What You Should Know About the 2002 Volkswagen Passat Battery Draining Problem
The 2002 Volkswagen Passat battery draining problem is not uncommon.
Written by Rachel Rigolino
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
If your 2002 Volkswagen Passat has a dead battery, it may indicate nothing more than an old battery—but it can point to other problems as well. Underlying causes include corrosion on battery terminals, a bad alternator, or wiring issues, among others.
Your 2002 Volkswagen Passat has treated you well over the years, and it gets through your daily commute just fine. But then one morning, you come out to find your battery dead. A week after replacing the battery, you leave work, turn the ignition, and your Passat won’t start.
When you need answers to your Passat’s battery problems, turn to
Jerry
—the super app for car insurance
. We put together this guide to help you diagnose what might be causing your battery to fail—and what to do about it. We've even included a tip on how to reduce your Volkswagen Passat insurance costs
! What causes the 2002 Volkswagen Passat battery draining problem?
There are many common causes of a draining battery on a Passat. For example, if your Passat has been parked for a day or two and you come out one morning to find the battery dead, it may be because your battery is failing or something in your car is drawing power when it shouldn’t.
On the other hand, if your
battery light is on
while you’re driving, this points to a problem with your alternator.When does the battery drain? | Possible causes |
|---|---|
Battery drains when you’re parked | Battery may be failing or dead—it can no longer hold a charge. Or, it may be that power is being drawn down by something, such as lights, faulty wiring, or an aftermarket product. |
Battery drains while you’re driving | Most likely you have a problem with your **alternator**. Listen for a whining noise, which signals an alternator issue. Sometimes, you can have a problem with your battery cables. |
Are you overpaying for your car insurance?
Are you overpaying for your car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds
4.717k Ratings5M+Drivers Joined
7M+Cars Garaged
How to fix the Volkswagen Passat’s battery draining problem
If you suspect your battery is bad and the problem is not being caused by a battery drain, you might first take your Passat to an auto parts store, such as AutoZone or Advance Auto Parts, which provides free battery testing. Assuming the test shows the battery is bad, you can install a new battery yourself if you feel confident doing so. On the other hand, if the test reveals that your battery is sending out the correct current, then you know there is another problem.
However, if your battery dashboard light has been going off, this indicates a
problem with your alternator
and/or an electrical, cable, or other issue. Take your Passat to a mechanic. You don’t want to pay for a new battery unnecessarily when this approach is unlikely to solve the problem.Here are some issues that may cause a battery to drain:
Problem **not** caused by bad battery |
|---|
Drain by a light in the glove box or other area of the car |
Faulty cable between alternator and battery or faulty relay |
Corrosion on battery posts |
General electrical problem that causes a drain |
Bad alternator |
Because underlying causes of battery drains can be complicated, a mechanic will likely be needed to correctly diagnose the problem.
MORE: How to refill a car battery
How to save money on Volkswagen insurance
Ignoring a faulty battery can lead to larger, more expensive problems. The sooner you address an issue, the better off your car—and your wallet—will be.
Another way to save money is by shopping around for low
Volkswagen insurance costs
using Jerry
. If you want to save money on car insurance, the Jerry app is a good place to start. A trustworthy licensed broker app
, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.
Take a look at what this customer had to say:
“UsingJerryis a super straightforward process, and at each step, you can see exactly what coverage you’re paying for. Thanks to Jerry, I’m paying $900 less each year while keeping full coverage for my new car!” —Martin H.
Jerry sends free alerts to keep your car up-to-date so you can avoid costly repairs
* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score
Get ahead of my car maintenance
* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score
Estimate your repair costs for free with GarageGuard™
Simplify your car maintenance with Jerry.
4.7
