Who's good with a multimeter?

[RONDAL]

Tale of the non-driven s4.

Parked the car over winter after I got it back from Calgary Autoworks...ran great.
Battery obviously drained over winter....no big deal.
Jumped it on the weekend and took it for a drive to try and recharge the battery....drove great, but battery wouldn't charge. Understandable as its old.

Last night in frustration go buy new battery.
Take out old battery, put in new battery.
Hook everything up exactly how it was touching literally nothing but battery leads and the rain try in the process.

Car won't start. Dash lights flicker when i put key in.
Check all connections, everything fine.
Hook up new battery to trickle charger overnight as maybe the new battery is low on juice....
Trickle charger still not showing fully charged this morning.
Put key in this morning, dash lights up solid but car wont even attempt to turn over.


WHAAAAAAAT. THE. FAAAAACK.


I touched two friggin things....what the hell would be causing this.
Car drove great before.

Wondering if anyone is good with a multimeter that can help me check grounds and stuff.

Alcohol/Food/Other vices....you let me know what you want.
Car is in heated underground parkade...can even wear shorts and sandals.

[R-Audi]

Re: Who's good with a multimeter?

Sounds like alternator is toast..

[Talky]

Re: Who's good with a multimeter?

http://www.wikihow.com/Check-an-Alternator

This will tell you if you alternator is working...also did you open the fuse box to see if any are burnt out?

[R-Audi]

Re: Who's good with a multimeter?

Those work fine, or just check what the battery gauge says...(First key click) as the article mentions, you need around 12V.
When mine died last year the car started intermittently and then as I was driving the car the battery gauge keep sinking...and I had to keep the revs up for it not to stall. It ended up dying right in front of Tunerworks conveniently.

[Triple G]

Re: Who's good with a multimeter?

Do you have a couple smaller wires bolted to the positive lead?

My positive lead on the allroad looked like this:


Had two smaller gauge wires held down with nuts. They were loose and caused the same issues you are having.

[funkin]

Re: Who's good with a multimeter?

I can give you a hand tonight if you'd like.. PM me your phone # and address

[RONDAL]

Re: Who's good with a multimeter?

Graeme i do.
I'll be sure to check that as i did have to loosen off the positive lead a fair bit to get it off the post.

I dont think alternator is toast and here is why:
Car sat for the whole winter with alarm on. Alarm would drain down battery and kill it. Fine.
Jump car, with dead battery, it drives fine and I took it out for about an hour each about 5 times over the last few days.

if battery is dead and alternator is dead....car shouldn't run. It would essentially be only running off the alternator.

funkin, you've got PM.

[Slamtastic]

Re: Who's good with a multimeter?

A bad alternator shouldn't cause the car not to start. If the battery's fully charged and the dash is clicking/flickering, you have a bad connection.

[gheron]

Re: Who's good with a multimeter?

i agree with Ryan on this one

[RONDAL]

Re: Who's good with a multimeter?

A bad alternator shouldn't cause the car not to start. If the battery's fully charged and the dash is clicking/flickering, you have a bad connection.

ya exactly my thoughts.

I'll look at what graeme pointed out and hopefully thats all it is.
was ready to set the car on fire this morning.

[R-Audi]

Re: Who's good with a multimeter?

A bad alternator will force the car to run on the battery alone which drains it very quickly. My car lasted all of 12 blocks with it dying to be 100% dead.

[funkin]

Re: Who's good with a multimeter?

^ I'll agree but he hasn't ran it yet... Its possible that when you bought the new battery they didn't charge it and depending on the trickle charger it might not give it a full charge overnight.

[Triple G]

Re: Who's good with a multimeter?

This was my failing alternator:

I'm sticking to my first guess

[onceover]

Re: Who's good with a multimeter?

That or corroded battery terminals? Give them a really good brush before you put them on the battery

[Parts Erik]

Re: Who's good with a multimeter?

Get a flashlight and a mirror and find what wires the mouse ate over the winter.


Erik