Battery Drain

[Stupots]

My car is drawing over 1A when my car is asleep and flattening the battery in a few days (all of a sudden, not changed anything on the car in a while). I'll start trouble shooting today. I've made reference documents of both fuse boxes and picked up a clamp meter, so I can monitor total draw whilst I'm checking potential difference across each fuse; I won't be pulling fuses initially (with bonnet and door latch tricked). I've retrofitted so many parts, it may be that I have to put up with a bit of above normal draw, but I'd love to get it closer to the 50mA target!

I'm hoping it's a door module or tailgate loom and not CAN Gateway (AN hardware, BQ software) or Head Unit (Discover Media).

Wish me luck (and any tips welcome)

Stu

[pudding]

I bet it's the Chinese head unit.

[mjmallia]

I had a current draw from the rain sensor when the car was locked, as when I was not driving during the lockdown the battery was not lasting very long.

There was a setting in VCDS that allowed the rain sensor to check for rain all the time to close the windows if it rained.

Switched that setting off and all was fine again.......could be a possible one to check also

[Stupots]

@Pudding It's a VW Discover Media and not been a problem in the 2 years I've had it, but never say never.

@mjmallia Good shout! I have noticed it shutting the sunroof in the past when I've left it open and it's rained, so that's def one to check and change!

[pudding]

Sorry, my reply was sarcasm 

Having said that, I've had 2 x RNS510s that caused battery drain.  An old revision A and then later a Revision P.  The P at least could be fixed with a firmware update.

I suppose you could pull the harness out of the radio and see how long the battery lasts then?  A bit of a faff I know.

I never knew that about the rain sensor in the 8 years I owned mine. Clever old cars the MK5.

[mjmallia]

Thought it was a great feature with the kids always opening windows etc, until I noticed the drain on the battery with lack of use at that time

[Stupots]

@Pudding ah, I'm not so good at spotting sarcasm, but I should have known better from you :)

@mjmallia I found that vid, then went out to the car and I didn't have the same settings... mine is in module 46 Central Convenience, and I don't have as many options as in the vid.



The car seemed to not be drawing as much today, it settled to 300mA after 2 hours. In VCDS I unticked bit 1 and ticked bit 2 and after 2 hours it dropped to 160mA which I can live with. Certainly better than the 1.5A I was seeing!

I did notice the sunroof going up and down when I was sitting in the car with my Dad a month or 2 ago, so I'm sure it's sunroof related now :) Thanks @mjmallia I'll see how I go. 

Cheers, Stu.

[LC5F]

Could this be a sun roof cars factory setting?
Another reason for me to dislike that expensive option!
Mine always seems to have a drain, as soon as I can will get busy with the VDCS to check

it may be a newer control module he has installed giving more options.

[Stupots]

@LC5F yeh, I think it's definitely the default from factory setting and has saved me from the rain a handful of times in the last 7 years, but not enough to have battery drain. I replaced the battery last yer because of similar issues, but I think just a much healthier battery masked the issues for a while, certainly until the winter when cold/adverse weather takes its toll.

When I was looking for a 4motion, I wasn't worried about a sunroof, but did want Xenon and Climatronic. I've replaces the sunroof glass seal once, but never cleaned the drains or lubed the rails/mechanism. Maybe a job for the spring!

[mjmallia]

I had upgraded a lot of modules like CCM, Canbus and rain sensor (later version differs to the earlier mk5 ones) a few years ago to some late Mk6 and scirocco versions

I am pretty sure the setting moved about and the video guide is what I followed but it has been a while since I looked at the settings closely.

Anyway I am glad it is helping as that option was def draining my battery at the time.

[LC5F]

@LC5F yeh, I think it's definitely the default from factory setting and has saved me from the rain a handful of times in the last 7 years, but not enough to have battery drain. I replaced the battery last yer because of similar issues, but I think just a much healthier battery masked the issues for a while, certainly until the winter when cold/adverse weather takes its toll.

When I was looking for a 4motion, I wasn't worried about a sunroof, but did want Xenon and Climatronic. I've replaces the sunroof glass seal once, but never cleaned the drains or lubed the rails/mechanism. Maybe a job for the spring!

I still haven't had a chance to look with VCDS - but CCM is replaced with a later model passat one - I don't know if that one had a sunroof

Sunroof seal - is that the visible one on the outside - if it is - how hard was it to replace? as mine is a bit wonky donkey!

[ald1717]

Mine had a battery drain and it was the fact that the canbus was updated after head unit was installed

[Stupots]

Was or wasn’t updated?

If it was updated as you say, what config in the new CAN gateway caused the issue?