Will not start

[Chaldo]

Hey everyone hopefully someone might be able to help me out. My 2010 a6 3.0t randomly did not start today. The car has the original battery, it only clicks once and does not turn the motor over. I tried using booster cables and no luck. Could this be the starter? It always took a few cranks to start before, now I'm thinking of buying a new battery.

[SinCityA6]

I would start with the battery. It may have enough juice in it to power the interior, but not enough to start. Do you have VAGCOM as you will need to code the new battery to the system.


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[moyenecorniche]

Could be a bad connection at the starter. Check that 1st make sure the connections are clean free of corrosion. ( unhook positive on battery 1st )
Next would be to clean completely the battery terminals and set it up on a slow overnight charge... Next is look at your alternator connections. again clean those up ..

All the above will not cost you but time and effort. ( unless you don't have a battery charger which you should... Once everything is cleaned and hopefully running go have the battery checked to see if it is holding a charge... If no then a new battery may be in order... If it is the original than 6 years or less is about life expectancy especially in very cold climates.

[kocyk123]

I would also go through all fuses and relays.

[Chaldo]

I can't just remove old battery and add a new one? I don't have a vagcom and don't plan on paying Audi over 60.00$ for a battery install.

[Chaldo]

Could be a bad connection at the starter. Check that 1st make sure the connections are clean free of corrosion. ( unhook positive on battery 1st )
Next would be to clean completely the battery terminals and set it up on a slow overnight charge... Next is look at your alternator connections. again clean those up ..

All the above will not cost you but time and effort. ( unless you don't have a battery charger which you should... Once everything is cleaned and hopefully running go have the battery checked to see if it is holding a charge... If no then a new battery may be in order... If it is the original than 6 years or less is about life expectancy especially in very cold climates.

I know for a fact that the battery terminals are good and clean. Not too sure about the starter and alternator tho. I also don't have a battery charger as you mentioned above.

[ichi d]

I think audi has to recode the battery once a new one is installed. I could be wrong tho.

[SinCityA6]

I think audi has to recode the battery once a new one is installed. I could be wrong tho.

It doesnt have to be Audi, but VAGCOM is needed. The power module (big black thing on the positive batterty termianl) regulates the power to and from the battery. If you just swap batteries without updating the ECU, the car will run but you will get a message "low voltage, battery will charge while driving" everytime you start the car.

[cal3thousand]

Does the car 'try' to start and not go? Or does it not even try?

If it doesn't even try, I would say a sensor (crank or cam) might be the cause. If it cranks but doesn't start, battery.

[SinCityA6]

Does the car 'try' to start and not go? Or does it not even try?

If it doesn't even try, I would say a sensor (crank or cam) might be the cause. If it cranks but doesn't start, battery.

Not necessarily true. When my OEM battery failed, it would not even try and crank over. Just clicked once and nothing; similar to the condition the OP described. The power control module on the battery is going to preserve as much energy as possible so when it reads a major power drain, it starts shutting down systems. The starting mechanism is the first to be shut off as it takes the most power at start up. The car wants to keep the lights (hazards, etc.) operational instead of allowing the battery to be completely drained.

[cal3thousand]

Not necessarily true. When my OEM battery failed, it would not even try and crank over. Just clicked once and nothing; similar to the condition the OP described. The power control module on the battery is going to preserve as much energy as possible so when it reads a major power drain, it starts shutting down systems. The starting mechanism is the first to be shut off as it takes the most power at start up. The car wants to keep the lights (hazards, etc.) operational instead of allowing the battery to be completely drained.

That makes sense.

So best would be just run a VAG COM scan and see if it's battery or other right?

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[SinCityA6]

I can't just remove old battery and add a new one? I don't have a vagcom and don't plan on paying Audi over 60.00$ for a battery install.

That makes sense.

So best would be just run a VAG COM scan and see if it's battery or other right?

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That would be correct. However, OP does not have VAGCOM.

[maga4]

When my amp went out, it kept draining my battery. It would get too weak to start even with a jump, and then eventually everything was completely dead.

My first suggestion would be to remove the battery, take it to Autozone, and have them test and charge it. They will do both for free, and if the battery's crap, you can just replace it there and figure out the Vag-Com deal later.

Good luck!