VW Nivus: Weak Start Points to Terminal 30 Power Issue

Recently dealt with similar symptoms on a 2020 VW T-Cross. The continuous power issue through Terminal 30 often points to problems in the charging system. First step was testing voltage drop across battery terminals while cranking, showed excessive drain. Further diagnosis revealed a degraded wiring harness connection near the fuse box, causing intermittent power delivery to the starter circuit. The root cause turned out to be more complex than initially thought. A short circuit was slowly draining the battery even when the car was off, leading to weak starts and cranking issues. The problem required replacement of a section of the wiring harness and thorough testing of the ignition switch assembly. Main signs that matched your symptoms: Weak cranking despite battery being relatively new, Intermittent starting problems, Battery constantly showing low voltage This was a serious electrical issue that could have eventually left the car stranded. Would recommend having a full electrical diagnostic done, focusing on: 1. Battery load test 2. Alternator output check 3. Voltage drop test at Terminal 30 4. Full charging system evaluation Best to address this promptly before it affects other electrical components.

Thanks for the detailed response. After reading through your suggestions, I checked the voltage drop and had similar findings. The electrician discovered a faulty circuit breaker that was causing intermittent power delivery to the starter motor. Your tip about testing the charging system helped identify the root cause. Did you remember roughly how much the repair ended up costing? Also curious if you had any other electrical gremlins pop up since getting it fixed? Looking back, the symptoms were classic signs of a failing electrical connection, wish I had caught it earlier before it started affecting the cranking.

After dealing with that Terminal 30 continuous plus issue, everything has been running perfectly in my T-Cross. The repair turned out to be pretty straightforward once the mechanic identified the exact problem. The final bill came to 290€, which covered diagnosing and fixing the heavily discharged battery. The charging system has been solid since the repair, with no voltage drop issues or short circuit problems showing up. They did a thorough check of the entire fuse box and electrical connections while they had it apart, which probably helped prevent any future gremlins from appearing. Worth noting that catching these electrical issues early definitely saves money in the long run. When battery problems go unchecked, they can cascade into bigger issues with the starter motor or alternator. Really glad I got it sorted when I did. It sounds like your electrician did a proper job identifying that circuit breaker issue. Those intermittent power delivery problems can be tricky to diagnose without the right testing equipment.

Thanks for the advice. Finally got the car back from the shop yesterday. The mechanic found the circuit breaker issue exactly where you mentioned. The power supply was getting interrupted due to corrosion buildup at the terminal connection. Complete repair cost was 340€ including parts and labor. They had to replace the circuit breaker assembly and clean all the Terminal 30 connections. The voltage drop test now shows normal readings and the car starts perfectly every time. The charging system is working great now too. My mechanic mentioned doing preventive maintenance checks every 15000km to catch any electrical issues early. Looking back, the intermittent starting problems were a clear warning sign that the ignition switch was getting unreliable power. Just glad to have it fixed before getting stranded somewhere. The repair was definitely worth every euro spent.