Removing the battery on a Q7
 

So my toddler son drops my spare house keys down the side of the drivers seat and sure enough, it goes into the battery bay under the drivers seat.

I cannot figure for the life of me how to remove the battery. The owners manual does NOT tell you how to do it.

It appears that I have to pull the whole drivers seat out to do so. This seems pretty rediculous if you ask me for a simple serviceable item.

So how do I get to the battery?

Seat removal instructions:

2007 Audi Q7 Quattro Seats Removal and Replacement | Autotari

After recently needing a boost, probably time to start thinking about replacing my 5 year old battery. Any suggestions for battery brands and models?

I would go with a OEM battery. I think on that model it might need to be regestered.

I just did this today and took pictures of the process.

Tools:
Flat Screwdriver
10mm triple square socket
10mm regular socket
Socket Wrench

Time:
Took me about 2 hours (I can probably do it faster now though).

1. Buy new OEM Replacement Battery

Attachment 28817

Attachment 28818

2. Remove the plastic covers under the driver's seat from the rear seat footwell

Attachment 28819

Lift the plastic trim upwards:
Attachment 28820

Slide the plastic trim backwards:
Attachment 28821

Trim pieces removed:
Attachment 28822

3. The next step is not really necessary, but I found it easier to replace the trim by removing the front completely. When reinstalling, install the back first.

Remove the plastic trim in the front by lifting the plastic tabs (similar to rear):
Attachment 28823

Slide the trim forward:
Attachment 28824

4. There are 2 covers in the driver's footwell, near the seat. Pry them upwards:
Attachment 28825

5. Under each of the 2 plastic covers, there is a 10mm triple square bolt that holds the seat down.
Attachment 28826

Remove both:
Attachment 28827

6. Tilt seat. Be careful not to hit your steering wheel.
Attachment 28828

7. With the seat tilted back, the battery compartment cover is visible.

There are 2 metal clasps holding the cover down when you should release:
Attachment 28829

8. The cover can now swivel upward:
Attachment 28830

9. Disconnect the negative and postive terminals with your 10mm regular socket.

10. There are 2 clamps holding the battery down (also using 10mm).
One is in the centre, which has a long 10mm bolt sticking up.
Attachment 28831

The other is the front corner of the battery closest to the door.
Attachment 28832

11. Disconnect the vent:
Attachment 28833

12. Once the clamps are removed and everything disconnected, the battery will lift out.

13. You can simply slide the new battery in and reverse the installation process.

Some tips:

Clamp the battery first, before connecting the terminals.

Don't forget to reconnect the vent.

Before putting the seat back, you can test it out.

I found it easier to install the trim from the rear footwell first, then slide the trim from the front footwell after. The reason is that there are clips in the front trim that slide into the back trim.

I didn't need to program anything besides resetting the clock.

Thank you so much for posting this picture tutorial of removing the battery from an Audi Q7 I don't know how I would have managed. I think I would have struggled to find the battery. It took me about an hour all told to complete with the excellent clear pictures.

Just for reference I am in the UK and on the right hand drive models the battery is under the passenger seat which probably makes it a little easier as there is no steering wheel in the way while you are wrestling the amazingly heavy battery out.

Anyway thanks again. I purchase my new battery for less than £100 which was a third of the price of the battery at the Audi dealer and then they wanted labour for fitting! I cant imagine what the bill would have been!

The bill from an Audi dealer in the UK would be around £350 including parts & labour.

It's recommended to code the battery in to the energy management controller using VCDS/Vag-com because the controller will have adapted energy management according to the power characteristics of your old/faulty battery.

By letting the energy management controller know the car has a new battery, it will reset it's energy management plan.

You need to enter the new serial number of the OEM battery when coding it on using VCDS, but if you have a 3rd party battery, simply changing one digit in the serial number of the old battery will fool the controller into thinking it has a new battery.

nice write up i must say.........how do i code it via vcds ,ive no idea?

Also if i disconnect the original battery then put it on charge,put it back in the car will i need to re-code it? or only when replacing with a different one?

mines dying after 12 hours of sitting overnight........anyway of checking via vcds if something is draining it?

Removing battery audi Q7 2007
 

Hi,

I noticed that you used a 10mm triple square to remove the 2 bolts that hold the seat down. I have tried that on my 2007 audi Q7 but it does not fit. I think that it is actually a 9mm on mine. Has anybody else experienced this?

I have the same issue with the 10mm being too large - was the 9mm you used a 12 point? I'm having a hard time finding a workable option.

10mm should work just fine. I had to tap it softly with a hammer then it went on without a problem.