[s-cars] batteries

[Tom Green]

I'm surprised that marketing restrictions from Audi NA didn't require  
the dealer
to sell Autobahn products exclusively.  These prices have become more
competitive as well.

We've had several reports of original 10 year old batteries still in  
vehicles,
mostly in the NE.  It appears the major enemy of the battery is heat  
and a/c
load in the South.

I decided on Optima even though they didn't have an  application for  
the Audi.
I didn't want to lay it down so I cut the top posts off and had side  
post cables
custom made at the local commercial battery supplier, then used the  
flat part
of the top protector only.

  Sounds good, but don't do this.  Just lay it down.

The side terminals are just fitted around the tapered post and were  
loose after
  most of the post was gone.  I then had to carefully solder them on  
while not
introducing any heat to the battery causing it to melt or produce  
hydrogen gas.
  I thought about those bomb handling robots while doing this.

I think the next battery is an Odyssey.

They did crimp a positive cable extension and terminals with shrink wrap
that are equivalent to OEM.  I was determined that those bolt on ends  
from
the FLAPS would never be on my car, so this is the good part.

Tom  '95 S6
           '95 S6 avant




On Jun 12, 2006, at 7:22 AM, Matthew Russell wrote:

> Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 07:22:59 -0600
> From: Matthew Russell <skippertgore at msn.com>
> Subject: [s-cars] batteries
> To: audi list <s-car-list at audifans.com>
> Message-ID: <BAY101-DAV420E265A038CCE041D418C88F0 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
> Morning, all-
>
> Just wanted to share a quick tidbit: My battery decided to give up the
> ghost the other morning.   I discovered that the old battery (Diehard)
> had probably been in the car for 9 years (depending on how long it sat
> on the shelf...) Who'da thought it'd last that long?
>
> I was surprised, but not enough to purchase another one from Sears
> ($115, and 4 in stock).  After a round of phone calls on a saturday,
> who do you think had a quality one in stock and at a competitive  
> price?
> No, not autozone or any of the other FLAPs.  I purchased an Interstate
> battery from the dealer, of all people,  for 82 bucks.
>
> This whole thing blew me away, and made me realize that in today's
> market - everyone's got to be careful on pricing, including the  
> dealer.
>   They might not always be more expensive, and I need to remember that
> when I'm in need of stuff.  Anyway, just thought I'd share some  
> useless
> info, and give props to my local stealer...
>
> -Matt, CO
> 92 s4