Audi A3 - Electrical Madness!

[petersLUFC]

Hi Guys

I'm after a bit of technical help with my '97 A3 1.8T Sport

It's developed a bit of a problem with the electrics, as the battery keeps going flat when it's been stood overnight, or through the day in the work's car park. I tested the battery with a multimeter and it showed around 14V (i think this is OK according to what i've read online)

I've got one of those jump starter/air compressor things and it brings the battery back to life after a couple of seconds of connection, then the car starts OK.

Something strange i've noticed by accident when the car wont start, is that if i leave the key in postion II and touch the negative battery terminal with the negative lead from the jump starter, the car jumps into life and a whirring noise comes from the engine bay ...even though the jump starter isnt switched on, and the postive lead isnt connected to form a circuit. It's as if the contact with the metal jump lead somehow wakes it up??

Is there some way the battery can be draining, and how can i test for this? Dodgy earth somewhere?

The only other electrical strangeness is that if i blare the horn at someone for more than a second or so, the CD changer stops working and the headunit shows "NO CD" for a couple of minutes, before starting again

Hopefully someone can help me out, it's doing my head in!

Thanks in advance!

Edited by petersLUFC on Sunday 15th November 23:28

[catso]

I've just had to replace the battery on my A3 for the second time, original lasted about 18months, replacement about 3 years and then I noticed it being slightly weak before it just died.

I've come to the confusion that it's just heavy on batteries.

[petersLUFC]

I bought the car in February this year and the seller had recently added a new battery

is there a way i can tell for sure if the battery is knackered? like i said, testing it with a multimeter showed 14V

[Tame Technician]

petersLUFC said:

if i leave the key in postion II and touch the negative battery terminal with the negative lead from the jump starter, the car jumps into life and a whirring noise comes from the engine bay ...even though the jump starter isnt switched on, and the postive lead isnt connected to form a circuit.

Is the negative lead loose on the car, what happens if your wiggle it with your fingers rather than touching it with the jump pack ????

[petersLUFC]

Typical, it's not done it since i posted this

It sometimes is OK for a few days and then will start again so i will post back after checking the battery wire.

[petersLUFC]

Tame Technician said:

petersLUFC said:

if i leave the key in postion II and touch the negative battery terminal with the negative lead from the jump starter, the car jumps into life and a whirring noise comes from the engine bay ...even though the jump starter isnt switched on, and the postive lead isnt connected to form a circuit.

Is the negative lead loose on the car, what happens if your wiggle it with your fingers rather than touching it with the jump pack ????

legend... that's it!

that's why i fix servers and not cars

Edited by petersLUFC on Wednesday 18th November 11:07