition or the radio is turned on. There doesn't seem to be any way it can demand power once the system is shut down. A USB stick I had plugged in before that worked in the same way

@aesmidz - Do you have anything left plugged in to the power / cigar lighter sockets ? It is known that there can be a current leakage from these when the ignition is turned off.

[aesmidz]

Thanks for reply
I have. No accessories plugged into the power outlets
Car is as supplied no added electrical items