Amarok Battery Issues Causing Multiple Electric Faults

As someone with some car repair experience, I dealt with nearly identical symptoms on my 2018 VW Atlas. The electrical issues started similarly, dim lights, slow cranking, and various dashboard warnings pointing to a low battery condition. After multiple attempts at battery charging failed to resolve the issue, I took it to a workshop. They diagnosed a faulty battery sensor which was incorrectly reporting the battery state to the car's electrical system. This caused improper charging and led to a constantly discharged battery. The repair involved replacing the battery sensor and performing a full system reset. Total cost was 315€ including diagnostics. Since the fix, all electrical systems have worked perfectly with no more battery drain issues. What is the exact model year and engine variant of your Amarok? This would help confirm if the electrical systems are similar to what I encountered. Also, have you noticed if the battery warning appears more frequently after short trips or longer drives? This detail could help pinpoint if its truly a battery sensor issue versus other potential causes. The symptoms you describe strongly suggest either a discharged battery or charging system problem. Id recommend getting it checked soon, as continuing to drive with these issues could potentially leave you stranded with a completely dead battery.

Last service was completed at 58000km. The electrical issues persist even after I charged the battery overnight. Illuminated check engine and battery warning lights remain active. The alternator seems to be working as voltage shows 14.2V while running. Already checked fuses and visible wiring, all looks normal. Interesting point about the battery sensor, my symptoms match what you described. Based on your feedback, I will have the workshop specifically check the battery management system when I take it in next week. The warning lights and errors appear regardless of trip length. Even after highway driving the battery seems unable to maintain proper charge. Will report back after the diagnosis.

Thanks for the update. Those readings sound familiar, my alternator also showed normal voltage despite the battery issues. However, your symptoms persisting after a full charge really points to the battery sensor problem I experienced. The constant battery warning regardless of drive time was exactly what happened with my Atlas before the repair. The faulty sensor tricks the electrical system into thinking the battery is discharged even when its not, causing various system errors and warnings. One thing I noticed before getting mine fixed, the battery would appear dead after just 2-3 days of not driving, despite being fully charged. This happened because the sensor was telling the car to maintain systems active when they should have been in sleep mode. Since youve confirmed proper alternator voltage and ruled out obvious wiring issues, Id bet youre dealing with the same battery management system fault. Getting errors cleared might provide temporary relief, but they will likely return until the sensor is replaced. The fix completely resolved the electrical system warnings and battery drain issues on my vehicle. No more flickering lights or error messages since the repair.

Thanks everyone, I called the workshop and scheduled the car for next Tuesday. The battery sensor issue seems the most likely culprit given all your feedback. My symptoms match perfectly, especially the part about getting errors regardless of charging the battery. Just measured the voltage again: 12.4V when off and 14.2V while running. These readings plus the persistent warnings really align with the faulty sensor diagnosis you described. The fact that my battery keeps losing charge despite normal alternator output makes even more sense now. Really appreciate the detailed insights about the battery management system. Will definitely have them focus on the sensor when checking the electrical system. Good to know that fixing this resolved all the issues in your case, gives me confidence about the repair direction. Will update the thread once I get the workshop diagnosis. Hoping for a straightforward fix like your cases rather than a major electrical problem. At least I can drive it safely until Tuesday knowing the alternator is still charging properly.