Battery draining

[72pinky]

Hey guys I’m new to this so quick question. My 72 beetle battery was dead and I got a new one had it only for 3 weeks and it’s completely dead again. What could be the problem? Any suggestions would be appreciated:)[/s]

[VW_Jimbo]

Parasite drain.

Get an amp meter connected in series to the battery, then start pulling fuses. Or even a simple buzzer. They sell a “short circuit” buzzer kit.

Here you go. I have used one of these for 35 years!
https://www.amazon.com/Tool-Aid-25300-Circuit-Dete...mp;sr=8-19

If you have an Alternator, it may be worth disconnecting it over night to see if that is the issue. One of those Diodes could be defective.
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[ashman40]

Generator or alternator?

Fully recharge your battery and then confirm the at rest voltage reading at the battery. It should be at least 12.6v for a fully charged battery.
Start the engine, rev to 2100rpm and take a voltage reading at the battery terminals. A working charging system should read 13.8v+ at the battery.

Take the readings and report back what you find.
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AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[runamoc]

could be a loose fan belt
_________________
Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 44 yrs - Plan B: '81 Rabbit Diesel LS Deluxe - Plan C: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs-
VW Wiring = It's just wires

[vwoldbug]

Did this just start and what kind of radio is installed.

[vwoldbug]

Did this just start and what kind of radio is installed.

[Tom K.]

Have you been driving the car the past 3 weeks? Or has it been sitting? If you've been driving it, then I would check the charging system (generator/alternator, voltage regulator (if generator), and wire contacts. If it has been sitting for the past three weeks, then something is draining your battery. That happened to me one time. It was my radio that was left on
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'91 Vanagon Westfalia
'70 Beetle Convertible
'71 Super Beetle Semi-Automatic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714131&highlight=
'65 Ghia: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=762478&highlight=

[Cusser]

I can let a vehicle sit at least 2 months and it will start right up.
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[FlyAU98]

My odd battery drain turned out to be a faulty brake light switch (in the master cylinder). It didn't become apparent until I switched to LED brake light bulbs and one of them would always faintly glow...
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======================
1972 Super Beetle

[Jimbug57]

I have a method I use to track down parasitic drain. First disconnect the radio if it has an always on power connection. Then I remove all the fuses and tap the ground strap from the battery on top of the negative post on the battery - with the ignition off. There should be no sparks. Add 1 fuse at a time and check for sparks by tapping the ground again. Add fuses and tap until you find the circuit that sparks - that's where the short is.

And remember sparks near a battery is dangerous so proceed at your own risk.
_________________
Repeat after me "I am smarter than metal!"

[runamoc]

[VW_Jimbo]