Car totally dead - no electrics

[em2evol]

Got in my car this morning and when I turned the key, the dials lit up for a second then went dead, then it just made a clicking noise, there was no power anywhere - I had to lock the car using the key in the lock… But it had unlocked on the button fine...

I last used the car on Saturday and I only ever do short journeys (2-5 miles) - VW have told me over the phone today that the battery is dead because I don't use the car enough, but I find it hard to believe it can just go from being perfectly fine with no signs of a flat battery to having no electrics whatsoever... Is this really likely to be the case, or could it be something else?

Thanks a lot,

Em

[E30Dom]

Changed the headunit?

[56OctyVRS]

Batteries are funny things and can collapse without warning. Id get it jump started and get a garage to do a load test to check the health of the battery.

[camfollower]

Does your battery have an indicator on it?  Should be Green. Easy to flatten a battery if your not charging it.

The headunit issue is a problem on the newer gen HU's: RCD/RNS 310/510 in older cars (sub 2008 iirc), you will need either need a new headunit or upgrade the gateway.

So, question is, what model year is your car, and what headunit do you have?

[bacillus]

I vote for charging the battery and look for a hidden current draw before renewing it.

[em2evol]

Thanks all. I jump started the car and took it for a long drive tonight so we'll see what happens tomorrow morning! 

[camfollower]

Thanks all. I jump started the car and took it for a long drive tonight so we'll see what happens tomorrow morning!  

No report on year of car or model of headunit!?  

[Gene Hunt]

Sounds like the battery is on the way out to me.

[andygo]

Battery is there, its the electrickery thats gone.

[em2evol]

So I bought a new battery today and for the first time in months my stereo came on when I turned the ignition on, horay! Problem seems to be fixed... Perhaps I should just use my heated seats a bit less if I'm doing only 4 miles a day 

[andygo]

 

[Trev.]

If your only doing 4 miles a day the heated seats will drain the battery more than its charging haha, so yeh not using them is a good start!

[Gene Hunt]

So I bought a new battery today and for the first time in months my stereo came on when I turned the ignition on, horay! Problem seems to be fixed... Perhaps I should just use my heated seats a bit less if I'm doing only 4 miles a day 

.......thought that would cure it.