# 2003 VW Beetle--jumpstarted battery, then it wouldn't start again **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** beetle, volkswagen\ **Created:** [December 5, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-beetle-jumpstarted-battery-then-it-wouldnt-start-again/96878 "2016-12-05T19:18:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hollyhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@hollyhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hollyhal)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-beetle-jumpstarted-battery-then-it-wouldnt-start-again/96878/1 "2016-12-05T19:18:01Z")
We were given (!) a car for our new teenage driver. It’s been sitting in the garage for about 4 months, and it wouldn’t start. We had AAA jumpstart it, and he told us to run it for 45 minutes. We did so, then turned it off, and… nothing. Won’t start again. Any ideas? Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 7:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-beetle-jumpstarted-battery-then-it-wouldnt-start-again/96878/2 "2016-12-05T19:20:14Z")
Basics…get a new battery and go from there. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-beetle-jumpstarted-battery-then-it-wouldnt-start-again/96878/3 "2016-12-05T19:22:27Z")
Yeah get a new battery first, then check to make sure the alternator is working. I had a car sitting with a new battery and the battery was so shot after a year it wouldn’t take a charge enough to start the car. Cars like to be driven not just sit idle. ---
**Author:** ![hollyhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@hollyhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hollyhal)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-beetle-jumpstarted-battery-then-it-wouldnt-start-again/96878/4 "2016-12-05T20:01:12Z")
Thank you. I should have known that by this late age. We’ll try a new battery. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-beetle-jumpstarted-battery-then-it-wouldnt-start-again/96878/5 "2016-12-05T20:41:45Z")
If the battery is not very old I would recharge it. A battery charger will normally recharge the battery in 4 to 8 hours. Idling the engine is a waste of time, charging voltage is too low, could take 20 hours. ---
**Author:** ![hollyhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@hollyhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hollyhal)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-beetle-jumpstarted-battery-then-it-wouldnt-start-again/96878/6 "2016-12-05T21:03:30Z")
Hmm. OK here’s another incredibly dumb question: is there a way for me to find out how old the battery is? There are 2 degrees of separation between us and the original owner of the car, who passed away, and we don’t have repair/maintenance records. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-beetle-jumpstarted-battery-then-it-wouldnt-start-again/96878/7 "2016-12-05T21:11:01Z")
Most aftermarket batteries have a small round sticker on the side of the battery with the month/year on it. Sometimes as a letter/number like D/15, that would be April, 2015. There is a similar date code pressed into the case on all batteries. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-beetle-jumpstarted-battery-then-it-wouldnt-start-again/96878/8 "2016-12-05T21:17:41Z")
Seriously, have the battery and alternator checked. You don’t need a teenager getting stranded in heavy traffic or in an area that might not be safe. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-beetle-jumpstarted-battery-then-it-wouldnt-start-again/96878/9 "2016-12-05T21:24:46Z")
Yes have the battery and charging system tested but don’t try to drive the car with a discharged battery, recharge or replace. ---
**Author:** ![hollyhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@hollyhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hollyhal)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-beetle-jumpstarted-battery-then-it-wouldnt-start-again/96878/10 "2016-12-05T21:25:44Z")
Great, thanks. I’ll check that when I get home. ---
**Author:** ![hollyhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@hollyhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hollyhal)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 9:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-beetle-jumpstarted-battery-then-it-wouldnt-start-again/96878/11 "2016-12-05T21:37:31Z")
Absolutely! We are already nervous about her driving–in fact, I’m going to have her drive mine (which she learned on) and I’ll drive the VW, once it’s operational again, until we’re sure of it. And even then, she won’t drive it alone until after we ride with her several times, just so she’s comfortable with it. Thank you! I’m so glad I found this forum. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2003-vw-beetle-jumpstarted-battery-then-it-wouldnt-start-again/96878/12 "2016-12-05T21:39:23Z")
> [@bing](#): > > Yeah get a new battery first, then check to make sure the alternator is working. Yup, I agree with everyone else, have the battery AND charging system tested. Replace as needed.[ > [@hollyhal](#): > > I should have known that by this late age. Naw. I feel quite certain that you know many things from your career that I at my late age don’t. We all have different bodies of knowledge. That’s why the whole thing works so well! 😁