1Wasserwerks

Ok. Cancel that. Found it in car/systems/battery level. Odd though, it shows either 100% all 10 bars lit. Now this is confusing.

Brozee

Unless it's dying it will almost always say 100% I've only had it show lower when I needed a new battery. You can always look at my signature for helpful tips covering a lot that you've already asked about.

1Wasserwerks

Yes yes, you have tons of good links Brozee, thank you for keeping them available.
The car was a bit sluggish starting this morning, to the point where the dash odometer etc. were dimming almost shutting off. My first thought is that the battery won't hold out this winter. I'd rather change a battery now instead of in January, or have an addtional tow charge. The charging system seems adequate, and I figure I'd have a go at the battery meter. Looks like I'll pull out the multimeter and give the battery a once over the old fashioned way.

mishar

Battery Level is almost useless. As you said it is at 100% all the times and battery can be barely alive. I guess this percentage is to the actual capacity, so if battery lost most of it it still can be at the 100% of its own capacity. I believe they figured that out and deleted it in the latest MMI update. But we like to have more gadgets so we bring it back.

An yes. It is much better to replace it right away. I would just like if I listen to my own advice.

1Wasserwerks

Mishar, I think I am going to have to agree with you on this one. Looks like there are alot of misc. settings I can play around with in the hidden menu now. Heh heh heh. I hope I don't mess things up much.

mishar

Take a snap shot of every page before you start "upgrading".

As far as I remember you have to combine two menus from the Hidden Menu in order to get something. Of course if some feature is not installed you can't turn it on. And part of it was newer translated from German. That really helps.

05SilverA8

The battery gauge is useful.

I was having problems and my battery was drained to 10% as shown on the battery meter. I had a message that MMI would shut down in 3 minutes, and the car still barely started. I check battery meter almost every morning now that my battery has almost 9 years on it.

A charge for a few hours brought the battery back to full life.

mishar

That's exactly why I said it is useless. Your battery lost the most of its capacity. If it is good battery it would take much more than a few hours to fully charge it from 10%. As it is you charged that small capacity left easily. My battery is just like that and we both should replace them.

05SilverA8

Yes, almost 9 years on a battery must make it a little past it's prime in life.

1Wasserwerks

I got about 9 years out of the battery in the wife's 04' Passat. The Passat has a whole lot less electronics in it then the S8. The whole sluggish start thing had me going on this. It seems to start ok now, 4 years on a battery seems to be a bit premature for replacement.