dead battery
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 133
Likes: 7
From: Wenatchee WA
dead battery
I have a 98 A4 coupe that I have owned for for about 3-1/2 years. I have never had a dead battery issue until this past summer.
The Orbital battery was installed Oct 2005 and has worked perfect.
About two months ago the car had sat for a couple weeks and the battery was stone dead. I disconnected the battery, charged it up and its been fine ever since. Since charging it up the car has sat several times for at least 2 weeks and it starts right up. When I reconnected the battery I checked for anything that I may have left on but didn't find anything.
My assumption is that a relay or solenoid must have stuck causing the battery to discharge.
Are there any particular relays or such that are prone to sticking and what is a normal amount of current draw with the engine off?
The Orbital battery was installed Oct 2005 and has worked perfect.
About two months ago the car had sat for a couple weeks and the battery was stone dead. I disconnected the battery, charged it up and its been fine ever since. Since charging it up the car has sat several times for at least 2 weeks and it starts right up. When I reconnected the battery I checked for anything that I may have left on but didn't find anything.
My assumption is that a relay or solenoid must have stuck causing the battery to discharge.
Are there any particular relays or such that are prone to sticking and what is a normal amount of current draw with the engine off?
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 3
From: Southern NH
What you're seeing is not uncommon depending on the state of the battery charge and how long it sits. The owners manual states that that battery will drain if the car sits for more than 25 days due to normal parasitic drain.
The computers in the car drain a small amount of current. With the doors locked and the security system on the drain is even higher. If the battery wasn't fully charged before letting it sit for a few weeks it's possible that it drained. Also check that if your FOBs are set to passive arm they are not within RF range of the car because apparently every time they are moved (like in a drawer) they will awaken the car's systems for several minutes which over time can have an impact on the battery.
If the car will sit for more than 2 weeks I recommend getting a Deltran Battery Tender. You can hook it up to the battery and leave it on indefinitely as it will maintain the battery charge without over charging.
The computers in the car drain a small amount of current. With the doors locked and the security system on the drain is even higher. If the battery wasn't fully charged before letting it sit for a few weeks it's possible that it drained. Also check that if your FOBs are set to passive arm they are not within RF range of the car because apparently every time they are moved (like in a drawer) they will awaken the car's systems for several minutes which over time can have an impact on the battery.
If the car will sit for more than 2 weeks I recommend getting a Deltran Battery Tender. You can hook it up to the battery and leave it on indefinitely as it will maintain the battery charge without over charging.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 1
From: Kingsport TN
I agree w/ JC. I just bought my tender and I've been through 3 of these Exide batteries when my car sits for more than 2 weeks. These batteries usually won't take a charge after they are fully drained. I'm surprised you were able to revive it for that period of time. Good news is, take it to the store u bought it from and they'll swap it for free or a small fee.
