Boston Driver

...I do not recall a writeup on this, so I figured that I would post this now.

My OEM battery was on it's last legs, so I replaced it with a Sears Die Hard International Group 49. Half the price of an OEM with a 3-year warranty. Make sure that you have your radio code handy...just in case the power is disconnected long enough for the radio to lose memory.

The battery is hidden under the cowl panel just forward of the base of the widshield...
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/hliu55/battery/battery1.jpg">

Remove the rubber gasket that runs along the front edge...
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/hliu55/battery/battery2.jpg">

Then remove the plastic cover...
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/hliu55/battery/battery3.jpg">

Remove the battery leads (+/-) using a 10mm socket...
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/hliu55/battery/battery4a.jpg">

At the base of the passenger side of the battery, you'll see a bolt that holds the clamp down. Using a 13mm socket, remove that bolt...
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/hliu55/battery/battery4.jpg">

Carefully remove the battery by using the existing handles and lift straight up. This sucker weighs a TON, so watch your back! Be sure to also remove the battery drain tube as well...
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/hliu55/battery/battery5.jpg">

Here is a shot of the empty battery tray...
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/hliu55/battery/battery7.jpg">

On the driver's side of the battery tray, here is the hole into which the drain tube must be inserted...
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/hliu55/battery/battery8.jpg">

Installation is reverse of removal. Make sure you install the drain tube and insert that into the small hole next to the battery tray. Also, note that the tray has a few other bolt holes, so if you go with a battery with a different footprint, you can find the correct bolt hole and even invert the bracket. My Sears battery was exactly the same footprint as the OEM. Once everything secured and connected, make sure the plastic panel is inserted fully into the slot under the windsheild, and the rubber gasket is secured along the entire length.

Once the battery is hooked up, you may need to enter the security code to the radio (see <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/513143.phtml">this post</a>) and you might need to set the time and date (see <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/562532.phtml">this post</a>).

Oh, and I figured that since all this was open, here is how to replace the cabin air filter:

With the plastic panel off, the filter is on the passenger side here...
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/hliu55/battery/airfilter1.jpg">

Flip back the plastic clip...
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/hliu55/battery/airfilter2.jpg">

And lift the filter out...
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/hliu55/battery/airfilter3.jpg">

I know, that filter looks too clean to remove, but that is the new one...just removed for demonstration purposes. Like the battery, installation of the new is the reverse of removal of the old.

<b>IMPORTANT NOTE:</b>
While you are in here, cleanup the area under the battery tray and remove and leaves, pine needles or any other debris. Many folks with C5 platform cars have experienced the dreaded wet-carpet syndrome, and one of the causes of this is the clogged drains in the battery tray area. Audi uses small grommets that line the holes for the drains. However, these grommets have a nasty habit of clogging up. The result is that the battey tray fills with water, and spills into the cabin air filter tray (see below), then down the vents onto the carpet, most likely the front passenger footwell. Lost of vital electronics under the carpet there (such as the transmission control unit or "TCU") among other things.

<a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a6/msgs/749420.phtml">Here is a writeup showing the cleanout of the drains by thx_guy</a>

I had this problem, which is why my battery tray looks so clean...under warranty, the dealer cleaned out the tray and removed the rubber grommets (so the holes are larger and won't clog as easily). They also removed the carpet and set it out to dry for a few days. Thank goodness for warranty!

Hope this helps!!!

TXurS6

Oh My! What big battery terminals you have!

Grapeking

one has the battery removed, take the time to thoroughly clean out the debris (leaves, pine needles, mouse nest, whatever) that has accumulated under there. This is the debris that ends up clogging the passenger-side drain hole that allows water running off the windshield and into the compartment where the cabin filter, battery, etc. reside. While in there, if your hands are small, one can also reach over and clear the second (driver's side) drain, which is well hidden, roughly under the brake booster.

Boston Driver

Excellent suggestion king-o-grapes!!!

JimmyC83

3 years, boo... they musta changed their policy.

i replaced my battery every year for 7 years because of that warranty being so lenient =)

Boston Driver

...but see store for details. I recall the guy saying 3 years, but now I need to dig up the paperwork.

OOOOya

100mm!

Boston Driver

whoops! &lt;edited&gt;

Boston Driver

and it was $120.

bac2h

Aren't there some bolts under the battery that go down to the rack that should also be checked?