# 2000 Volkswagen Beetle dead battery

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-volkswagen-beetle-dead-battery/113484>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [March 11, 2018, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-volkswagen-beetle-dead-battery/113484 "2018-03-11T14:08:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kraft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7c8e57/32.png) [@Kraft](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Kraft)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-volkswagen-beetle-dead-battery/113484/1 "2018-03-11T14:08:31Z")

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Car battery totally dead (11.4 volts) and in outside parking lot. How do a recharge it? Must it be removed and placed on a trickle charger? If so, at what charging rate? Battery is brand new. Thanks (car is diesel, stick)

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2018, 2:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2000-volkswagen-beetle-dead-battery/113484/2 "2018-03-11T14:15:36Z")

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11.4 volts is not totally dead. The battery can be charged in the car (use an extension cord) or out on a bench. It doesn’t matter. If you can’t get the charger to the battery, the battery must go to the charger.

A trickle charger overnight is the best way to recharge it but a larger charger for shorter time will work OK, too.

A bigger question is; Why a new battery has discharged below its ability to start your car? Did you leave the lights on? Is something in the car staying ON and discharging the battery?