What You Should Know About the Audi A6 C5 Battery Draining Problem

If you’ve had battery issues with your Audi A6 C5, you’re not alone. Here’s everything you need to know about the battery and how to fix it.
Written by Bonnie Stinson
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Battery issues with the Audi A6 C5 can be caused by corrosion on the battery terminals or a bad alternator, among other reasons. Fortunately, most of the problems are easily diagnosed by a mechanic and aren’t too expensive to fix.
Picture it - you head out to your car bright and early in the morning, determined to blast through your to-do list, only to find your Audi A6 C5 won’t start. Nothing can derail a productive morning faster than a dead car battery, but if there’s a silver lining here, it’s that you’re not alone. Many Audi A6 C5 owners have reported battery issues. 
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What causes the Audi A6 C5 battery draining problem?

The most common battery complaint from Audi A6 owners is that their batteries have drained overnight. And it doesn’t seem to matter how old the battery is. Several owners replaced their batteries just to have them drain again!
To make things more frustrating, it doesn’t seem like there’s one simple cause for all the battery issues. Drivers reported a wide range of causes for their battery woes, like corrosion on the battery terminals which means your battery isn’t getting the connection it needs to charge.
Another common cause seems to be a bad alternator. Your alternator converts mechanical energy from the engine to electrical energy and sends it to the battery. If your alternator isn’t working properly, your battery won’t get enough electricity to hold a charge no matter how hard your engine works.
Other issues like a clogged fuel filter, broken starter, or blown fuses can also lead to battery drains and eventually leave you with a car that won’t start.

How to fix the Audi A6’s battery draining problem

The best way to get to the bottom of your battery issues is to have a mechanic diagnose the issue. Since your dead battery can have several causes, a mechanic is the best person to find the problem quickly and suggest what repairs are needed.
However, you can easily rule out corroded battery terminals yourself, and possibly save some money on a repair bill. Lift the rubber covers on the two battery terminals – if you see white or silvery-green deposits, that’s corrosion. You can clean the corrosion off and see if that fixes your battery issues before resorting to taking your car to a mechanic.
Here are the steps to clean the corrosion off the battery terminals:
  • Disconnect the pole cables in order - black negative pole first!
  • Apply baking soda to corrosion
  • Add a small amount of water to baking soda - this will start a chemical reaction
  • Wait several minutes for the baking soda to eat away at the corrosion, then wipe off with a clean towel
  • Reconnect the pole cables
If you clean your battery terminals and still experience issues, it’s time to take your car to a mechanic. You might need to have your
alternator repaired or replaced
, or your starter may need to be fixed. 

How to save money on Audi insurance

If your Audi A6 needs a serious repair to fix the battery issues (like a new alternator!) you might be stuck with a big repair bill. If your
Audi car insurance
is about as useful as a dead car battery, it’s time to switch, and
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