Electrical, Power, Battery, Alternator Issue?!?
Not sure if anyone can help or have a few ideas what is actually going on.
Yesterday my 2003 Audi A4 with 149,000 miles decided to have massive electrical/power issues.
The battery indicator light is on. Whenever I turn on the headlights the ABS & ESP indicator lights come on. Rolling up the window and holding it up for a brief second or two causes the ABS & ESP indicator lights to come on and then for power to entire dash and inside lights to go out/reset...internal overhead lights stay on. Windshield wipers go one speed...slow. Headlights may be dim, but don't see them get dimmer when I do anything else, could be that they are as dim as they will get. Center brake light went out when all this first occurred yesterday. Lastly with the engine running, either in idle or while driving all the power will suddenly go out on the dash, etc and restart. When it happens seems like there is a sudden surge/stall of engine, but think that has to do with the power going down suddenly.
Could this just be a bad battery? I am thinking it is probably a short somewhere from alternator or bad alternator, but when everything is on and running, I read the battery performs backup for the alternator and is common it can't keep up with the power demands. I plan on taking to shop, but if it is something as simple as bad battery, don't wanna waste $. I also would like a couple ideas, so don't get robbed with endless suggestions of what needs to be fixed & can order parts myself. I usually order parts and take to a local shop that does a good job.
I have not had a chance to check for fault codes and frankly will need to find someone to borrow an OBD II scanner as I am not sure I want to risk driving to Autozone just to have car crap out in their parking lot.
Any thoughts? Suggestions to check? I tried to include as much information as possible, checking most things last night once I made it home and could check it safely.
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