batt is dead... now what.

[ZachPDX]

So after getting stuck in snow for a couple hours the other night when in finally did get home apparently I left my headlights on

I just tried to jump start it and as soon as i hooked it up it started chirping and all the lights were flashing. I lett it sit for a good 20 min and nothing changed, wouldn't roll over at all.

How do i get this beast goin?

.:Update:.

[blackbox619]

change the battery and youre on the road again. maybe let it charge for more than that. my battery came back from the dead after a 30 minute charge and ive been using the same battery for almost 3 weeks now. good luck :D

[RAudi Driver]

So after getting stuck in snow for a couple hours the other night when in finally did get home apparently I left my headlights on

I just tried to jump start it and as soon as i hooked it up it started chirping and all the lights were flashing. I lett it sit for a good 20 min and nothing changed, wouldn't roll over at all.

How do i get this beast goin?

Hit the alarm off button on the key fob and make sure that it isn't activated.

[...Mark...]

My battery crapped out last week. Tried jumping it, and it almost started but wouldn't. Called AAA and they used a charger and it started right up. Your battery is shot. Replace it.

[nealRlett]

mine did the same thing after 1 year of the vehicle purchase. Went into a store for 5 DAMN minutes, came out to a dead battery. Middle of the day, and left nothing on inside the car. Even if I left everything on, it shouldn't die in 5 minutes. Had to replace it on my own. Battery just would not hold a charge. Drove around for a few days with one of those 35$ plug-in overnight battery chargers from Kragen. Those things work well. Dealership states that a battery is a "consumable" part which makes sense, but really? 1 year!

[DolphinV8]

time to get a yellow top from costco.

[GotRS?]

Dealership states that a battery is a "consumable" part which makes sense, but really? 1 year!

Sounds tough! Maybe things have changed, two years ago my R32 got a new battery under warrenty with no fuss at all. Same dealer for all VAG cars

[SoCalS4Avant]

mine did the same thing after 1 year of the vehicle purchase. Went into a store for 5 DAMN minutes, came out to a dead battery. Middle of the day, and left nothing on inside the car. Even if I left everything on, it shouldn't die in 5 minutes. Had to replace it on my own. Battery just would not hold a charge. Drove around for a few days with one of those 35$ plug-in overnight battery chargers from Kragen. Those things work well. Dealership states that a battery is a "consumable" part which makes sense, but really? 1 year!

Hey Neal, did they end up replacing it under warranty - or did you have to pay to play? I called Pacific Audi about getting a new battery - over $300! Guess I'll be doin' this job on my own.

[nealRlett]

Hey Neal, did they end up replacing it under warranty - or did you have to pay to play? I called Pacific Audi about getting a new battery - over $300! Guess I'll be doin' this job on my own.

Nope, my service guy is the best too. He has hooked me up many times over there. He said there was nothing he could do on this one. It was around $300 to replace with install. I had to do it fast so I paid, which still to this day pisses me off. Next time on my own for sure.

[ZachPDX]

Thanks for the help everyone. I tried to jump it with a honda pilot, all the lights would flash but it wouldn't even try and turn over. The next day I went and got a portable jump starter from work and it started right away. My alarm went off as soon as it got power, wouldn't respond to the remote key but when i turned it in the door it turned off.

So Ive driven around it holds a charge fine the only issue is that both my keys don't work to lock or unlock the door remotely, only if I insert it in the door and turn old school style will it arm or disarm or lock and unlock the doors. Is the dealer gonna charge me anything to fix that? I'm 500 miles out of factory warranty.

Anyway its so nice to be back on the road in the s4, the roads are still kind of messed up with cinder and chunks of ice so I think ill keep rollin the pilot for a few days.

Thanks again for all the advice!

[kastro]

there's a write up somewhere to reconfigure the key to ur car, could even be in the manual from what i recall..if i wasn't lazy id search it for u.. but im lazy now.. maybe later on :)

[nimski62]

Thanks for the help everyone. I tried to jump it with a honda pilot, all the lights would flash but it wouldn't even try and turn over. The next day I went and got a portable jump starter from work and it started right away. My alarm went off as soon as it got power, wouldn't respond to the remote key but when i turned it in the door it turned off.

So Ive driven around it holds a charge fine the only issue is that both my keys don't work to lock or unlock the door remotely, only if I insert it in the door and turn old school style will it arm or disarm or lock and unlock the doors. Is the dealer gonna charge me anything to fix that? I'm 500 miles out of factory warranty.

Anyway its so nice to be back on the road in the s4, the roads are still kind of messed up with cinder and chunks of ice so I think ill keep rollin the pilot for a few days.

Thanks again for all the advice!

While the key is in the igniton, push all the damn buttons on the button while the car is on
and then drive it.. it will be good to go...=)

[ZachPDX]

While the key is in the igniton, push all the damn buttons on the button while the car is on
and then drive it.. it will be good to go...=)

Worked great! thanks!

[nimski62]

Worked great! thanks!

I was hoping it would work..i just figured it out one day somehow..

[SebringSilver]

My car wouldn't start last night. Fortunately, it was already at home. I assumed the battery was dead (and indeed, it was). But the car's only about two and a half years old, and has only about 55,000 km on it. Is it reasonable for the battery to require replacement so early?

I paid C$350 to have it replaced today at the dealership.

[likewater]

So after getting stuck in snow for a couple hours the other night when in finally did get home apparently I left my headlights on

I just tried to jump start it and as soon as i hooked it up it started chirping and all the lights were flashing. I lett it sit for a good 20 min and nothing changed, wouldn't roll over at all.

How do i get this beast goin?

.:Update:.

Any reason why you don't run the headlights in the "Auto" position? Just a suggestion to keep from leaving them on again.

[twinturbo383]

Thanks for the help everyone. I tried to jump it with a honda pilot, all the lights would flash but it wouldn't even try and turn over. The next day I went and got a portable jump starter from work and it started right away. My alarm went off as soon as it got power, wouldn't respond to the remote key but when i turned it in the door it turned off.

So Ive driven around it holds a charge fine the only issue is that both my keys don't work to lock or unlock the door remotely, only if I insert it in the door and turn old school style will it arm or disarm or lock and unlock the doors. Is the dealer gonna charge me anything to fix that? I'm 500 miles out of factory warranty.

Anyway its so nice to be back on the road in the s4, the roads are still kind of messed up with cinder and chunks of ice so I think ill keep rollin the pilot for a few days.

Thanks again for all the advice!

i had kinda the same problem. i have a 01 s4 and my alarm started going nuts. the remote woudnt work just the key in the locks. but now if i go to start it it wont crank over at all. the hazzards come on but dont blink. i heard it was the alarm module could be bad

[mtxsho93]

It's too late now but I was going to suggest using a trickle charger on the battery to bring it up to 12 volts for a few hours. Relying on an alternator to bring a discharged battery up to 12+ volts can put a huge strain on it. It sounds like you got it going though.

Ian

[S4rcastic]

I am a one ringer but...

12V installation was my profession for a few years.

Lead-acid car batteries can lose their life quite easily. Each time you discharge one to the point it needs charging(or a jump) to start your car, 25% of the capacity has been forever lost. Do that a couple more times in the same week and you can kiss that battery goodbye.

Normally, your new battery will come with anywhere from a 12 to 36 month warranty. Some may have more. Better batteries are more expensive and worth the price, but still give out when over-discharged repeatedly.

I have seen many poorly planned stereo installations with enourmous current draw. Since the alternator can only create a certain amount of power, the draw for the amp must come from somewhere...the battery. These guys can toast a brand new battery in a matter of days, sometimes hours!!!

The newer your car, the more electronic devices it has operating. These devices draw current. If you have any aftermarket electronics, that would be the first place to look. For example, an alarm system poorly planned might draw several hundred milliamps. Normally, your alarm should draw no more than 100-200 milliamps. Overnight the battery is drained severely. You come out in the morning and start up. Drive to McD's for breakfast and back home. Total trip 10 mins. The battery isn't fully recharged yet, but your alarm goes back on to drain the battery for another few hours. You can guess the end result.

If your alternator is going south, your battery will try to pick up the slack until both fail.

Sorry for the long post...hope it helps

[SebringSilver]

I am a one ringer but...

12V installation was my profession for a few years.

Lead-acid car batteries can lose their life quite easily. Each time you discharge one to the point it needs charging(or a jump) to start your car, 25% of the capacity has been forever lost. Do that a couple more times in the same week and you can kiss that battery goodbye.

Normally, your new battery will come with anywhere from a 12 to 36 month warranty. Some may have more. Better batteries are more expensive and worth the price, but still give out when over-discharged repeatedly.

I have seen many poorly planned stereo installations with enourmous current draw. Since the alternator can only create a certain amount of power, the draw for the amp must come from somewhere...the battery. These guys can toast a brand new battery in a matter of days, sometimes hours!!!

The newer your car, the more electronic devices it has operating. These devices draw current. If you have any aftermarket electronics, that would be the first place to look. For example, an alarm system poorly planned might draw several hundred milliamps. Normally, your alarm should draw no more than 100-200 milliamps. Overnight the battery is drained severely. You come out in the morning and start up. Drive to McD's for breakfast and back home. Total trip 10 mins. The battery isn't fully recharged yet, but your alarm goes back on to drain the battery for another few hours. You can guess the end result.

If your alternator is going south, your battery will try to pick up the slack until both fail.

Sorry for the long post...hope it helps

That's good info.

Thanks!