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Technical Service Bulletin

Transaction No.: 2016076/13

27-15-03 - Battery, Discharged, Diagnosis for Excessive Static Current Draw

Condition
Applicable Vehicles
Model(s)

Year

Eng. Code

Trans. Code

VIN Range
From

VIN Range To

All

2000-2026

All

All

All

All

(except Routan)

Revision Table
Instance Number

Published Date

Version Number

2016076/13

12/8/25

27-15-03

Update battery charger
and model year
applicability.

2016076/12

07/13/23

27-15-03

Update model year
applicability.

2016076/11

03/2/22

27-15-03

Update model and model
year applicability.

2016076/4

9/18/07

27-07-10

Tool reference and
Matrix example revisions

Technical Background
One or more of the following symptoms is possible.
•

Discharged battery

•

Engine does not start because of low battery voltage

•

Voltage display in the combination instrument displays too low

•

"Low battery" fault codes in various control modules

Production Solution
N/A.

Service

Reason For Update

Tip:
Refer to Elsa for other Technical Bulletins that apply to specific vehicles with discharged batteries. These
Technical Bulletins provide information about intermittent faults and correct battery testing /charging
procedures.

Note:
Perform ALL STEPS, to systematically test for faults and to avoid repeat repairs.

Note:
The power supply to vehicle must not be cut off. DO NOT perform terminal 30 reset. DO NOT remove or
disconnect battery, battery cables or fuses.

Check the fault memory.
•

Compare control units on the fault memory print-out with vehicle equipment (PR numbers). Are all
necessary control units listed on the print-out? Any control units not listed may be faulty and could be
indications for the further fault finding.

•

Check which non-genuine parts are installed, e.g. tow bar, animal protection, radio, DVD, etc. If an
increased closed-circuit current is found, check these components first.

Step 1: Verify Battery Condition
1.

Connect charger VAS5908 to battery.

2.

Check and/or charge battery based on applicable Technical Bulletin.

Step 2: Verify Sleep State Current
1. Connect 50 amp current clamp to appropriate VAS Diagnostic tool.
2. Calibrate the current clamp.
3. Connect current clamp to negative battery cable with arrow pointing away from battery.
Tip:
Current flows out of the battery to the chassis of the vehicle
4. Close all doors, trunk, or hood latch so vehicle control units detect all doors closed.
5. Arm vehicle anti-theft system with remote.
Tip:
•

If vehicle has easy entry handles then it is necessary to keep clear of all handles to avoid bus
communication/wakeup message.

•

On vehicles equipped with air suspension, after engine is turned off, the system will stay in standby for
up to five minutes

6. Observe sleep state current draw after vehicle is left untouched for TWO HOURS.

Vehicle:

Phaeton

All other models

Nominal sleep current:

50 mA

40 mA

7. If after two hours the vehicle exceeds maximum sleep state current draw, proceed to Step 3: Consuming
Circuit Isolation. If vehicle does not exceed maximum sleep state current draw, perform a long term
(overnight) measurement test. Record the long term measurement using MIN/MAX setting of scan tool.
Tip:
Periodic spikes in current draw are normal

Step 3: Consuming Circuit Isolation
Tip:
Due to the state of the CAN Bus communications in the vehicle, it is no longer acceptable to pull each
individual fuse one at a time to try and identify which circuit is consuming current. Removal/ reinsertion of a
fuse while vehicle is in a sleep state may wake the bus of the vehicle, and invalidate the test. Identifying
"consuming" circuits must be done by measuring a voltage drop across fuse and aligning with the value in
matrix located at end of this document.

Starting at interior fuse boxes, perform the following tasks:
Tip:
Use VAS multimeter function, Fluke 83 multimeter, or equivalent.

•

Use "mV" scale on meter

•

Measure voltage drop across fuse by placing the
positive lead on one side of the fuse and
negative lead on other side.

•

Take absolute value of reading of voltage drop (ignore negative signs) and then reference voltage drop
chart to determine how much current the circuit is currently consuming. See Identifying Current
Consumption with Matrix attachment.

•

Check all fuses until fuse with approximate excessive current draw is identified

Identification of component:
1.

Once fused circuit is identified, use service repair and wiring diagram information in Elsa to identify all
components on circuit.

2.

Disconnect components from the circuit one by one and allow sleep current to stabilize after each
elimination.

3.

Measure vehicle current consumption and voltage drop across fuse once again. If within normal range,
as specified in the table (see Current Consumption Matrix attachment), the component with excessive
consumption is identified.

4.

Repeat steps above until component is identified causing excessive current draw.

Warranty
Information only.

Required Parts and Tools
No Special Parts required.
No Special Tools required.

Additional Information
All part and service references provided in this Technical Bulletin are subject to change and/or removal.
Always check with your Parts Dept. and Repair Manuals for the latest information.

© 2025 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is
based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other
intellectual property rights of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors.
All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites,
without the prior expressed written permission of the publisher.

Identifying Current Consumption with Matrix

•

Measurement Mini
mV
5
0.1
6
0.2
12
0.3
18
0.4
24
0.5
30

Measured voltage
drop across fuse

What is needed:
o Measured voltage drop across fuse in mV
o Fuse type
o Fuse rating

Mini
7.5
10
20
30
40
50

Mini StandardStandardStandardStandardStandard Standard
30
10
5
10
15
20
25
14
7
13
23
30
47
62
13
123
28
27
45
61
94
185
43
20
40
68
91
141
57
26
54
91
122
188
246
71
33
67
113
152
235
308
Example:
• Measured voltage drop = .3 mV
• Fuse type = Standard
• Fuse rating = 5 A
Current consumption through circuit = 20 mA

Page 1 of 3

Fuse type
Fuse rating

20 mA

Current Consumption Matrix
Measurement
mV
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
2
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
4
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9

Mini
5
6
12
18
24
30
36
42
48
54
60
66
72
78
84
90
96
102
108
114
120
126
132
138
144
150
156
162
168
174
180
186
192
198
204
210
216
222
228
234
240
246
252
258
264
270
276
282
288
294

Mini
7.5
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160