I have a 1999 A4 1.8 T FWD.
OK, so here the story, im driving to the airport to pick up my buddy. Its getting dark so i dont have my headlights on. I notice that my battery lights is flickering on and off, and my volts are reading a little bit low, around like 11. So i pull over and un hook my system by disconnecting cap, remote wire, and undoing the power on the battery. I dont have a optima, i have a autocraft, and its older. So as it starts getting darker, i turn on my headlights, and drive, i notice its a little bit lower, but not much. i get off the interstate about 30 minutes later, and as i pull up to a stop light, my car starts dieing. Its readin below 8 volts, and i have to keep it around 2000 RPMS, to keep it running. My ABS light turns on, and my check engine light turns on. So i pulled into a gas station, and pop the hood maybe thinking i didnt tighten back down the power to the battery. So as i pop the hood, there is what smells like power steering fluid everywhere, maybe oil, but theres kinda of a puddle, and my car is leaking. So i push start it, and get it back home, and park it. But on the way home, it was running aroun 9 volts.


I honetly think i need a alternater, and obviouslya yellow top optima, but as far as the check engine light, and the ABS, should that come on if im losing power. I also think that it might be a belt, but im not a mechanic, and to be honest with you, im not sure what the **** it is.

If anyone can give me some advice, because i cant drive my car right know to a shop, and the closes shop is about 20 minutes, and they dont work on Audis. but for an audi shop, im looking like an hour and a half. I can change **** on the car, but was wondering if anyone has experienced this before. All Help is appreciated.
Thanks
JOhnny D

 

Don't trash your battery yet, if it is the alternator then you battery might be fine. it's hard to run a car off strictly battery power.

 

well regardless, i have to get an optima battery anyways, because im running 3JL 10w6v2 and a 1000/1 with a 2 farad cap, and 3 monitors. So optima is needed anyways. Discount auto parts takes trade ins on batterys anways so it should be all good. But the alternator is going to be a bitch. Because of the cheap price.

 

SOUNDS LIKE AN ALT.

 

yea definatly sounds like ur alternator is bad.....from experience i kno that if you have a amp set up in the car, the optima battery isnt the only thing needed to be upgraded in order to not experince problems.....they have special Alternators just for Sound Systems.....the stock ones dont hold up well to high Watts......my friend has a maxima and he upgraded to optima battery and his headlights were still flickering, until his alternator finally gave up on him on the freeway one day....better battery will help,but there is still risk of ALT goin bad because of an AMP set up....

 

yeah but with an alternator, is my check engine light gonna come on and my ABS light???

 

I know that if you are having problems where the ABS light comes on after driving the vehicle a distance, it is caused by a low output signal from one or more of the ABS wheel speed sensors. Often happens after some work is done to the front suspension or if a wheel bearing is replaced. Your best bet would be to find someone in your area who has a OBD scanner.....where do you live?

 

Park Hills, Missouri, about an hour and half from st. louis.

 

When the car is low on power, in order to keep it running it will turn off systems to stay running. CHECK YOUR ALT like everyone else is saying.

 

have you tried looking at the yellow pages for local shops? I know that Autozone or PepBoys scannes for trouble codes for free....