Battery question

[Bren]

Tomorrow I will purchase a battery for the A6 - I am mindful that I will lose radio presets from the memory once battery is disconnected.

 

I have a battery conditioner for my motorcycle- if I connected this to the terminals would it cause any damage? I would imagine it has some kind of surge protector built in.

 

Thoughts?

[rainagain]

I wouldn't, too much chance of high output voltage and ripples in the output affecting the ecus. Having a battery in the circuit normally takes care of both problems above

[SgtWilson]

Use the charging terminals under the bonnet on the left hand side. Best to connect a decent battery, but if you don't have one, even a poor battery with your conditioner attached will work.

[spike60]

I've used small jumper cable from another battery to keep it all alive while swapping batteries over. Easy on the cars that have seperate jumper points like BMW's.

[Timewaster]

There used to be devices for connecting a 9v battery to the terminals to keep memories alive.

Not sure if they actually work.

 

You could connect a cigarette lighter plug to a length of wire onto another battery or even the motorbike battery and back feed it that way.

[gordonbennet]

I use a jump pack or jump leads when changing batteries, but care has to be taken not to allow an accidental short whilst trying to get the bloody battery out and back in.

[hauserplenty]

If you do use the ciggie lighter, make sure it's not switched off with the ignition, otherwise you need to leave the key in ACC or ON. I've used a cable with ciggie lighter plugs on each end to plug into a jumper box in the past which has always worked well. Duct taping the terminals is advisable to prevent OMGMAGICSMOKE...

[HH-R]

Modern CANBUS shit usually keeps memories/radio codes stored, certainly the Blaupunkt units in FIATs do.

 

YMMV, I wouldn't want to be responsible for the loss of Wrighty on 88.5...

[simmo]

Some of the Audis will unlock themselves after about 10 minutes, my A4 was W-reg and didn't, a later one may.

 

Also I would always look through all the handbook bumf to see if the code has bee noted somewhere (usually not the radio bit).  Also if the unit comes out easily worth checking.  if its ever been repaired it may have the number marked some where on the unit.

 

If you know anyone who works at a VAG garage they should be able to get it,

[SiC]

What age A6? Most modern stuff remembers the radio stations. IIRC even our 02reg Astra with stock cassette player radio does!