2001 Beetle Battery Drain
 

A friends 2001 Beetle 1.8T (POS car by the way) is drawing over 2 amps with the key off.

The drain is through the wire that leads to the alternator. The wire is not grounded, it's in good shape.

Just swap the alternator out?

If the draw stops when that is done - then yes. The internal regulator has died.

Yea, figured that. Don't have a manual....Thanks.

Bad diode?

Tcar is correct - Diode passing current both ways. Take to a shop that rebuilds Alt's..

The insulting part of having to replace an alternator or starter on a newer Volkswagen is that any time the battery goes dead, or is unhooked, you have to plug a laptop into the OBD data link and reprogram the ECM's basic settings.

:mad:

Really???

So if you leave the lights on, and the battery goes dead the average owner will have to have it towed to a service center? That is insane.

does the car have an aftermarket radio? did you inspect the fuse panel above the battery, these were recalled and it is possible that this one did not have it done.(this is exactly what it does )

that is simply NOT true....
the readiness codes will reset after 5 drive cycles or 50 miles (unless the functions can run because the outside parameters are met)
whoever told you that is a liar and an idiot, you do not in any way shape or form need a laptop to "reset any basic parameters" in ANY VW

Good. I don't have a VW but I could not imagine a dead battery making a car need a trip to a service center.