Need Help! 76 Beetle.

rcher54 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-22-2009, 01:13 PM

Had a dead battery,recharged and started right up. Drove about 25 miles and turned car off, wouldn't restart(no juice what so ever). Got a jump and restarted, made it home. Took battery to autozone and tested, Bad battery, got new battery and car started right up. Went about 85 miles since then and now the car is dead again! No juice at all. What would be causing the battery to go daed all the time? Had to have it towed in this time went dead while driving.

derf · #2 (**permalink**) 08-22-2009, 08:06 PM

Massive short or dead alternator sucking juice out of battery. Does ir spark when you swap out the battery?

rcher54 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-22-2009, 09:38 PM

Yes it turns over right away when battery is either charged or swapped out. Then it goes dead again while driving after about 85-90 miles?

derf · #4 (**permalink**) 08-23-2009, 08:50 AM

Let me rephrase that. Do the battery cables spark or short out when you install battery?
Put a meter on the battery and check voltage not running should be ~12 volts. Now start the car, voltage should jump up to 13 or so as alt is trying to charge.

rcher54 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-23-2009, 10:13 AM

Battery is good. I'm inclined to believe it is an alternator issue. It's off to our local expert Helmut Hoyer(guess where he's from?) 38 years experience with aircooled VeeDubs,for repairs and a tuneup! Hope he can have it in shape for our car club's show here in Allentown,PA on Sept. 5,2009!