How often do our starters go out?

[CorneliusRox]

Hey guys, every once in a while my car turns over slow and I dont think it is my battery. It feels like a started on its way out.

How often does this happen? Has anyone else swapped a starter? I am at around 95,000.

I just feel like 100,000-ish miles is a very short starter life.

[jimrobbington]

Never heard of one going before on this forum. How old is your battery?

[schirm]

mine went 120+ no longer have the car

[A-BlacK_MambA-4]

Like JR said, not sure that I have ever saw or heard of someone having to replace their starter on here. I know my battery finally shit the bed back in the winter. Same thing though, car turning over was really slow (months before it died, I started having that issue). After the new battery everything is fine. Hard to complain considering I was still on my OEM battery.7 years through these Ohio winters is a pretty tall feat I thought.

[Greedo]

It's the smoke from your truck killing your car.

[CorneliusRox]

Never heard of one going before on this forum. How old is your battery?

This could be the case. It is the stock battery. 5 years old
I tested the battery and it was fine, then I slow charged it for a day and a half (with my smart charger thing), and nothing changed. If the battery wasnt so big, I'd take it to work and test it on the super legit load tester, but it is a pain to remove. lol
That might be it. I guess I might need to get a battery soon. Hopefully she lasts until after the wedding.


It's the smoke from your truck killing your car.

I would never put smoke on my car.
Now that white car that was parked in front of my house for no reason for five days... That car got a little less white ;-)





Anyone have suggestions on a battery? I run two red tops in my truck, but in the car, I am thinking that cheap is good. It's just an Audi right ;-)

[GAIC Husky]

I shopped around for batteries when mine died last November and the dealership was actually the cheapest. The oem one lasted me 5 years so I figured it was good enough to go with again.

[FraggyA4]

You know I replaced my battery at about the same time. Also every once in a while when I go to start is will turn over half way than stop. Then I'll turn off the car completely and than try again and it starts fine. Not sure if that is a sign of a starter going or not.

[konarider94]

I like the die hard batteries from sears. I think the only one they had was a gold series in the 94R size. My car battery died very suddenly when it happened, its probably about that time for you.

[CorneliusRox]

I like the die hard batteries from sears. I think the only one they had was a gold series in the 94R size. My car battery died very suddenly when it happened, its probably about that time for you.

Die Hard actually recently bought Odyssey (who many, including me, thought were the best supplier on the market), so the new top line is basically a beefed up Odyssey with a cheaper price tag. Definitely what is going into my truck next.

Maybe I'll try out the Gold series. You've been happy with yours Matt?



It is funny though, I was traveling for work for a week, got home, car started fine, drove it to the bar, started it later and it was fine, drove home.
The next day I started it to go to hockey and it started slow, went to hockey fine, played, came out two hours later, started kinda slow.
Then I started trying to troubleshoot instead of assuming it was a fluke.
I just thought it was weird that it would be fine for a week without me touching it, but then it couldnt handle 12 hours.




However, it is less than $50 more for the $197.99 Die Hard Platinum 65 (Odyssey) (930CCA) (http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02850065000P?intcmp=xsite_DieHard&vName=Automotive&cName=Batteries+%26+Chargers&sName=Automotive+Batteries) that I was talking about vs the $152.99 Die Hard Gold 94r (765CCA) (http://www.sears.com/diehard-gold-automotive-battery-group-size-h7-94r-price/p-02833194000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&kpid=02833194000P&kispla=02833194000P)

[B7Joe]

I shopped around for batteries when mine died last November and the dealership was actually the cheapest. The oem one lasted me 5 years so I figured it was good enough to go with again.

Replaced mine two weeks ago. Same symptoms and I didn't want to wait for it to die completely. To my surprise, Audi was the cheapest. $125 out the door.

[konarider94]

Yea Im happy with it. Any that's how mine was. Started fine then all of a sudden it started real slow a couple times. Next thing i knew it wouldn't start at all. It progressed very quickly from starting great to not at all.

[A-BlacK_MambA-4]

Here is the one I replaced the stock one with. It's an AutoCraft Gold 49H8 from AdavanceAuto. Even though it says 760cca on the website, mine was actually 1000cca (great for colder climates like Colorado). It will tell you it's not compatible with the B7 but it fits perfectly.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_battery-group-size-49-760-cca-autocraft-gold_2130012-p

http://imageshack.us/a/img62/1386/batteryyw.png

[FraggyA4]

Here is the one I replaced the stock one with. It's an AutoCraft Gold 49H8 from AdavanceAuto. Even though it says 760cca on the website, mine was actually 1000cca (great for colder climates like Colorado). It will tell you it's not compatible with the B7 but it fits perfectly.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_battery-group-size-49-760-cca-autocraft-gold_2130012-p

http://imageshack.us/a/img62/1386/batteryyw.png

I have the same one in mine and I'm happy with it.

[aluthman]

I bought an Optima yellow top because I knew I would be installing a stereo and I wanted a deep cycle battery.

[gdlkn84as]

Sometimes I get noise almost like the starter is not disengaging when I let off the key. It makes a noise when it does it, but just for sec. Engine starts everytime though.

Sometimes mine cranks slow, sometimes its normal. Battery is brand new a year ago from a Nissan dealer...

[Charles.waite]

I bought a Red Top for my B6 on Amazon for I think $145 shipped. Not a bad deal. Its held up absolutely fine. Even when I leave my lights on at work all day. Cranks right over.

My B6s OEM battery started to get bad voltage sag and cause the coils to fire improperly for the first 2 seconds of running, basically until the Alternator kicked in and supplemented the voltage.

[CorneliusRox]

Yeah, she was even slower to start at lunch today, so... I think I am at least going to order a battery tonight.

Thanks for the info guys!

[GAIC Husky]

Somewhat on topic... Has anyone had or heard of an alternator going bad on a B7?

[CorneliusRox]

Was driving around to find a place that sells batteries for a half way decent price, then I remembered that it is summer and my truck only needs one battery right now, so I tossed the second battery from my truck in the car. She loves it!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v733/TelevatorTMV/2013-06-06172503_zps88d29f76.jpg

[Charles.waite]

Oh and BTW, since someone asked over PM, the battery I bought is a Optima RedTop Group 25. Fits like a glove. I think its $157 shipped with Amazon Prime. It came the next day too, rather than the standard 3-7 day it stated. Win!

[CorneliusRox]

Oh and BTW, since someone asked over PM, the battery I bought is a Optima RedTop Group 25. Fits like a glove. I think its $157 shipped with Amazon Prime. It came the next day too, rather than the standard 3-7 day it stated. Win!

Yeah, I ended up getting a Red Top 8020-164 35. I havent had the best luck with optima, but after doing some HW, it was a pretty good bang for buck. I got it just a little cheaper than you got your 25.

[B7Quattro]

Mine started turning over slow a couple months ago, and was wondering this exact thing! Already swapped the OEM battery, not sure how much longer I have on this one...something to check, don't want to be caught stuck in the middle of nowhere.

[Charles.waite]

Yeah, I ended up getting a Red Top 8020-164 35. I havent had the best luck with optima, but after doing some HW, it was a pretty good bang for buck. I got it just a little cheaper than you got your 25.

Nice. They're basically the same the only difference being the terminals being at the front or the back. I bought a 35 for my brothers Saab. They're basically identical.

I've heard some questionable experiences with optima but mines been solid for over a year. Hopefully it lasts as long as OEM.

[jimrobbington]

Yeah, my oem battery just died completely one day with very little warning. That was at about 5-6 years old.

[mcpcartier]

If the battery wasnt so big, I'd take it to work and test it on the super legit load tester, but it is a pain to remove.


There is a thread in here where someone posted a pick of them using a pair of hockey sticks to lift the battery out. Looked like a nice idea. Of course I didn't see that until after I just put a new one in so I'm hoping I won't need to try that out for a long time.

I see if I can dig up a link to the thread.

{edit}
found it
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/490995-Battery-Replacement-Stanley-Cup-Edition!?highlight=battery+hockey

[CorneliusRox]

There is a thread in here where someone posted a pick of them using a pair of hockey sticks to lift the battery out. Looked like a nice idea. Of course I didn't see that until after I just put a new one in so I'm hoping I won't need to try that out for a long time.

I see if I can dig up a link to the thread.

{edit}
found it
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/490995-Battery-Replacement-Stanley-Cup-Edition!?highlight=battery+hockey

lol I pulled my battery out just fine with one harm yesterday. It just sucks. It's sitting in the back of my truck now. I need to get rid of it at some point.

[Operator]

lol I pulled my battery out just fine with one arm yesterday.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5469/8979149294_8a58d9b732_o.png

[chris@fifteen52]

I have been only running Interstate batteries for years and still have not had to replace one. I think my starter is fine still at 188k miles.

[CorneliusRox]

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5469/8979149294_8a58d9b732_o.png

lol You should see the 500-600lbs rear diff I put in a semi yesterday. Only used one hand to finally seat it. (one hand on the end of a 4.5ft long pry bar [:D])

[groundround]

Waiting for mine to die at 139k now and still starting up nice (knock on wood)