Audi A3 Problem

yosamuel

yosamuel

yosamuel

Associate
Joined
22 Oct 2012
Posts
38
Location
Manchester
I wondered if you guys could help diagnose a problem I am having with my 2000 Audi A3 1.8 (Typ 8L, V5 engine).

About six weeks ago the car failed to start; completely dead. I feared it was the alternator but it turns out someone had knocked the rear interior light on and, over the five days we didn’t use it, it had drained the battery.

I now have similar symptoms but after jump starting the car (three times) and driving around for over thirty minutes a time, it doesn’t seem to have solved the problem.

Symptoms:
- Car fails to start off battery, only my portable Halfords jump-start power pack thing I keep in the boot
- Once started it idles at ~1000RPM (sporadically)
- Both RPM and speedometer dials drop to zero whilst driving (sporadically)
- ABS light comes on (sporadically)
- Engine sounds like it is misfiring (a faint, deep, popping or bubbling noise coming from the exhaust)

It was serviced 6 months/2000 Miles ago (new oil, plugs, filters, cleaned throttle body). I did about 120 miles at the weekend and the car didn’t show any signs of trouble.

Before I call the garage I thought I’d ask you guys. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

--

Edit: Battery was replaced in November.
 
Last edited:
Firstly I'd get the battery off and get it charged properly with a trickle charger.

Sounds like you've got a dead/dieing battery, how old is it for one? The deep discharge has killed it by the sound of it.
 
Sounds like a very weird combination of faults, but at a bare minimum I'd say either your battery or alternator are knackered.
 
Thanks, I suspected that might be the case.

The battery was replaced in November, but as you say… the deep discharge might have killed it.
 
yosamuel said:
Thanks, I suspected that might be the case.

The battery was replaced in November, but as you say… the deep discharge might have killed it.
Click to expand...

Ok, certainly get it trickle charged overnight ASAP and it should have some life left in it.

A dodgy battery can cause all manner of weird problems, if that doesn't solve the issues then post back but your be having to look at your alternator and starter motor.
 
Try a new battery in the first instance. Cheap and easy to do, and worst case scenario is you have a spare battery.
 
miniyazz said:
Try a new battery in the first instance. Cheap and easy to do, and worst case scenario is you have a spare battery.
Click to expand...

Shirley it is better to purchase a trickle charger then a new battery in the first instance...?

Two batteries is pretty useless when you only need one but a trickle charger can be kept 'fo life!
 
Buy a voltmeter and test the cross terminal voltage. With the engine off it should be 12.6v for a fully charged battery if all is well. With the engine running and the alternator going it should be up to 13.2–14.4v.

Also.. are you sure your engine is a V5... :p ;)
 
Thanks for all the input.

I’m going to pick up my multimeter from work tomorrow and see what’s going on. I’ll keep you posted.
 
Pabl0 said:
Shirley it is better to purchase a trickle charger then a new battery in the first instance...?

Two batteries is pretty useless when you only need one but a trickle charger can be kept 'fo life!
Click to expand...

Alright, second/third instance ;)

A trickle charger is of more use than a battery, granted. Plus once you've got the trickle charger and then a spare battery.. you can keep your spare battery charged :p
 
Last edited:
[TW]Fox;24451900 said:
It's not, no, but there is a V5 in the VW equivilent of his car, so it's not quite as outrageous a typo as it might seem.
Click to expand...
You're right. I was being facetious and imagining a twin bank V5 engine. :)
 
I wish these engines were 5 pots.

Sadly the 5v simply implies it has 5 valves per pot, two exhaust and three intake. 5 valves * 4 pistons = 20valves
 
I did a test with the multimeter this evening. Here are the results:

- Prior to starting the engine the reading was ~8v
- After starting the engine the reading was ~13.5v
- When I turned on the lights, the reading was ~12.5v
- After I turned off the engine, the reading dropped back below 12v

Am I right in saying that this indicates a fault with the battery?
 
yosamuel said:
I did a test with the multimeter this evening. Here are the results:

- Prior to starting the engine the reading was ~8v
- After starting the engine the reading was ~13.5v
- When I turned on the lights, the reading was ~12.5v
- After I turned off the engine, the reading dropped back below 12v

Am I right in saying that this indicates a fault with the battery?
Click to expand...

Yes (or potentially with a drain on the battery).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom