For the past month my car has been taking longer and longer to start. Then just the other day as i was driving i noticed that my battery charge was very high (around 15 volts). Now my car wont start at all (just a clicking sound and the lights flash). Is it possible my alternator could overcharge the battery? Is it just a bad battery. Ive got a 2001 a4 1.8t with a little over than 80,000 miles.

 

probably just a bad battery, and our cars always charge that high

 

usually mine seems closer to around 14 - 14.5 but this time it seemed as high as 15.5

 

also how do i remove the battery? i have heard its difficult but i cannot find instructions anywhere

 

1. Pull the weather strip off the firewall closest to the engine.
2. Grab the plastic cover that cover's the battery and pull it towards the engine to remove it.
3. Undo the battery terminals and you're done.

 

I have an 01 A4 1.8T Quatro and it runs at 15 most of the time, especially in the cold.

 

When you say "battey charge very high" are you talkign about the volt reading when the alternator is tunign (engine running) or when the ignition swoitch is on but the engine not turning ?


With the engine off but ignition on it should read about 12-12.5v this is the power the battery is putting out. With the ignition running youa re adding power to the circtuit via the alternator, this usualy puts the Voltage of the cars circuit to around 15v Everything in the car is designed to work between 12and 16v (even aftermarket car stuff) so unless the voltage goes above 16 you should be fine, otherwise the voltage regulator might be faulty.

 

above 15 volts and engine just at idle you have an alternator problem the battery will boil it should read 14.5v