How many here have changed their battery?

**ZaneS4** · 09-16-2015 07:13 AM

How much should I expect to pay dealer to swap and re-code? My service guy told me that getting 8-10 years out of original battery isn't uncommon.

**schaefer921** · 09-16-2015 07:26 AM

I own a 2012 A4, 53k on the clock and i just had to swap mine out 2 weeks ago.
I ended up buying the battery from my dealer for $160 and installed it myself. The reason i went with the dealer is because i was told by our Audi community that i will need to re-code the BMI code. (so i just wanted OEM for no hassle)
I asked the techs at the dealership and they were like nope, no need to re-code, just plug and play. So that's what i did and everything was fine. Didn't even have to re code my Radio.

**skywalker15** · 09-16-2015 07:37 AM

I also did it myself about 3 months ago on my 09 A4, think I paid around 150-160 for the battery. I originally went to the dealer to ask about recoding and the service tech said it isn't necessary. Haven't had any issues and took about 10 minutes.

**GolfGL** · 09-16-2015 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by ZaneS4

How much should I expect to pay dealer to swap and re-code? My service guy told me that getting 8-10 years out of original battery isn't uncommon.

I only got 3 years out of my S4 battery. I bought OEM Audi (I think it was made by Varta) and replaced myself. I went through the VCDS coding procedure. I think you may not gain the full benefits of a brand new battery as the car likely thinks the nominal charge capacity of the new battery is lower and may not attempt to charge to design or full capacity. I think the BCM code also accounts for different vendors, capacities etc.

**NPuter** · 09-16-2015 07:45 AM

My A4's battery lasted 4.5 years. Replaced and recoded myself.
Dealer said it didn't need to be coded, but I did so anyway.

Here's a thread I made about figuring out the coding. I couldn't figure out what my new code should be, so I just changed the original code's serial number so the car would at least know it had a new battery in it.
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...acement-Coding

**chaos2984** · 09-16-2015 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by GolfGL

I only got 3 years out of my S4 battery. I bought OEM Audi (I think it was made by Varta) and replaced myself. I went through the VCDS coding procedure. I think you may not gain the full benefits of a brand new battery as the car likely thinks the nominal charge capacity of the new battery is lower and may not attempt to charge to design or full capacity. I think the BCM code also accounts for different vendors, capacities etc.

you didn't get your battery warrantied? Im assuming you bought it new. The battery should be covered for base factory warranty.

Also I would figure 4-5 years for battery life. Anything over that is gravy. but up to 10 years that's crazy. Maybe for a AGM battery or something more than a lead acid.

**blackfunk** · 09-16-2015 08:24 AM

On my third. Two different dealerships gave me a new one but in both cases for different reasons. So I'm on my third since the car was new.

**stereojorge** · 09-16-2015 08:33 AM

About 5 years and I installed recoded myself. Was super smooth!

Sent from my iPhone 6

**MrFunk** · 09-16-2015 09:10 AM

A battery will last 4 years. No way 8-10. Especially if you live in winter climates.
If you are still under warranty you can probably get the replacement covered. I had mine replaced under warranty earlier this spring - the car was 3.5 years old at that time and was still starting fine but I noticed on the battery meter (in the MMI) that it was very low. They tested it and agreed.

I'll probably replace this one in a few years again. I've heard Walmart actually has the best pricing on batteries...

**14S4GWM** · 09-16-2015 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by MrFunk

A battery will last 4 years. No way 8-10. Especially if you live in winter climates.
If you are still under warranty you can probably get the replacement covered. I had mine replaced under warranty earlier this spring - the car was 3.5 years old at that time and was still starting fine but I noticed on the battery meter (in the MMI) that it was very low. They tested it and agreed.

I'll probably replace this one in a few years again. I've heard Walmart actually has the best pricing on batteries...

Heat is worse for batteries

**wwhan** · 09-16-2015 09:20 AM

Replaced my battery at around 5 years and recoded myself. The new battery weighed 58lbs. Old one had about 10% capacity left according to the ECU (VAGCOM).

**SteveYem** · 09-16-2015 09:34 AM

Everyone is talking about re-coding...can someone post a link to a resource showing the procedure for re-coding? It would be helpful if someone were to search and find this thread as a one-stop-shop for all things S4 battery.

**drob23** · 09-16-2015 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by SteveYem

Everyone is talking about re-coding...can someone post a link to a resource showing the procedure for re-coding? It would be helpful if someone were to search and find this thread as a one-stop-shop for all things S4 battery.

Go to the link in post #5.

**SteveYem** · 09-16-2015 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by drob23

Go to the link in post #5.

d'oh! Thanks,

**chaos2984** · 09-16-2015 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by MrFunk

A battery will last 4 years. No way 8-10. Especially if you live in winter climates.
If you are still under warranty you can probably get the replacement covered. I had mine replaced under warranty earlier this spring - the car was 3.5 years old at that time and was still starting fine but I noticed on the battery meter (in the MMI) that it was very low. They tested it and agreed.

I'll probably replace this one in a few years again. I've heard Walmart actually has the best pricing on batteries...

Whats this battery meter your talking about. How did you get it working? I thought the coding didn't work for the battery meter?

**14S4GWM** · 09-16-2015 01:49 PM

^ not for facelift

**Militant-Grunt** · 10-04-2015 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by skywalker15

I also did it myself about 3 months ago on my 09 A4, think I paid around 150-160 for the battery. I originally went to the dealer to ask about recoding and the service tech said it isn't necessary. Haven't had any issues and took about 10 minutes.

Whatever jackass told you that is wrong. You could see a premature failure of the battery. The battery manager is now part of the gateway in a B8, and it needs to see a 'new' serial to know that there is a new battery. Its there to keep battery longevity up (that and a slew of other reasons, such as determining a draw and etc.. ) You can roll the dice, but to be perfectly honest, Ive seen cars have the most random problems that have a gateway that believes the battery is faulty. Everything from your 5F MMI module to interior electronics.

**Vogz** · 10-04-2015 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by MrFunk

A battery will last 4 years. No way 8-10. Especially if you live in winter climates.

I disagree. As has been stated, heat is worse for batteries than cold. My previous car was a 2004 Volvo S60R that was purchased in August of 2003. I traded it in for my S4 in May of 2011. That is 2 months short of 8 years and it was still on the original battery that didn't show any signs of dying. My S4 is now over 4 years old and still on the original battery.

**Fociracr** · 11-02-2015 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by Vogz

I disagree. As has been stated, heat is worse for batteries than cold. My previous car was a 2004 Volvo S60R that was purchased in August of 2003. I traded it in for my S4 in May of 2011. That is 2 months short of 8 years and it was still on the original battery that didn't show any signs of dying. My S4 is now over 4 years old and still on the original battery.

I completely agree. My 2005 A6 also has the battery located in the trunk. That car is now almost 11yrs old and still on the original Varta battery. I sold the car to my brother in-law, but it will need to be replaced soon.

**wwhan** · 11-02-2015 09:25 PM

Excessive Heat, overcharging, deep discharge cycling shortens battery lifetime. These are major factors limiting usable energy density & limit the number charge-discharge cycles for hybrid & electric vehicles.

The battery control module monitors battery health, including charge discharge cycles.

When the battery is cold, it may not provide as much output, when cold, but does not shorten life.

**MVR 155** · 11-02-2015 09:35 PM

Batteries can be hit or miss on age.... I keep a tender on my Z06 which sees less than 1K/year for miles, been on the same battery for over 5 years. I just traded my 2008 Hummer H2 and it was on its 3rd battery. I have had cars where the battery only lasted a couple of years and others that went 3-4 years (or longer). Nothing shortens the life faster than a battery that is left to go dead and sit that way.

**esimp2k** · 11-03-2015 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by Militant-Grunt

Whatever jackass told you that is wrong. You could see a premature failure of the battery. The battery manager is now part of the gateway in a B8, and it needs to see a 'new' serial to know that there is a new battery. Its there to keep battery longevity up (that and a slew of other reasons, such as determining a draw and etc.. ) You can roll the dice, but to be perfectly honest, Ive seen cars have the most random problems that have a gateway that believes the battery is faulty. Everything from your 5F MMI module to interior electronics.

I have been following the battery threads as mine is 6 years old and failed a recent load test when I had it in. In the other battery thread there was a link to an article abut audis battery tech and it stated that without coding the car would still adapt after various power and load cycles but would just take longer. I think that's why we are seeing even Audi techs skip the coding since the car will eventually adapt to the new battery without coding.

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