Battery oddity.
 

Hi all.

Disconnected my battery earlier in the week, as I wasn’t intending to use the car until next week and it’s been a bit dodge of late as I only use it for longer journeys and WFH etc.

Anyway. When I disconnected it the battery was charged and there were some clicks from the battery area.

Reconnected the battery today and nothing. Wouldn’t start, as if there was no battery connected. Tried my trusty jump back on the battery and still nothing, but some beeps like the car alarm was trying to sound. Clicked and almost turned over, then nothing!


Dead.

Anyone got any thoughts?

Got the voltmeter out and the battery is FUBAR’d.

If its been getting dodgy it probably suffered during the summer with lack of regular charging and now the temperature drop has just kicked it over the edge. Or its a Yuasa which do that just for gits and shiggles.

Tayna.co.uk are the best for batteries that I've found at the moment, Varta and Exide currently leaders in reliability across stuff I'm working on.

Thanks Mikki. I’ve got on ordered from ECP. I’m tootling round in the MCS mostly, and use the A8 when in the office. So without a trickle charge it’s suffered. I’ve had the current Bosch S5 battery replaced enough times already under warranty. I’ve got a low current drain on the A8, always have. Think it’s to do with keyless and the car never seeming to fully power down. Not using it frequently plus cold weather does seem to kill the things after a few years.

I’m considering fitting a kill switch on the battery. Not sure if anyone has anyone thoughts towards that, good or bad?

Isn't that usually door handles on the D3?

Yes. I believe so. I’ve replaced 2 to date. Have another I bought. Kinda lost interest in that pursuit, won’t lie!

Do you think a kill switch on the battery for when it’s laid up would be advisable?

I know a number of people who've fitted them with great success (months of hibernation), but in the case of Audis only to an earlier generation than the D3, so not much to "reset" when power is reconnected.

Obviously you have to think carefully where to site it and how to get guaranteed access with a "dead" car.

Good thinking HP. I’m going to try one on the battery terminal in the boot. The boot is accessible via the key.

Generally I’ve only found the windows one touch function needs resetting and the traction control recalibrates itself after pulling away after power has been interrupted.

I’ll try it for a week and report back if it is practicable.

Cheers all.

I'm not an expert but my thoughts would be no. D3 upwards there are more and more electronics, same goes for other manufacturers of the same era. If there is no danger of a spike due to the BEM then it's fine. I'd just be worried about spiking something as these cars can be sensitive to power.

I have a remote batt shut off fitted in boot as mine has a weird power fault and a battery drain,works well especially if leaving the car unused for long periods