Boston Driver

So it is a bit blustery in Boston this weekend, and my car has acted up...on occasion.

First thing was that the battery is on its last legs...I have not needed a jump, but the car just barely turns over. I am picking up a new battery today.

Next, I noticed once this weekend that when I went into drive, I was in limp mode. PRND432 were all lit up, and I could barely get faster than 25 MPH. I stopped the car, shut it off, and restarted (again, barely with the tired battery), and everything was fine. No more limp mode, and gear selector was fine.

Last, this AM (4 deg F, I know, other places are colder than that...) The ABS light and another warning light came on (yellow circle with yellow triangle inside). Again, I shut the car off, and restarted, and everything was fine.

Any thoughts? Are these related to the battery? I am hoping to hook up with someone that has a VAG this week to find out what is going on with the limp mode and the ABS, but I just wanted to see if anyone might have some insight.

Edd W

weak battery.

Grapeking

Henry - I'm back in town if you want to check using the VAG. Let me know.

Boston Driver

Oh yes. I will give you a call! THANKS!

Non-Audi Tom

I had same thing. I happened to notice my voltage gauge climbing up to 16 as this happened. Shut it down and drove in limp mode to the dealer. Funny thing is, this was 5 miles after I bought it, didn't give me warm & fuzzies at all!

Anyway, the ABS light, and Limp mode seemed to get tripped by the high voltage, and I've had no problems with them since the alternator rebuild/regulator replacement.

Tom

Boston Driver

I should have asked Santa for one of those for myself.

slimmn

Car would not accelerate when I hit the gas, but will move forward in "D" at idle. I let the engine idle for a while to charge the system some more, kill it, and then restarted again, and the problem went away. Swapped the battery out, and the problem never came back again.

Didn't have the limp mode problem tho, but likely occured due to voltage fluctuation as Edd mentioned.

Still best to check with Vag to be sure.

Good luck.

BTW, I got a new battery (exact fit) at Autozone for about $80, IIRC.

Non-Audi Tom

Oh yea, my battery was bad too, so EDD's probably right on.

Boston Driver

I hope that it is not the alternator, I think just a weakened battery. A week in the cold at the body shop a few weeks back, tey had to jump start, and they tried to charge the battery. But I had ntoiced before that it was starting to sound tired in the AM on first startup. Now that it is getting colder, I guess it is showing more weakness.

I guess I should not panic about the limp mode and the limp mode since others have indicated the same thing associated with the battery etc.

Getting a new battery today from the dealer, $120 vs. $99 for other brand at Auto Zone, figured the extra $21 is worth sticking with OEM from dealer. Getting it from my dealer...but the dealer closest to my house wanted $220...no thank you!

John/Jmess5

Aren't you certified? Call the dealer...get what you've pair for...IMHO