I've been having some starting problems with my ride lately. At first I couldn't really pinpoint the problem, as it occurred only now and then. But since Wednesday I had to use jumpers to start my car EVERY time.

So last night I quickly undid one of the terminals (negative) and connected the battery to a car battery charger. As I removed the negative terminal I noticed a thin black cable running from the terminal broke off. I can't see where it has to go as it's about 10-15cm long, and bolts onto the terminal itself. I take it this is a ground wire? Could this be preventing the car from starting?

Anyway, after the charge, car still doesn't want to start. It just lights up the whole instrument panel with liggies, and then clicks when I turn the key. Any ideas?

A thin black wire will not go to the starter, it draws lots of current...

I suspect your battery is dead...

Once you start the car with jumper cables, do all the liggies go out?

On the polo negative there isa thin black wire that is earth signal to the onboard power supply.
That signal gone it will affect the load signal of the alternator.
It will not affect charge but load signal only.
It sounds like ya battery dead or power supply problem.

VGTI wrote:A thin black wire will not go to the starter, it draws lots of current...

I suspect your battery is dead...

Once you start the car with jumper cables, do all the liggies go out?

Thought as much. Yeah, all the lights go off, electronics work and everythings fine. It just doesn't want to start.

g60 golf wrote:On the polo negative there isa thin black wire that is earth signal to the onboard power supply.
That signal gone it will affect the load signal of the alternator.
It will not affect charge but load signal only.
It sounds like ya battery dead or power supply problem.

Do you know where that black wire goes? Cos that is the only thin black wire on the negative and it broke off (don't ask me how).

Is there any way to easily test what/where the problem is?

If you have reconnected the thin wire and the car still don't start ,then 9 out of 10 it is the battery ,I have changed mine twice already.

DieselTorqueTdi wrote:If you have reconnected the thin wire and the car still don't start ,then 9 out of 10 it is the battery ,I have changed mine twice already.

Aaaag beesh!! Waar connect ek daai swart wire? Ek het nie 'n idee nie...

Enige plek op die earth van die battery , ek het myne geskuif na waar die battery kabel op die body kom ,dis 'n 13 spanner daai kant.

Hoop jy kom reg.

DieselTorqueTdi wrote:Enige plek op die earth van die battery , ek het myne geskuif na waar die battery kabel op die body kom ,dis 'n 13 spanner daai kant.

Hoop jy kom reg.

Dankie baie.

I had a very similar starting problem with my 1.6 9n3 and it turned out to be the battery.

Laat weet of jy reg gekom het.

Yep, sounds like your battery is fooked...

DieselTorqueTdi wrote:If you have reconnected the thin wire and the car still don't start ,then 9 out of 10 it is the battery ,I have changed mine twice already.

Serious - Still running on the same battery in my Polo, from the factory...

Must be the battery. Mine was replaced recently - it still started the engine but it took a little longer before doing so. Also the voltmeter/boost gauge was showing a very low reading before start up.

MeanTdi wrote:Also the voltmeter/boost gauge was showing a very low reading before start up.

There's no boost when the engine is not running idiot Some people...

Neuk wrote:

MeanTdi wrote:Also the voltmeter/boost gauge was showing a very low reading before start up.

There's no boost when the engine is not running idiot Some people...

Yea, Nic is back! Not...

No man, the boost gauge is a voltmeter on start up

Mine lasted 5 and a half years and started showing similar symptoms, eventually the car would only start after long trips. Short trips would not charge the battery enough.

MeanTdi wrote:Yea, Nic is back! Not...

Hellooooooo...

MeanTdi wrote:No man, the boost gauge is a voltmeter on start up

WTF - This thing doesn't know if it is Arthur or Martha Is it of the ghey?

Neuk wrote:

MeanTdi wrote:No man, the boost gauge is a voltmeter on start up

WTF - This thing doesn't know if it is Arthur or Martha Is it of the ghey?

LOL

Also had to replace the battery on my TDI recently...

Reconnected the little black wire, fitted another battery, all sorted. Thanks guys.