Ed30 '07 - battery drain issues - last hope!

[gikseiman]

Heya's all!

This is my last hope before I give up and sell the car..I have a battery drain issue on my Ed30 '07 :(

Vehicle has done about 18k on the clock, DSG, multi-function steering wheel. VW MFD2 Sat Nav fitted in factory.

So, the battery goes flat randomly - sometimes 2 days, 1 week, 2 week, 1 month, 2 months...completely random!!

First time it happened, I thought just me leaving something on. 2nd time..ok, may have been me..but its happened like 5+ times.

I've trawled through all the threads and here is what I've found and done: -

i.) CAN gateway issue - The problem mentioned is with part numbers prior to L. I had this checked and have the 1xx AD version so not this

ii.) RNS510 firmware issue - not my sat nav, I have VW MFD2

iii.) 12v live - I don't believe this is my issue. When I pull the key out of the ignition, the unit turns off. I'm assuming this is not the switched live issue right? If anyone can confirm, that'll be great!

iv.) VW MFD2 firmware - I read 1 post that someone upgraded the firmware on their MFD2 unit from 2 to 3 and the issue has now gone away. I trawled through the internet and found a few references to MFD2 firmware 28 to 30...so I'm assuming it is this. Looking at the VW technical doc release, one fix says "Increased closed circuit current". I'm not sure if this means anything to anyone. Has anyone tried 28 to 30 firmware and has it fixed anything? This is something I'm going to try anyway because I'm running out of options

Apart from that, there isn't any more details.

I've taken the vehicle to VW garage 4 times now. Each time, they've done amp meter checks and diag on it and nothing is coming up. They have recently had it for 1.5 weeks and sods law, no battery drain. Starts each time. They have already changed the battery once.

Anyone any ideas? Would be very much appreciated.

Car drives like an absolute dream, smooth as a babies butt and barely run in. However, the battery drain issue has taken all the fun and reliability out of it.... Heeeeeellpp please!

Last hope someone out there can shed some light on this. If it happens again, it'll topple me over the edge :(

Thankssss!!

[RedRobin]

^^^^
Just because a unit turns off when you remove the key from the ignition it doesn't mean it's not drawing power from the battery.

I had a battery drainage problem which was solved (so far!) by changing a connection from Live to Ignition.

[red-snake]

Redrobin can you tell me how you did this mine still goes dead every no and then

[gikseiman]

Hey Redrobin, thanks for the quick response!!

I read on a forum that if the key is removed and the unit turns off, then it is connected correctly to ignition and not switch live as the unit has powered off.

Is this not the case? If not, I'll definitely get VW to check it!!

1 to add to the list, thankss!! 

Anyone any other ideas?

[RedRobin]

^^^^
My car audio/electrics specialist did it for me. Using an amp meter he tested each fuse to find the source of more amp consumption than there should be. Test any aftermarket equipment first. He found the loss on fuse F19 which is allocated "Radio" but I have an aftermarket Alpine Audio/SatNav system (which he originally installed).. And then he found the Canbus(?) box for the DVD SatNav and changed connection from Live to Ignition. Everything works exactly as it did before the connection was changed: When I switch on the ignition my Alpine screen slides itself out and tilts upwards - Very cool. It puts itself away shortly after I remove the ignition key.

[bacillus]

What about current draw from a bulb in the boot? An intermittently sticking switch for it may explain your issue.

[gikseiman]

Ah yes, Bacillus, forgot to mention I checked that also.

Once, when the battery went dead, first thing I did was drop one of the back seats and looked inside the boot just incase like you said, the switch was stuck or something and the boot light remained on. Unfortunately, nothing. :(

[mb]

Have you checked the glovebox light?

[ub7rm]

Have you checked the glovebox light?

I found the plunger for the switch wasn't making contact with the back of the glovebox so the light was staying on.  I fixed this by glueing some cardboard to the back of the glovebox where it makes contact with the plunger 

Check by taking the panel of the side of the passenger side dash, you'll be able to see the if the light is staying on when the glovebox is closed.

Despite this, I had no battery drain.  The convienience module should (and in my case must have been) shut down any interior lights after a period of time after the car has been locked.  Its a possibility but I doubt this is actually causing a problem for you.

[gikseiman]

Thanks all, will check the glove box also.

Btw redrobin, did your screen slide back up when you removed the key from ignition prior to visiting the tech, or did that happen after the unit was changed to ignition from live?

[RedRobin]

Btw redrobin, did your screen slide back up when you removed the key from ignition prior to visiting the tech, or did that happen after the unit was changed to ignition from live?

....My Alpine screen continues to slide out horizontally and then vertically (and the same in reverse) as the ignition key is inserted/removed, exactly as it always has done. I can program it to stay closed and only open manually but I see no point in doing so.

[gikseiman]

Update: glove box light is good. Doesn't stay on

Very strange behavior following updating the firmware to 30. When I now simply unlock the car, the radio comes on. Previous it would only do so when the ignition was turned or when I pushed the power button.

The other very bizarre thing is that when I now switch off the engine and remove the key, the unit turns off (expextedly), but when I exit the vehicle and lock the car via the fob, the bloody mfd2 unit comes back on lol

Surely this isn't right?!?

[vRStu]

2007 car, are you still in warranty??

[Sparky Craig]

I had the same problem with my car (2006 Plate) from new with a factory fitted MFD2, after leaving the car for more then a few days the battery would be dead.

Back to the dealer it went and they replaced the battery a few times.  It still happened for some time so I bought a Motor Boat / Motor Bike / Car - Battery conditioner and had that fitted to the car though out the week (My cars a weekend car) and then I had VW Assistance come out a few time with other things and he told me it was a known fault with some of that years batch...

I then took it to the dealer and left if with them for a few day`s, then picked it up and was told they could not find ANYTHING wrong but had changed the battery AGAIN.   

Surprise, surprise the NEW battery never went flat again ....

PM me and I`ll give you my dealers details and if need be, you can get your dealer to call them and find out exactly what was done or what type of SPECIAL battery they used!

[gikseiman]

2007 car, are you still in warranty??

Unfortunately came out of warranty this april, but the issue was happening whilst it was still in warranty so fortunately, they are still able to look at the fault free of charge because its re-occurring.