VW IPOD Adapter

[VW BEATL]

I was so happy, for Christmas Steven had the ipod adapter installed from VW into my NB . When I came to pick up my NB they drove it out to me then when I got in it my NB would not start! The mechanic came out and jumped my NB. He said he noticed I had an after market amplifier and sub-woofer, and he felt they were draining my battery and that I needed a new battery, we told him the battery was 3 months old. After the jump my NB started so we drove to Sears so they could test my battery. Sears said the battery was fine and the alternater is charging enough to support the ipod system but that I shouldn't add anymore equipment to my NB and he suggested I get a compasitor. We took my NB to the stereo shop where we had the amplifier installed. They said Sears was wrong that a compasitor is for only helping the dimming of the car lights, and that maybe VW maintenance installed the Ipod wrong because the Ipod uses a small fraction of the car's battery and it shouldn't drain the battery at all. So now we called VW and they said I might need some work on my alternator or install a bigger alternater 120 volt, right now I have a 90 volt. My NB was about to die again on Thursday when I noticed my windows wouldn't roll up and the drive was feeling sluggish as if it was about to die so I hurried up and unplugged my Ipod and then BOOM! My windows rolled up and the drive was smooth again??? My NB was just fine before the Ipod installation now I'm bummed. And everytime I turn off my NB I also unplug my ipod so I know it isn't draining while the car is off because I take my Ipod with me when I leave the car. Has anyone else experienced this at all, I really hate to have a new alternater installed for $500.00 if I really don't need to. HELP! :confused:

Bummed to the Max,
Rachel

[Rubee2006Tdi]

I am not an expert but it sounds like either VW wired the adaptor incorrectly creating a large drain on the system, or perhaps the adaptor is faulty. You better get it checked before it does KILL the battery. Maybe your stereo shop could check the installation out for you? Good luck.

[VW BEATL]

Thanks Glenn & Pugsley, it seems like that is what everyone is telling me. I made an appointment for Monday morning at VW. I'll let you know what the outcome is.
Thanks again.

Happy New Year!
Rachel

[BEARJAM]

The VW Dealership may have wired the iPod power into the cigarette lighter's power (which is ALWAYS on) making the iPod run even after the car is turned off. An iPod will usually PAUSE itself when power is disconnected from it.

Try an experiment. Put the ipod on a certain song and turn off the car. Wait about 20-30 minutes and turn the car back on. The ipod should still be on the same song. If it has advanced about 5-8 songs (depending on the length of the songs) you will know that the ipod is running all the time and that is your problem.

If all else fails, check this thread...

http://forums.ilounge.com/archive/index.php/t-83082.html

[VW BEATL]

OK, Steven took VW BEATL to the VW dealership last Monday and no budge from them. But I guess it's not their fault, because I took it to New Age Audio and the owner, Mylo told me that the stereo shop that connected my amplifier and subwoofer totally messed up the wires. And I guess when VW's guys connected the adapter they must of had a hard time with all the mess. So New Age took it all out and rewired everything. Yes I had to pay for 2 instullations, 2 laborers and 2 materials but I need my tunes. This new adapter has a higher voltage so now when I connect my Ipod it will charge it, VW's didn't do that. Also Mylo told me if I put in a more advanced stereo system the adapter will have the stereo show what band, album and song it's playing, with my VW stereo the adapter only shows the list tracking numbers. So I had New Age Audio install the Alpine Ipod stereo. Yes it means the bill rose even more but like I said before...I need my tunes and I need them to sound gooooooood, and now that everything is installed, WOW, what a change. Best part, my NB is running GREAT!

Thanks again for all the helpful advice,
Rachel