Flat battery every 2-3 days

[RobA4]

my 2002 Audi A4 estate keeps getting a flat battery every 2-3 days. Its had a new battery 2 months ago, this did help and this did seem to stop the problem for a week or two, but its the same as before now. I've had the battery checked and that is ok. I have put a multimeter on the battery terminals while the car is running and the charge is 14.25v. This morning before I tried to start the car I put the multimeter on the battery terminals and the reading was 11.72v. I then turned the ignition key but it only managed to turn the engine over once or twice and then started to click,it did not start the engine. If I start the car with jump leads and run it for 10 minuets, the car would start fine for the rest of the day, but if it was left until tomorrow it might start or it might. Any ideas?

[Crasher]

Does your multimeter have a current measurement setting and do you know how to measure the current drain? About 10A capability is required.

[RobA4]

I don't think my multimeter has a current measurement setting. I don't know how to measure the current drain. The multimeter was attached to the battery terminals and read 11.72v and as I tried to start the car and the reading went down to 1.5v and after the car had failed to start I turned the ignition off and the reading went back up to 9.5v. Hope this helps!

[Crasher]

By your description, you don't have a charging or battery fault but a drain on the battery which flattens it over a short period. You need a multimeter with current testing abilities. Disconnect the battery earth and attach one cable of the meter to the lead and the other to the battery terminal. Follow the meters instructions as to how to connect and set up for current testing. Measure the current drain with all consumers turned off and it should only show a very small reading around or less than 0.01 amp. If the drain is higher, open the door and turn off the interior light. Remove each fuse from the panel one at a time until the drain disappears. You will probably find it is the radio. Does it have the original Audi radio or an aftermarket unit?

[audipersempre]

Have you had the car long? If it is a recent purchase and you can't identify the current drain easily check for a tracker. Probably isn't your problem but I mention it to save someone else the pain I went through!

TT180 roadster with the same problem you have. Two AA call outs and three visits to Audi (including two new batteries under warranty) yet the battery drain could not be located.

My local car audio / sat nav supplier and fitter said he would take a look. Within 30 minutes he found a dormant tracker device which had malfunctioned causing the battery drain.

Way to go Audi...........not

[mikek69]

Hi steve

Can you pls tell me what 's your fitter found? A doormant tracker device?


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POST EDITED BY RICKT - USER REQUESTED LOCATION OF TRACKER IN CAR - REMOVED FOR OBVIOUS REASON

[audipersempre]

Yes it was dormant but electrically connected and it was somewhere XXXXXXXX. That's the best I can recall the guy saying as I didn't actually see it myself.

Hope this helps.

[mell]

Had same problem on my 130 tdi avant glove box light was on constantly,If you take panel of side of dashboard you can check worth a chance ?