ELEVENS

We all know our batteries will be dying soon, heck they're 7-8 years old! Check out this little replacement gem, PC1200T.. Odyssey is well know as one of the highest quality batteries available. It cost about $225 and the net weight savings is about 21 pounds. Some guys are very happy with the Odyssey PC925 which is lighter still, but I prefer a bit of a "reserve cushion" since I live in the freezing tundra. This little mighty mouse battery cranks the motor over very noticeably faster than the factory battery. The vent hose is retained, even though it's an Acid Glass Mat (AGM) sealed battery that never needs maintenance. Super happy with the choice. Also happy to ditch the "factory recall" aluminum frame in the battery area. I'm sure it's only purpose is to support heavy trunk payloads (which I don't do) and is not safety-related. Another 5 pounds baby!

Big Bertha (Factory battery) is 59 pounds


New Odyssey PC1200T is 37 pounds


Big Bertha vs. PC1200


The aluminum "recall" frame. I believe this is solely to support heavy payloads in the trunk. (Dead) Weight: ~5 pounds.


Custom hold-down made from 1/8" x 1.5" aluminum - about 9 ounces

Reggie

Great Job - Well engineered.

The Odyssey I put in my old A4 died while my daughter was driving it. But then again I put it in the car in 2007 and it lasted till 2011 but died suddenly.

https://www.audiworld.com/tech/elec167.shtml

ELEVENS

Thanks Reggie. Oops, that link shows pics of an Optima Red Top, not Odyssey. I read (not sure if it's true) that the Optima was their first battery, but later when they engineered the Odyssey, they sold the patent rights for Optima to another company and focused just on the Odyssey.

Odyssey has a 12 year design life, 3-10 year service life, and 3 year free replacement.

Reggie

Interesting

Datadatum

Where did you source the custom battery tie-down?

ELEVENS

The hold down bracket was a one-off fabrication with materials from Home Depot and some work with a vise. hammer, saw, and drill. 1/8" x 1.5" aluminum bar and size medium 3/16" aluminum rivets. The adhesive foam came with Shorai LiFePO4 battery purchases.

The whole battery swap took 2 hours, including the trip downtown to Home Depot.

Datadatum

Interesting regarding the "recall" aluminum frame. I had not heard of that before. Was that all A4's, or just the RS4?

ELEVENS

Good question, that made me look it up. Here's what the service order dated July 16, 2010 states:

'PERFORMED 53B3 SERVICE ACTION. CHK SPARE WHEEL WELL PER 53B3.

WARRANTY 0.60 HRS. N/C
1 D-507-110-A3 HARD FOAM N/C

INSPECTED SPARE WHEEL WELL FOR CRACKING. NONE FOUND SO I APPLIED HARD FOAM UNDER BATTERY TRAY IN SPECIFIED LOCATIONS PER SERVICE ACTION WORK PROCEDURE.

So this makes me think that the big aluminum frame wasn't the "recall", but rather was in there since new. I've attached a photo so it's clear what we're discussing.

Datadatum

I'll be sure to look at my battery storage area this weekend and comment back here!

(RS4 is in storage this week while I enjoy my 400awhp Subaru. )

cotmfk

Every little bit of weight savings helps!