You want your old battery replaced, but you don’t want to be ripped off by a car dealership. So like any other prudent car owner, you go on the internet asking: how much does an Audi battery replacement cost?
Well, you’ll be glad to know that you’ll find the answer you’re seeking here – and more. Just make sure to read on…
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Audi Car Battery Replacement Cost
Battery prices may range from $150 to $450, according to a Jerry post.
Now I know this is a far cry from the usual $45 to $250, as quoted by Way. But as a German luxury car line, Audi vehicles are quite expensive.
In fact, the cheapest – the 2022 Audi A3 with FWD – will cost you $34,800. The priciest – Audi R8 – will set you back a whopping $194,400. Understandably, Audi cars come with more expensive replacement parts (batteries included.)
Let’s take the Audi A4 as an example. It makes use of an ‘Original Equipment Manufacturer’ or OEM battery. This battery is packaged together with an electronic device. It’s also directly supplied by the manufacturer, hence the higher cost.
To illustrate, replacing an Audi A4 battery will cost you:
- $150 to $265 for the battery (price ranges according to model)
- $10 to $20 for the sockets
- $70 to $150 for an OBDeleven scanner
The Audi battery cost is not the only thing you need to worry about, though. Unless you know how to install a new battery, you will need to pay a mechanic to do this. According to the same Way article, labor may cost you anywhere from $10 to $100.
What Affects the Audi Battery’s Lifespan?
Audi often uses OEM, as I’ve mentioned above, and absorbed glass-mat or AGM. This type of battery requires less maintenance (compared to lead-acid batteries), which means it can last for five to seven years.
That said, this is only possible if you drive your car in near-perfect conditions. In other words, you can get the max lifespan if you don’t subject your Audi to extreme weather conditions (heat or cold) or excessive humidity.
Additionally, driving habits play a large role in increasing or decreasing battery life.
If you do a lot of stop-and-go or if you constantly tap on the brakes, then it may not last as long.
The same goes if you drive short distances. This won’t give your battery enough time to recharge. After all, it requires a minimum of 1000 revolutions per minute to pump up your battery.
The faster you go – ideally 55 MPH or higher – the quicker the battery will charge. Normally, this can be accomplished after 30 minutes of driving at such speeds.
Frequent towing, and heavy accessory loads may end up affecting your car’s battery life as well.
Considering these factors, experts estimate that an Audi battery can only give you a good three to four years. Unfortunately, this could get even shorter, say, if you inadvertently manage to leave your lights on overnight.
That being said, your battery should be covered by an Audi warranty for two years or 50,000 miles – whichever comes first.
When Should You Get a New Car Battery for Your Audi?
While you can make the most out of the lifespan I mentioned above, there are times when you have to get a battery change right away. This is especially crucial if you notice any of these signs:
1. Check Engine Light ‘On’
You see your car’s engine light is turned on. Being the ever-prudent owner, you’ve checked everything that might’ve caused it.
And, to your surprise, the usual suspects aren’t to blame.
Needless to say, your faulty battery may be prodding your car to give a warning. Of course, the only way you could address this is to get it replaced ASAP.
2. Electrical Issues
Your battery powers your car’s electrical components. So if your battery is near death, you’re sure to be met with electrical issues – like a dimmer headlight or slow-closing windows, for example.
And, if you often charge your devices in your car, your battery may run out of juice even faster!
3. Starting Difficulties
As the battery ages, its components won’t be as efficient as they used to be. It will take longer for it to charge the starter, so you won’t be able to start your engine as quickly as you once did.
Sadly, this is a clear sign that you’ll have a dead battery at your hands soon.
4. Corrosion
If you see ashy white stuff on the metal connectors, then it means they are corroded. In other words, the acid in the battery has reacted with the metal outside.
Corrosion can affect the battery’s voltage, especially if they are left unremoved for a while. In fact, this is another reason why you find it harder to start your car right away.
5. Foul Smells
Do you smell ‘rotten eggs’ under the hood of your car? As long as you don’t find dead creatures roasted stuck inside, this could be due to battery leakage.
This could happen due to the following factors:
- Aging
- Overcharging
- Overfilled chambers
- Cracking or tipping
- Expansion
- Sulfation
- Exposure to cold weather
- Internal short
Since it’s bad to inhale AGM battery fumes, don’t linger around too much. For best results, have your battery inspected right away.
6. Irregularly-Shaped Battery
You probably have an idea of what your Audi battery looks like. So if it seems misshapen – or swollen – you may need a replacement soon.
This disfiguration may be due to extreme weather, which would have led to chemical reactions that bring about swelling.
How to Replace an Audi Car Battery
Here’s how to change the faulty battery in your Audi:
- Read the manufacturer’s instructions to determine the battery’s right size and location.
- Wear safety glasses and thick rubber gloves.
- Find the positive terminal (covered in red/with a + sign).
- Loosen the negative terminal (covered in black/with a – sign) WITHOUT touching the positive post.
- Use a puller to remove the negative battery terminal.
- Remove the retaining system/clamp that secures the battery in place.
- Detach the old battery carefully.
- Check the cables for corrosion. Remove with a terminal cleaner or a wire brush. For best results, make sure to follow this video on how to clean corroded terminals.
- Insert the new battery and secure it with the retaining system/clamp from earlier. Ensure the + post is aligned with the red or positive cable.
- If your battery has anti-corrosion washers, install them as well. If not, apply a layer of anti-corrosion grease.
- Tighten both the positive cable. Do the same with the negative cable. Secure both and you’re good to go!
As for your old Audi battery, you will need to dispose of it accordingly. You can take it to an Audi dealership, a battery store, or an auto parts shop to have it recycled.
How to Improve Your New Battery’s Lifespan
Now that you’ve installed a new battery, wouldn’t it be great if it lasted longer? The good news is that this is entirely possible, as long as you follow these care tips below:
1. Keep Your Car Inside
Excessive heat can weaken the battery charge and lead to the evaporation of its liquids. Intense cold, on the other hand, can affect the battery’s power by slowing down its chemical reactions.
The battery can absorb moisture through its holes, especially in areas with high humidity. When this happens, the battery can leak and get weaker faster.
The bottom line here is if you want your replacement battery to last a couple of years – as it should – then make sure to park your Audi inside the garage whenever possible.
2. Load-Test Your Battery
Say you’ve driven to the middle of nowhere, only to find out that you are unable to start your car. If you want to avoid this nightmare scenario, then make sure to have your battery load-tested every one to two years.
You can pay a mechanic to load-test your battery, or you can do it yourself. In fact, here’s a video guide on how to do load testing on your own.
Remember: Your battery is still good if it still carries a load of 12-13 volts.
3. Start You Car Routinely
Think that not driving your Audi regularly will save some battery? Wrong. Remember: it charges when you drive your car. In fact, you could expect it to go from full charge to zero in as little as two months (or shorter if the battery is aged three years or more.)
So even if you don’t plan on using your vehicle for quite some time, make sure to start it routinely. That way, it gets charged the way it should.
Conclusion
The cost of replacing an Audi battery ranges from $150 to $450. This new one should last for about five to seven years, but this lifespan may actually decrease to three to four years because of:
- Extreme temperatures
- Humidity
- Driving habits
- Frequent towing
- Heavy accessory loads
As always, you can replace the battery yourself simply by following the instructions above. If you have some questions or clarifications about these steps, don’t be shy to post a comment below!