Battery trouble!!

I have just tried starting my car, it turned over once and now the battery is completly dead!! Is this because of the cold weather, cause it freezing here??!! I have never driven in the Uk during winter so have no experance of cold weather and the effects it has on batterys

Since buying the car a little over a month ago I have had a few experances of the car not fireing-up fast enuf, do you guys think the battery was starting to go??

Finnaly, whats a good battery brand to go with?

Thanks Guys

 

[pgarner]

could be the battery was getting on. could well still be the one that came with the car. the cold definitely doesnt help.

as for a battery brand whats your budget ? could get a one from a motor factors for £40 or spend a couple of hundred

 

[geraint13]

sounds like your battery.

 

[ghettokartel]

I really dont want to spend too much on it, what with christmas etc.. How about one of the ones from Halford that cost £60-70?

 

[Loz]

I can't recommend Halford's battery's. The last one I bought wouldn't hold any charge & they were really funny about giving me my money back.

Stick to known brands like Lucas & you'll be ok, buy your self a battery blanket or get one from the scrap yard. When you change the battery get the alternator checked & make sure that's running properly too.

If you go to a proper battery specialist he'll fit it & check your alternator for you. :bigsmile:

 

[ghettokartel]

i just ripped of the seals on my battery(even thought there was a warning saying it was really dangrous to do so!!! what BS!!) and opened 2 of the 6 cell covers. I was really supprised to find that they are only half full of water/acid!!

The covers have a kind of dipstick attached which is about 2.5 inches long, this bearly touches the watter!! is this normal for the so-called Modern battery?? I have got rac comming tommrow to jump start me and maybe give me a top-up if required....

Please advise...

 

[ghettokartel]

ok, thanks Loz, whats a battery blanket do?

 

[geraint13]

helps keep charge in the battery.

 

[Loz]

ok, thanks Loz, whats a battery blanket do?

It's a little extra insulation around the battery to protect it from the cold as the cold affects the battery's performance.

I'm sure Waynnes mentioned blankets being fitted to some Audi's way back in an old thread.

 

[pgarner]

aye you should have a blanket on it, just a bit of foa that goes round before the cover goes on

 

[Loz]

I looked up battery blankets to where they could be bought. Interestingly in the USA they use electric blankets that share the same plug as the engine block heaters, so the whole engine bay stays toasty warm no matter how low the temps go.

You just have remember to unplug the car before you drive off!

 

[geraint13]

You just have remember to unplug the car before you drive off!

no matter where i go my house is always in my rear view mirror :amazed::amazed:

 

[pgarner]

need to change mine so will get a pic,

 

[pgarner]

Battery blanket

 

[Loz]

I went to top up the washer fluid today & I was pleasantly surprised to find my battery already has a blanket! :bigsmile:

 

[stamford]

Mine did too Loz, not now though as my battery is nice and snug inside the cab in a battery box

However the Landy is suffering as the battery is getting on, I have found that wind chill effects the performance as well. So I try and park mine at night in such a position so that wind does not rattle through the engine bay. I'll also fit the blanket from the MG to the Landy, if I can find it in my garage!

Some on-line suppliers are doing good deals on batteries, worth a try.

 

[ghettokartel]

Thanks for the advise guys. I have tryed searching onlne for battery blankets but cant find them anywhere... anyone know of a stockist?

Thansk

 

[ghettokartel]

Pgarner, thanks for the pic.. nice one.....

 

[pgarner]

audi will stock them

 

[Loz]

As PG said phone Audi parts & order a proper one, failing that I found this...

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/Motor...gineering_Battery_Insulation_Kit/1471/0/14940

But it's designed to protect the battery from engine heat, but it will probably insulate the battery well enough too. Also the material absorbs & neutralizes battery acid which is handy .

 

[ghettokartel]

Ok, I will get on to my audi guy tommrow. Thanks Guy

 

[pgarner]

Ok looked on ETKA audi dont seem to mention them in the parts catalouge. however the nice parent company of VW stock 3


1K0 915 418 A-

1J0 915 418 B
1J0 915 418 D

they use the same batteries as the audi A4 so one of them should fit without a problem. i think its most likely to B varient as thats up to 72Ahr batteries. and i think the D varient is for the diesels as its for a 95Ahr 440amp battery.

Audi may be able to order them in from a VW garage. with VAT im showing around £14 for one