Changing a car battery

Sombrero · 19 Mar 2013

My old fella needs a new battery on his Audi. It's a 52 plate.
I haven't changed a battery in years, can they just be swapped out? are there any considerations re. alarm, electrics in the car etc?

Also, as the battery seems to lose it's edge in the cold weather, are there any fancy gadgets or gizmos you can plug into the cigarette lighter(?) to boost the battery so it'll start the engine?

Stivino · 19 Mar 2013

It should be Ok to swap it over. You won't need any fancy gadgets in your ciggy lighter if you have a new battery.

Peter.N. · 19 Mar 2013

One word of caution, do be very carful to make sure you have the polarity correct, a reverse connected battery can instantly destroy a modern car, providing you have the correct battery and put it in the right way round that shouldn't be a problem, but just double check before you connect it.

Peter

stevenbmkiv · 20 Mar 2013

Disconnect the negative terminal first then the positive.
As said above, take not of the battery position.
Simples.

Burnerman · 20 Mar 2013

Check that you have the radio code if you need one.....!
There are chargers that can plug into the fag lighter, but nothing that will give an immediate starting boost.
John

pompeyal · 20 Mar 2013

If its an A4 and the battery is sited on the passenger side under a cover just in front of the wind screen, check where the clamp is sited, if it is towards the near side then fine but if its toward the front it is a right pain to undo and remove the fixing and put it back again, If like mine you will need a really long M8 allen key.

Sombrero · 20 Mar 2013

thanks all.... #weekendwork!

KingboyD · 20 Mar 2013

All you will have to do is set the clock & program the windows for Auto up/down, to do the windows simply hold the switch to the up position for a few seconds & test it, repeat for the other 3.

AlanE · 21 Mar 2013

But check in manual before just switching everything of and disconnecting battery as you might need to switch everything off and leave it of for a period of time to allow the ECU time to go to sleep first!

iwaters · 22 Mar 2013

Whilst you have the battery out of the way it is a good time to check the drain holes in the plenum chamber.

Audis of this vintage are prone to water ingress when they become blocked and you end up with a wet passenger carpet and knacked convenience module, and thus a wallet lighter of a few hundred quid.

There should be 4, and one is almost direct below the battery tray. Shine a touch down there and scrape out any debris.

Sombrero · 22 Mar 2013

iwaters said:
Whilst you have the battery out of the way it is a good time to check the drain holes in the plenum chamber.

Audis of this vintage are prone to water ingress when they become blocked and you end up with a wet passenger carpet and knacked convenience module, and thus a wallet lighter of a few hundred quid.

There should be 4, and one is almost direct below the battery tray. Shine a touch down there and scrape out any debris.

Wow !!!! are you psychic? Really surprised at the accuracy of your statement ! Earlier last year i got in my car (after a hear bout of rain) to find a pool of water in the footwell of the passenger and the seat behind.

Since then, obviously, the car stinks of rank water, and i get condensation and ice on the inside of the car windscreen...

I owe you a beer sir !!

iwaters · 24 Mar 2013

It is probably the most common problem on Audis/VWs of that vintage. VAG never recalled the cars because their argument was that this always checked during a service at a main dealer.

You should try and get the carpet dried out. Below it is the convienenace module. This controls the lights, windows, door locks etc. When they get wet and corrode the car starts behaving funny. Windows wind down on their own, the hazzards glow all the time and others.

Sombrero · 24 Mar 2013

iwaters said:
It is probably the most common problem on Audis/VWs of that vintage. VAG never recalled the cars because their argument was that this always checked during a service at a main dealer.

You should try and get the carpet dried out. Below it is the convienenace module. This controls the lights, windows, door locks etc. When they get wet and corrode the car starts behaving funny. Windows wind down on their own, the hazzards glow all the time and others.

Thanks mate !!

Changing a car battery

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