A4 (B5 Platform) Discussion Discussion forum for the B5 Audi A4 produced from 1995-2001 B5 FAQ

serious problems??!! HELP!!!!

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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 01:48 PM
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Default serious problems??!! HELP!!!!

i just got back from a ski weekend and got to my car to find it dead. no problem but then i go to jump it and i melted 2 sets of jumper cables! im no idiot i know how i put on jumpers so it wasnt that they were on wrong. i have and aftermarket sterio with a capacitor could i have drained my alternator? i have no idea what is goin on audi roadside assistance should be here in 90 mins but id like to have some kind of idea wht is going on with this before they get here. any ideas????


very stressed out, Ian
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 01:50 PM
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Default out of curiousity what are the stats on the capacitor?

also how os it hooked up to the bat.?
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 01:52 PM
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Default Re: out of curiousity what are the stats on teh compacitor?

it is a 1.2 faride cap with 4 gauge wire comming from the battery and then splitting and connecting to 800 watts of amps. you have any ideas wht is going on?
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 01:53 PM
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Default Your battery is dead...it shorted internally....

By hooking a good battery via jumper cables cables, you are shorting the other cars battery..and stressing the s##t out of it. Its always best to check a dead battery with a meter prior to jumping.

Bottom line, you need a new battery
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 01:55 PM
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Default i was using a yellow block to try to jump it. but u think it was a internal battery failure?

thanks thats quite helpful
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 02:00 PM
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Default not sure if you want to but..

i would disconnect your stereo wires going to your amp before audi looks at it, cause they are most likely to blame your stereo for any fault whatever it is. If its disconnected when they look at it and you tell them it wasnt hooked up when the problem occured then they cant screw you from your waranty if you have one still.
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 02:00 PM
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Default Sometimes, batteries will short internally when they

go bad. Most often (and not in your case) the cells fail in the "open" state. In your case you simply shorted the yellow block by hooking it across your "already shorted" battery and this resulted in the melting of the jumper leads. FWIW, the stereo capacitor has nothing to do with this.
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 02:13 PM
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Default Oh..and more...

Your stereo system is probably the root cause of the problem. Running your audio system with the average amount of regular car accesories is probably more than your 90A alternator can keep up with. Take a look at your volt meter when your driving with all this equipment running. You will probably see something less than 13.5V. This will cause your battery to remain undercharged and this is what stressed the battery (to the point of failure) when you start the car.

Your best bet to prevent this from happening again is to install a higher capacity alternator.
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 02:33 PM
  #9  
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Default i thought having a capacitor would prevent/ prolong damage to my alternator.

i know a few people who have similar systems to mine and they have never had any problems with the alternator as a result.

thanks for the help though, Ian
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Old Feb 16, 2004 | 03:06 PM
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Default what the **** is a faride.....

is that like floride??

numby... its FARAD.
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