Last night the battery was dead so I gave it a jump start and drove it home with no problem. This morning the battery was dead again so I installed a new battery. When I start the car the engine dies right away unless I keep my foot on the gas. If I try to drive it the engine runs rough and will not go over about 20 miles per hour. I assume this may be a computer problem due to the dead battery. What should I do?
Thanks for all the responses to my question. I am sorry to say there was no simple answer to my problem. I consider this a Volkswagen design flaw. Anytime you disconnect the battery it fowls up the power train control module and the electric throttle control module. The only way to fix it is an expensive trip to the dealer to reset the electronics. My local mechanic could not help and sent me to the dealer’s shop. You can read a web article about this problem at the following web address: http://www.asashop.org/autoinc/oct2003/techtips.htm
To make matters worse there is a detailed proceedure described in my Volkswagen Owners manual for changing the car battery. I followed this procedure exactly. It warns that you will loose your radio station presents, and a few other minor issues that are eaisly fixed. It does not tell you that changing the battery will render the car virtually undriveable and cause an expensive trip to the dealer’s shop. Beware if you own a Volkswagen!
