hi all. I need the battery replacing on my q3.audi very expensive but im concerned ill lose all my settings if i take it elsewhere. any advice would be welcome. thank you marilyn

Hello Marilyn, 

What evidence do you have that the battery on this just within/ just outside warranty needs to be replaced?

As you probably realise, Audi will charge you two arms and two legs, but there would be alternatives. 
Regards,

Gareth. 

hi gareth.in cold weather it comes up low battery,battery will be charged while driving. its out of warranty anyway as far as i know. i just wonder if it will mess anything up if i go to a normal battery place.thanks

2 hours ago, mal1953 said:

hi gareth.in cold weather it comes up low battery,battery will be charged while driving. its out of warranty anyway as far as i know. i just wonder if it will mess anything up if i go to a normal battery place.thanks

Hi you wont loose any settings if you go somewhere else that sells and fits batteries just check that they WILL CODE IT for you as this is most important, anywhere is likely to be cheaper than the Stealers, the charging while running was a good spot so if you get it in time no awkward supermarket car park no start episodes just dont pick the cheapest option go for Bosch,Yuasa, Exide.

Steve.

How frequently is the car used Marilyn? 

Try charging it using a smart charger , before doing anything. 

magnet.the car is used daily. only in cold weather when heaters wipers etc are all on.

 

18 hours ago, Magnet said:

How frequently is the car used Marilyn? 

every day. its fine in summer but not in winter when everything is on

11 hours ago, Audisq524 said:

Try charging it using a smart charger , before doing anything. 

have charged it. battery shows right down.then charges up fully. but after a few days of really cold weather shows battery low.

A defective battery will not hold a charge, so that could be the explanation for the problem, so why not get it tested before shelling out over a hundred pounds for a new one. And as Steve said, if a new one is needed ensure it is coded to the car. It would also be worth getting the alternator tested at the same time.

Thanks Marilyn,

There is an understandable assumption that this battery is at fault for the reason I’ve already given, but an assumption it is, until proved to be sub-standard. 
As Cliff points out, checking the alternator output would be a very wise first move, before charging the battery and getting its overall efficiency checked on professional equipment. As mentioned, Halfords stores can do this and check the alternator output. If you respect your card, it would be wise to comeback to us before committing to buy.

Another possibility is that the car is suffering from a parasitic drain, whereby some circuit/s are not shutting down, and discharging the battery.

Summary:- test battery and alternator first, and report back and we can hopefully help you further. 
Regards,

Gareth. 

Yes, get alternator tested. A cheap multimeter can achieve that on car battery when running, you’re probably looking at 14.4v running. Get a AGM battery, and coded to car with VCDS. Some other car diagnostics can do it too. Before hooking up new battery, leave it on a trickle charge. Will be around 12.6v with car not started. New cars are very fussy to low voltage, so can throw up spurious faults. Also make sure vent pipe attached.

23 hours ago, cliffcoggin said:

A defective battery will not hold a charge, so that could be the explanation for the problem, so why not get it tested before shelling out over a hundred pounds for a new one. And as Steve said, if a new one is needed ensure it is coded to the car. It would also be worth getting the alternator tested at the same time.

how do you mean get it coded.its all double dutch to me.thanks

5 hours ago, spartacus 68 said:

Yes, get alternator tested. A cheap multimeter can achieve that on car battery when running, you’re probably looking at 14.4v running. Get a AGM battery, and coded to car with VCDS. Some other car diagnostics can do it too. Before hooking up new battery, leave it on a trickle charge. Will be around 12.6v with car not started. New cars are very fussy to low voltage, so can throw up spurious faults. Also make sure vent pipe attached.

i might take it to my local garage who i know and ask if he can check battery and alternator. thanks

6 hours ago, Magnet said:

Thanks Marilyn,

There is an understandable assumption that this battery is at fault for the reason I’ve already given, but an assumption it is, until proved to be sub-standard. 
As Cliff points out, checking the alternator output would be a very wise first move, before charging the battery and getting its overall efficiency checked on professional equipment. As mentioned, Halfords stores can do this and check the alternator output. If you respect your card, it would be wise to comeback to us before committing to buy.

Another possibility is that the car is suffering from a parasitic drain, whereby some circuit/s are not shutting down, and discharging the battery.

Summary:- test battery and alternator first, and report back and we can hopefully help you further. 
Regards,

Gareth. 

if something was draing the battery though wouldnt that be most of the time. usual things, radio,wipers heaters lights etc and a dash cam are on regularly with no issues but its only when the cold and frost arrives does it not hold its charge. it also charges up whilst driving. thanks

But you said it loses power over a few days - during with it spends a fair bit of the day sitting unused I guess. 
Any objection to taking it to Halfords for checking as suggested a number of times? 

59 minutes ago, mal1953 said:

how do you mean get it coded.its all double dutch to me.thanks

Coding means matching the battery to the car's charging system so that it gets charged at the correct rate and to the right limit. It's a "feature" of modern cars that was unecessary years ago when cars did not have the delicate electronics that are present now. Coding is done with a computer gadget such as VCDS via the car's OBD diagnostic port. Skip the coding and you may damage the battery.

A defective or dying battery can not store as much power as a new one, even though a simple no load voltage test may show 12.4 volts. You can get away with a weak battery much of the time when conditions are favourable, but the onset of winter always reveals the weakness because the power requirements at low temperatures are much greater. This time of year we always get a flood of queries about poor starting and other electrical problems which in many cases are because the battery is dying, which is why we have suggested getting the battery and alternator tested professionally.

Seems to be a lot of assistive comments made on this thread, but not a lot of positive progress.

Contributors seem to have reached a stage where repeating is all that can be done. 

14 hours ago, mal1953 said:

how do you mean get it coded.its all double dutch to me.thanks

The correct term is " resetting the BMS,  ". Battery monitoring system " .  It's not exactly coded in like a Led headlight would be for instance.   In all my years dead AGM batteries won't recharge, infact if the charge levels drop too low ,it ruins an AGM battery .  Also a battery that died in cold weather ,but was ok in warm weather was considered to be kaput!! 

 

Some cars, also keep track of the charging profile, and increase the voltage as the battery ages. On BMW/Audi, if you do not register the battery, they will overcharge and kill the new battery in a short time , if the BMS isn't reset. 

 

Maybe try Halfords if Audi prices are too high.  They also offer a battery check. 

Edited November 24, 2025Nov 24 by Audisq524

3 hours ago, Audisq524 said:

The correct term is " resetting the BMS,  ". Battery monitoring system " .  It's not exactly coded in like a Led headlight would be for instance.   In all my years dead AGM batteries won't recharge, infact if the charge levels drop too low ,it ruins an AGM battery .  Also a battery that died in cold weather ,but was ok in warm weather was considered to be kaput!! 

 

Some cars, also keep track of the charging profile, and increase the voltage as the battery ages. On BMW/Audi, if you do not register the battery, they will overcharge and kill the new battery in a short time , if the BMS isn't reset. 

 

Maybe try Halfords if Audi prices are too high.  They also offer a battery check. 

thank you.x

17 hours ago, cliffcoggin said:

Coding means matching the battery to the car's charging system so that it gets charged at the correct rate and to the right limit. It's a "feature" of modern cars that was unecessary years ago when cars did not have the delicate electronics that are present now. Coding is done with a computer gadget such as VCDS via the car's OBD diagnostic port. Skip the coding and you may damage the battery.

A defective or dying battery can not store as much power as a new one, even though a simple no load voltage test may show 12.4 volts. You can get away with a weak battery much of the time when conditions are favourable, but the onset of winter always reveals the weakness because the power requirements at low temperatures are much greater. This time of year we always get a flood of queries about poor starting and other electrical problems which in many cases are because the battery is dying, which is why we have suggested getting the battery and alternator tested professionally.

i will get both tested at my local garage and ask about the coding.thank you

34 minutes ago, mal1953 said:

i will get both tested at my local garage and ask about the coding.thank you

Please let us know the outcome.

If your local garage does not understand or have the equipment for coding take the car elsewhere.

4 hours ago, cliffcoggin said:

Please let us know the outcome.

If your local garage does not understand or have the equipment for coding take the car elsewhere.

i will. wont be sorted till dec as im on holiday but ill post the outcome to all

just an update on battery. i was priced online up to £150 for battery plus extra for coding. I checked audi out of curiosity (which i know killed the cat) and they quoted nearly £700 !!!!. taking it to my local garage which ive used for years (in december after holiday) and ill let everyone know how ive got on. once again thank you for all the help id have been lost without it x

£700 !!   Good god 😨 😨. 

24 minutes ago, Audisq524 said:

£700 !!   Good god 😨 😨. 

I'd want it gold plated for that price.