I have an Audi A3 and am having battery starting trouble the car will start with a jump from another car but after aprox 10 mins running it cuts out and the battery is completely flat what could it be?

Answer 1

It's probably the alternator. A battery is only an electrical storage device. It stores electrical energy so that the vehicle can be started next time you want to go someplace. If the alternator isn't converting some of the engine's energy into electical energy, the battery ends up running everything until it eventually just runs out of energy. If you test the alternator and find that it's not functioning, a new alternator may be able to put enough of a charge back into your battery so that you can continue to use it. Unfortunately, an older battery will often fail completely once it is allowed to discharge completely. When you "Jump start" the car you are putting a small amount of electrical energy into the battery, just enough to run the vehicle for a few minutes. Next time you get it started, go directly to an auto parts retailer such as Checker, Kragen or Auto Zone, then have them test the alternator for you. If it doesn't work at all, you'll know to replace the alternator and maybe they can even talk you through doing it yourself. It really isn't that difficult for most vehicles.