Battery Health Guide: Pros Offer Tips to Keep Your Audi Battery in Top Condition
To keep your favorite vehicle on the road, know your ABC’s. Keep your Audi Battery Charged.
You purchased an Audi vehicle because you want top notch German engineering. Audi provides that in a diverse portfolio of vehicles ranging from exotic sports cars to luxury SUVs. But one thing that not even Audi has managed to develop yet is a battery that lasts forever. There are plenty of performance upgrades available for your Audi, but at some point, the battery that gets the party started is going to need to be replaced. This battery health guide was put together with the help of the pros from Clore Automotive who are leaders in the battery technology field. Your battery will still wear out. But this guide will show you how to make it last as long as possible and how to get you back on the road quickly should your battery die.
Audi has been selling vehicles in the United States for over 50 years now. Those early cars like the Super 90 and 100 LS were simple. The electronics were downright primitive compared to modern Audis. The newer cars are far more advanced, but there is a downside to that advancement. Simple maintenance tasks like changing a battery have become increasingly complex. But it is still something that the average owner can do. Of course, some are easier than others. Getting to the battery in an R8 requires you to take most of the frunk apart. But while it may take a bit of time, it is not all that tough. This battery health guide will help you understand battery basics. It covers jump starters, jump start procedures and how to replace a battery when that day eventually comes.
Jump Starter
Having a jump starter with you is always a good idea. However, first you must decide on the right jump starter for you. But once you buy it, don’t just throw it in your garage and forget about it. The jump starter itself requires a bit of special care to ensure that you get the longest life out of it and that it is ready to work when you need it the most. Remember your jump starter has a battery too and needs to be treated accordingly for best results. Clore Automotive put together an excellent jump starter guide and below are some highlights from that guide.
Click HERE to READ the Clore Automotive JUMP STARTER Guide
Make sure to keep your jump starter charged. You don’t want a jump starter to spend a lot of time in a discharged state. Also keep the duty cycle in mind. When jumping your Audi, you can crank for 6 seconds and if no start rest for 3 minutes. Store your jump starter in moderate temperatures. When possible, try to keep it stored in the 50 – 70-degree Fahrenheit range. After a successful jump disconnect the jump starter as soon as possible to avoid an overcharging condition. Make sure you find and use a proper ground location when using a jump starter. Maintain your jump starter by keeping the clamps clean of any acid or corrosion.
Jump Start Procedure
Now that you have your jump stater and know how to care for it you should understand how to safely use it. Clore Automotive has this covered for you as well. Before you start check three things: Is the jump starter charged? Is the jump starter in proper condition? Make sure the voltage of the vehicle you are trying to jump is known. You can then put on your eye protection and get started. Pun not intentional.
Click HERE to READ the Clore Automotive JUMP STARTING Guide
Connect positive (red) clamp to the battery positive terminal. Connect negative (black) clamp to proper vehicle ground such as the vehicle frame. Turn your jump starter on if it has an on/off switch. Move away from the battery and attempt to start the vehicle. Once started turn the jump starter off if it has an on/off switch. Then disconnect the negative clamp followed by the positive. Clean up your jump starter, then charge it up before storing.
Changing Batteries
Eventually you will have no choice but to have your old battery replaced with a new one. As we mentioned in the introduction, this process has gotten more complicated in recent years. And every vehicle is a bit different, so our best piece of advice is to consult your owner’s manual. Audi offers a diverse range of products. The R8, Q3, and RS3 are all quite different. There is no way we could cover the nuances of each here. For example, there is much debate over the need to code the new battery after replacement. The best advice is to follow the instructions in the manual for your vehicle.
Click HERE to READ the Clore Automotive CHANGING BATTERIES Guide
One way to avoid any loss of settings while switching out batteries is to use a memory saver during the swap. There are a few options for this but if you already own a jump starter then it will double as a memory saver for you. You just need to connect it to your vehicle, using the OBDII port is easiest, and it will keep power to your vehicle during the swap and prevent the loss of any settings. It will make your life a lot easier. Hopefully with the help of this guide you are now better equipped to keep your Audi safely on the road.
Images: Clore Automotive; Audi
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