Battery drain
 

Hello there, my electrical problems continue to frustrate me! Although I am finally getting to grips with various ABS, oil level sensor type warning lights I am now experiencing a battery drain which has started recently when the car is left for more than a day or two.

It seems a bit of a coincidence that since the weather has turned it lets me down. Ever since I've had this car its had some sort of electrical issue and the radio still goes dead every other day and requires me to disconnect the battery and restart/reboot the engine. The battery is new with good connection.

I am beginning to think that all roads lead to Rome but want to avoid various diversions to correct the fault.

I am losing patience. That said I love the car!

Any advice appreciated. I will post a pic when I get a chance.

Cheers

Hi mate,

Have you got Vag-com? - it might help shed some light on any open circuits perhaps.

-Oli

check the alternator output, should be ~ 14.5V with the engine running, on mine ( where teh alternator had recently gone) when we disconnected the battery it dropped to 8-12 V)
There is also a connector on one of the chassis legs that I believe gets all corroded up. Check its all clean and good.

Are you SURE teh battery is good, I had similar when my battery was dying, clock resetting, sometimes starting fine other times wouldn;t even turn over and irrespective of how long it had been running or even how long since I'd turned it off.

This is the time of year when old batteries die... I'd get it checked over, especialy if it's a few years old.

I think you have a fault with the Battery module in all honesty...

I am starting to wonder if my car has an insuffeicient battery. On eurocarparts there is a choice between an exide standard which I believe I have. Cost me £70/80 from the independent. http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Au...697000f&000020

and also this battery. exide premium which says its for cars with more electrical equipment.

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Au...fbfd7ed&000020

Since my new cheap battery in 2012 (it was coded) I have had slow cranking and battery drain issues. By battery drain issues I mean if sat in the car without engine running and some electrics on a battery warning light comes on. This is my battery
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0...316_224229.jpg

I remember audi quoting me £300 for a battery. I am sure audi supply Bosch batterys.

Whats everyones opinion on battery brands and going for OEM rather than cheap?

I had a Varta battery installed in my D3 3.7 back in December and its been fine and cost well in excess of £100. The CCA figure is whats important for starting, mine is a type 019 with a blue top.

I started to have problems with my original VARTA (actually second as was replaced under Audi warranty along with battery manager ECU)
I replaced it with a Varta Silver 110Ah, but continued to have lots of battery problems. In Novembebr I was stuck in a car park with a flat battery and it was going to be locked in a couple of hours, so caught a taxi to EuroCarParts and bought a Lion 95Ah AGM £139 on offer.

I've not had a single problem since and the crank speed is much more powerful than ever before.
I can only deduce I must have got a dud VARTA silver and would never buy another battery online by post again as it's impossible to get a warranty claim administered without hosing a fortune on 25Kg of hazourdous material postage only to probably have it rejected and be aksed to pay return postage.

i agree with doc, you need a vcds check to see what software you have in the BEM as a starter