I have a Taos SE and today is the second time I’ve had to jump the battery. I had to have the car towed last month because the battery wouldn’t hold a charge after getting it jumped and the dealership said they couldn’t find anything wrong with it. I started working from home so I don’t drive as much and this is the second time that after eight days the battery is completely dead. Has anyone heard of or had any issue with the battery?
Battery issue
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there are only two things to troubleshoot and they are both very simple to test for. battery health, voltage regulator on the alternator supplying enough/correct voltage and current. you could have one of those bad but this also could be our new reality. The other 'normal thing' is the constant power drain of any modern car. some of the electronics are always on and that draws power, otherwise the door unlock button, keyfob proximity, keyless remote or remote start wouldn't work for example.
our family works at home and I've had to jump 2 of 3 cars several times this year. (not the taos yet). we usually drive the taos once a week on purpose. I use battery maintainers on all other cars and other battery started engines. This is our normal now.
our family works at home and I've had to jump 2 of 3 cars several times this year. (not the taos yet). we usually drive the taos once a week on purpose. I use battery maintainers on all other cars and other battery started engines. This is our normal now.
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If you think it’s from not driving it, there are trickle charge adapters that plug into the cigarette lighter to keep the battery topped up. But that’s usually needed when storing a car for the winter.
But to me it sounds like a bad battery.
But to me it sounds like a bad battery.
any auto parts store will test the battery for free if you want a 2nd opinion. They will also test the alternator but you'd have to remove it from the car. These are easy to test and the only other option is power drain from computers being on as with any other modern car.
Your VW dealer has a diagnostic tool that can test the battery to determine if it is defective. It's unusual, but not unheard of, for a battery to be defective... I had one replaced under warranty on my Golf 7 when the battery was 2 years old.
I don't know if the power outlets in the Taos are constantly powered (meaning, if they get power when the ignition is off and the vehicle is locked up). In any case, you might want to check and see if you have anything plugged into a power outlet - such as a cell phone charger or similar - that might be drawing power constantly and depleting the battery.
Sometimes, disconnecting the battery by removing the ground (negative) power strap from the battery post and leaving the battery disconnected for about an hour will solve mysterious parasitic power draws. If you are comfortable doing that yourself, perhaps give it a try.
I don't know if the power outlets in the Taos are constantly powered (meaning, if they get power when the ignition is off and the vehicle is locked up). In any case, you might want to check and see if you have anything plugged into a power outlet - such as a cell phone charger or similar - that might be drawing power constantly and depleting the battery.
Sometimes, disconnecting the battery by removing the ground (negative) power strap from the battery post and leaving the battery disconnected for about an hour will solve mysterious parasitic power draws. If you are comfortable doing that yourself, perhaps give it a try.
You have to move fuse #40 to the upper position to put the power outlets on battery they come from the factory set to ignition circuit #15.
Are you storing the key fob near the car? I read a recent article discussing vehicle battery drain caused by constant communication between key fob and car when keys are kept close by. It used an example of keys stored on shelf in garage or in entrance hall just inside door from garage.
I'm working from home too, and I've also been running the GTI a bit, so the Taos has definitely had >1 week sitting a few times. It's in the garage then though, and after I can't remember how long it's been sitting there, I usually hook up the Battery Tender for a bit. It's typically fully charged again within 12-24h so the battery is nowhere near dead before I charge it a bit.
When the car was brand new I had it parked in the garage for a few days and I hooked up the Battery Tender then too. It took 2 full days to charge, so it was a bit run down when I got the car. You may just have never gotten the battery fully charged especially if you're only doing occasional short trips.
When the car was brand new I had it parked in the garage for a few days and I hooked up the Battery Tender then too. It took 2 full days to charge, so it was a bit run down when I got the car. You may just have never gotten the battery fully charged especially if you're only doing occasional short trips.
I appreciate all the input. After two days it is dead again so it will be heading back to the dealership. I’ve had the car since July and no issues until I started working from home. Last time it was at the dealership they said they tested the battery and it didn’t come back with any issues and because it didn’t give them certain codes they were unable to replace the battery. I am very frustrated as I love this car and haven’t had any issues and I hope the dealership is able to help this time.
Hopefully a final update. The dealership had my car for a month to finally tell me they took the battery out and it was a factory defect with the battery and replaced it. Irritated that took a month and no one would return my calls when I called for updates but at least I have the car back and hopefully it will work properly now.
Incredibly frustrating! Guess you‘ll Be looking for different dealer for future service.
A month to test & change a Battery 
Oh Hell No...
I have this rule of never ever bringing a car back to a dealership so i sure hope i dont have any issues but I've only had mine a few weeks and have already experienced some weird stuff...
Day 2 on auto start when I got in it wouldn't recognize the key, have also had the reverse camera stay on when driving, have also not been able to change dashboard screens while driving. In all three cases I had to shut it off and then start it back up to get it to work correctly. Hope its not a sign of things to come because the nearest dealership is not very near and I've been known to go off bigtime at a dealership when they "tried" to jerk me around, LOL
EDIT
oh Ya have also had the radio not work at all and just be a blank screen while driving (again had to shut it off and then restart to fix)
Oh Hell No...I have this rule of never ever bringing a car back to a dealership so i sure hope i dont have any issues but I've only had mine a few weeks and have already experienced some weird stuff...
Day 2 on auto start when I got in it wouldn't recognize the key, have also had the reverse camera stay on when driving, have also not been able to change dashboard screens while driving. In all three cases I had to shut it off and then start it back up to get it to work correctly. Hope its not a sign of things to come because the nearest dealership is not very near and I've been known to go off bigtime at a dealership when they "tried" to jerk me around, LOL
EDIT
oh Ya have also had the radio not work at all and just be a blank screen while driving (again had to shut it off and then restart to fix)
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