Had this 2004 Convertible Beetle since 2006 with 40k on it. Within one year, rear window plastic hangar broke. Battery replaced twice. Last time noticed that the fuse box on the battery was severely melted. Suspected alternator losing it's strength and accessories overloading it. Alternator checked out fine (at two different locations). Black wire to alternator corroded and melted. Traced wire to alternator and travels with many other wires in a harness. Instead of taking the car nearly down to the frame to get at the wiring, I bought a comparably sized wire from a home repair store (no unpaid credits here!!) and refitted the connections. Wired in a 110 amp in line fuse and routed the wire in the front directly to the positive battery post. Hasn't gotten hot enough to melt plastic again. And if it does later, it isn't touching plastic now!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Had this 2004 Convertible Beetle since 2006 with 40k on it. Within one year, rear window plastic hangar broke. Battery replaced twice. Last time noticed that the fuse box on the battery was severely melted. Suspected alternator losing it's strength and accessories overloading it. Alternator checked out fine (at two different locations). Black wire to alternator corroded and melted. Traced wire to alternator and travels with many other wires in a harness. Instead of taking the car nearly down to the frame to get at the wiring, I bought a comparably sized wire from a home repair store (no unpaid credits here!!) and refitted the connections. Wired in a 110 amp in line fuse and routed the wire in the front directly to the positive battery post. Hasn't gotten hot enough to melt plastic again. And if it does later, it isn't touching plastic now!
- hoghead8814, Tulsa, OK, US