I have a 95 Audi A6 n I've been having trouble with the battery for some time. I went to advanced autoparts to get it charged n checked they said it was fine. In fact I kno it is fine because when i went on vacation for a month I disconnected it and went and when i came back my car still started.

The problem starts when i leave the car for 24 hrs without starting it. Sometimes it'll start in 2 attempts and sometimes its totally dead. Now what i've noticed is that it is easier to start it the next day if I switch it off and switch it on and let it run for a minute on the previous day.

I thought something is draining the battery, the only thing that was directly connected to it was the radio, so i disconnected that but the problem persists.

Will this cost a bomb to fix?

1/28/2009 10:46:44 PM

Get a test light or an ammeter, wire it between the positive terminal and the positive battery cable. A parasitic drain should light it. Pull fuses until it goes out.

Of course things like the radio clock will always draw a little. Someone else will have to tell you what an acceptable draw is.

Or

Get a battery disconnect switch. $4 at Harbor freight. Redneck anti theft.

1/28/2009 10:53:55 PM

My battery is under the back seat, can i still use that switch?

1/28/2009 10:58:23 PM

It's about as convenient as opening the hood. Make sure the vent lines are connected to the battery though.

To be honest, I've never actually had to deal with parasitic drain. Then again I've never owned a Chrysler or German car newer than 1970.

[Edited on January 29, 2009 at 12:00 AM. Reason : .]

1/28/2009 11:59:21 PM

Quote :

"Get a test light or an ammeter, wire it between the positive terminal and the positive battery cable. A parasitic drain should light it. Pull fuses until it goes out."

do that but use the negative terminal instead for safety

1/29/2009 7:15:40 AM

Quote :

"Get a test light or an ammeter, wire it between the positive terminal and the positive battery cable. A parasitic drain should light it. Pull fuses until it goes out"

good place to start, but i'd be willing to bet its a bad diode in the alternator, hook up your ammeter, but disconnect the alternator first and see if it goes away

1/30/2009 7:21:31 PM

I went to advance auto parts, the drain was 0.02A, and the battery had only 350 cca and it said replace battery.. So I guess it was a bad battery..

1/31/2009 10:28:50 PM

I got a new battery under warranty.. still same issue! m going mad.. I got the alternator tested, it putting out 14V there is a drain of only 0.02 A.. I got the battery tested at advance auto parts and they said the battery is fine.. but if I try to start it after a few hours it does not start in the 1st attempt

2/16/2009 6:31:31 PM

have you checked all the cables and the starter?

2/16/2009 6:34:12 PM

this isn't complicated.

2/16/2009 6:35:36 PM

The advanced auto parts person checked the starter as well.. how do I check cables?

2/16/2009 7:40:00 PM

check the voltage on the terminals when you try to crank it, if it won't turn over and is more than 11 volts, then check at the starter when you try to crank it, if the voltage is very low or 0, then you need to pinpoint your wiring issue

2/16/2009 7:45:38 PM