New Engine Shorting Out the Battery??

[mtnbob]

Sorry, out of town for the holiday   I am checking it tonight, and will report back

[mtnbob]

Unfortunately, whether the alternator is hooked up or not, I am still pulling a bunch of volts when the car is off. I still have to unhook the battery when I stop. Any other ideas?

[Patrick]

I'm watching this thread too, got a similar problem. Quick fix is a disconnect switch that you put on the battery, then put the battery clamp to it. Still have to remember to shut it off though..... Like to find the problem. Wasn't the alternator in my case, changing it out didn't fix it.

[mtnbob]

Ok, finally got to the bottom of this problem(hopefully). I finally gave up and took my Golf into the electrical expert in town. Turns out that the solenoid that I put in a few years ago, when I "pimped my glowplugs" was staying on after going through a start cycle. The mechanic didn't have any issues with the rerouting of the glowplugs to a more efficient system, but told me that these things can go unexpectedly. He replaced it with a new solenoid that would be used in an old Ford truck. It looked a lot like the one I had used before. The part cost me $20, labor was $65. Seems to work perfectly now. Just a heads up if anyone starts to have issues where there battery rapidly discharges.

[burn_your_money]

Glad to hear you got to the bottom of it.

[theman53]

might want to change the GP now. I think warm they pull 12 amps each.

[CRSMP5]

yep if it was staying on.. they be dead...

[burn_your_money]

Duraterms technically should be able to handle it, but the draw should be greater than 12amps.

[theman53]

IIRC it was first cold glow they will instantly pull around 25 amps each and then settle to about 50amps for all 4, if they are good.

[8v-of-fury]

I think I have read that duraterms (having self voltage regulating abilities) will drop down to as low as 9a each while hot.

I would think a 12a draw.. meant 3 of them were already dead by the time you even caught on to it being a drainage problem .

What brand GP's were in there? The guy who did the work obviously tested it, and it starts.. so they must have been fine?

[mtnbob]

I was told that they all were fine, but I will be looking into it in a few weeks.

[Patrick]

I better check mine, maybe I have a bad relay doing the same thing....

[mtnbob]

Maybe check to see if your cold engine gets warm around the glowplugs when you hook the battery up.