UBM Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 Third time in the last two months. Battery just not quite enough power to start the car (again!) Not so quick today - called at 11-00 - won't be here till 1-30... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted January 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 Came at 1-15 and he be gone. Reckons the battery is not quite getting charged enough. Suggested booking it in for a 24h slow charge at the stealers - feck that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 Maybe if it had less bling to spark into life each time.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHo Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Maybe if it had less bling to spark into life each time.... [/ QUOTE ] Funny enough just what I was about to say. I wonder why........? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32Ash Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 Those neons really hammer the battery you know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPLiiX Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 BMW assist drive the silver 5 series with those reflective silver strips but what does Audi assist drive?? cause i've never seen them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 I think it was Allroads for a while although as I understand it, its been contracted out to the RAC so RAC vans I think. I havent' had cause to use them for years now so I'm sure someone will pipe in with a current answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted January 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 [ QUOTE ] BMW assist drive the silver 5 series with those reflective silver strips but what does Audi assist drive?? cause i've never seen them. [/ QUOTE ] Yep, all through have had silver AllRoad Quattro 2.5L TDI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted January 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 When they left me the yellow ESP traction control light was permanently on. Went for a burn-up, but still on. The missus, suggested trying the other key - it went out! Tried the first key again - still out! Good job I cooked her a Sunday Lunch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 DieselMeister, In my opinion the mechanic is talking crap... Charging your battery will make the square root of feck all difference to the root cause of that kind of problem. Either your charging circuit has got a problem, or the battery is fecked, or the earth strap has got a bad connection. Charging it may get you going for a couple of days but you'll be back to square one when Murphys law applies... Take your earth lead off where it connects to the car body (get your radio code first) and give it a good clean with a wire brush. If that doesn't do it then its either the charging circuit or the battery itself (they can get deposits on the lead plates inside which limit their cold start capability) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted January 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 Thanks a lot for the advice. Most of the guys from the roadside assistance get you mobile again, but they all have different stories. The last time, the car had not been used for 3.5 weeks, with the alarm etc running. This time, it was wet, but I'm not sure why didn't start. Will try your tricks if it happens again. Any ideas where the earthing lead might be located on the A4 saloon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 While you're at it, fit one of those hanging lightning conductor strips as the static from all that bling might be interfering with the car's nerve centre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted January 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 Hmmm..or an incredibly large aerial to pick up some lightning to get me started.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 Mollox, you sure Audi Roadside is run by the RAC as VW Assist is run by the AA? Insane world I know... Ian C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted January 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 Yep - the Audi one is controlled by the RAC, but they always turn up in an Audi Dedicated technican All Road! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 I'm sure I'm not imagining it. Perhaps someone can confirm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted January 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 See above! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 Thanks. Its these 'young upstarts' and their 'fancy ideas' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted January 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 I know, I know, but I've got double RAC cover. One came with the car and the other I had already and need for the Missus. Can't put her on the Audi one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I've got double RAC cover. One came with the car and the other I need for the Missus.... [/ QUOTE ] Tempted to put a spin on that one DM but considering I've just done similar in the A4 Forum I will refrain! Ian C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted January 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 We are married.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopsta Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Yep - the Audi one is controlled by the RAC, but they always turn up in an Audi Dedicated technican All Road! [/ QUOTE ] I concour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted January 24, 2005 Report Share Posted January 24, 2005 No worries, The earth strap chassis connection will be located fairly close to the battery. Just follow the connection from the negative terminal - there will be a thick braided wire with its terminal bolted onto the body. Undo this bolt and check underneath the terminal for any white powdery residue. It should be bright and shiny. While you are at it, it may be worth checking the battery terminals for the same corrosion. ALWAYS remove the negative terminal first (which is why there is no problem in checking the lead mentioned above), and replace it last. This prevents you accidently shorting a spanner between the body and the positive terminal. Car batteries are only 12V so cannot give you a shock, but can supply massive current - enough to arc weld a spanner to the body, get it red hot, and cause the battery to quickly produce hydrogen due to the now massive current flow (which would be a bad thing). Again you are looking for white powder on the battery terminal posts. If everything looks shiny it is worth just nipping up the bolts on the terminals. An experiment you could try if the problem re-occurs: Turn the headlights on full beam before cranking the engine. If they almost go out and the engine has trouble turning over, then the battery needs replacing. If they remain fairly bright, then the battery is not the problem. Something is amiss with either the battery cabling (which is easy to check) or the starter motor cabling (which is a main dealer job). Back to the possible root cause of the battery slow-failure. Charging circuits from modern cars with alternators need 2 things: 1. A voltage regulator to achieve the right voltage to charge a 12V lead-acid battery 2. A full-wave rectifier to convert the AC output from the alternator to DC. It is not unknown for a rectifier to half fail, providing what is known as half wave rectification (as opposed to full wave). This often does not show as a fault but the battery does not receive a sufficient charge rate to keep it topped up, and after a few weeks it will gradually fail. May be worth having a quiet word with an Audi mechanic so no-one loses face if this possibility has been overlooked. Finally, it may be something simple like a current drain due to an alarm, or tracker, or boot lights are another one... What are you like with a multimeter? Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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