djrx

I recently had a check engine light come on. OBDeleven scan reveled "03041 - Energy management active static" error. Searching that code led me to conclude my battery was dying. I had the battery tested at two different parts stores. One store told me a new alternator but the battery was still good. The other store said the alternator was fine but may need a new battery soon. Please see attachment below. I can't figure out how to obtain battery diagnosing with the OBDeleven. My car is a 2014 SQ5 with ~100,300 miles. It still has the factory battery with the reading "27/13". Do you think it's time for a new battery, given the high mileage? I cleared the code and it hasn't returned in two days.

billm0066

I dont trust those tests. Advanced Auto said my wifes battery was fine but car wouldnt crank a few days later after they charged it. Took it to a different store and they said it was toast so it was replaced under warranty. I would replace the battery and see if your issues go away. I would say in most cases it's a bad battery when you have electrical issues.

uberwgn

DJ, time for a new battery.

apoelistas

My Q5 9 years old has had a 3rd battery only this time I upgraded it to 100Amps (coded from 80Amps to 95Amps).

You need a new battery whatsoever of the result. Always start from the battery. Good luck.

djrx

Thanks guys. I will have the battery replaced ASAP. I would hate to get stranded in this cold weather.

waninae39

my inside led links started flickering. I thought it was the LED

a week later I got a low battery message

I put the Q5 on a smart charger over night

now the LED are fine.

maybe my alternator is not up to snuff

apoelistas

​​​Alternators and battery conditioners both charge batteries but in a different way. This is why your battery got charged most probably, conditioners go through different charge stages for optimization reasons. This does not usually mean your alternator needs replacing.

Redd

These cars are funny about batteries. Last year my dealer tried telling me I needed a new one because mine was only at 12.2 volts. Eh, well, I've had enough experience with "12" volt systems to know a brand new battery is more or less 12.6 volts, and 12.2 is actually a 60% full battery. Which should be fine for cars, the problems start more like 12.0 volts, especially if you add cold weather.

Yours tested at 12.39, which is 12.4 to me. That's an 80% good battery and perfectly acceptable--if it was load tested properly. And there's something very irregular about load testing and who/how it is being done, I've seen too many results that differ for no apparent reason. (I'm wondering if some shops don't intentionally mis-set their testers, so they can "prove" a perfectly good battery is bad.)

Then the Audi also has a charge control computer, which literally is said to do odd things like TURN OFF THE ALTERNATOR when there is only a light load and a full battery. I've seen my car go from 14.4 volts to 12.6 volts during highway trips--they're trying to save fuel by cutting out the alternator. Umm. More stuff to go wrong.

Chain places tend to be screwy about batteries as well. My father called me once, I said "You need a new alternator, take it to..." and they told him he needed a new starter. Which they gladly sold him. And then they had to replace the alternator the next week anyway, funny thing. (Damn right, at no extra charge.)

Four five years, typical life for a car battery. On these cars? Four years more likely, if there's a keyless entry system sucking power. And those oh-so-sensitive German electronics. (Ahuh.)