The car was not starting at all, battery was dead and could not be jumped, so I replaced the battery, now everything that wasn't working works, but when it starts, it immediately dies (within 5 seconds). The closest Volkswagon Service Station is 55 miles away (pretty expensive to tow). Help!!

The car was not starting at all, battery was dead and could not be jumped, so I replaced the battery, now everything that wasn't working works, but when it starts, it immediately dies (within 5 seconds). The closest Volkswagon Service Station is 55 miles away (pretty expensive to tow). Help!!

I have the same problem. Did you get an answer? Please let me know.
Thank you

2001 VW Beetle. Removed battery. (Dead) Five days later installed new battery. engine starts and dies. engine starts, RPM fluctuates from low to high then dies. Please help! Cannot figure out what happened!

Hi all,

I have the same problem with a 2002 Beetle. I used another car to jump the battery and the car started, allow me to at least take the car home...However, does anyone have any idea what the problem is?

If it was a "normal" car I'd say its the fuel pump - when you turn the ignition on, the fuel pump primes the fuel lines for a second or so then cuts off...the car starts and then the engine oil pressure closes a switch which supplies power to the fuel pump. I think in the NB the pump primes the system when you open the door (hear the whirring noise which stops).
The way to check this is to see if there is any pressure in the fuel lines after the car has died. Good Luck.

I have been there and here is the good news bad news ...

good news: this is your answer

bad news: you will likely have to visit a dealer and/or someone who has the appropriate hardware/software to recalibrate the throttle body.

explanation: there is a calibration setting held in computer memory which gets lost when the battery is disconnected for a long enough time. ABSOLUTELY REDICULOUS DESIGN DECISION on vw's part. I mean come on, batteries die or need a jump here and there. And no warning sticker on the battery to inform us vulnerable consumers. I have to believe this problem is widespread enough almost to warrant a class action suit. Can you imagine the number of people pulling their hair out over something like this? It would be as if a lamp malfunctioned after you change a lightbulb, which we do all the time.

Don't do what I did and keep restarting the car, you can mess up your starter which happened to me. Thus creating yet more unrecouped cost in my case. I'm sharing this in an effort to help those in the same boat.

Good luck.

exact same thing happened to me. Its my bosses car.. its been siting for months.. 4+months and battery was dead.. When i parked it there, it was running fine..
I looked into problem, couldn't find it.. so i came on here and looked at this exact thread. DId what ^^^ he said, and the computer came up with a code and they said I need to replace my Throddle Valve. What ever that is cause i don't know ANYTHING about VW.

SO, can someone tell me whats all involved changing the Throddle Valve. The part is very expensive, but i'm wondering if i can save myself the labor if its easy to do ourselves...

Look thru these search results at another site....summary seems to be that a visit to someone with a Vag-Com is needed to reset codes and reclibrate throttle body----but read thru these first:
http://newbeetle.org/forums/search.php?searchid=346707

You can try to adapt the throttle like this:

turn key on not start
slowly depress the throttle to the floor and hold 5seconds
slowly release and turn the key off, try to start

There are lots of problems with maf sensors, ect, fuel pressure regulator vacuum hose, front o2 sensors