Battery problem?

[peterb]

Peter, I do hear an occasional gap in the music, but hadn't noticed any fickering display problems. Can you expand on that?

Apparently, the US market HUs use a slightly different voltage level on the data comms between HU and CD changer compared to the Euro spec units. If you use a US spec PhatBox, the data comms are not totally reliable. The symptoms on my installation was that there were breaks in the sound at irregular intervals, also the track number/time display on the Nav+ would jitter (momentarily displaying spurious digits) and very occasionally the battery would become drained within a period of 36 hours (usually it would hold up for at least three weeks). Typically, the break in sound would occur at least once in five minutes, the display jitter would occur several times a minute.

The PBs officially imported into the UK were/are modified to meet the Euro spec. There are options of modifying the US spec PB - one involves the changing of a surface mount chip, another involves a s/w mod together with swapping wires in the interface cable.

I was just on the point of implementing one of the fixes when I swapped my Nav+ to the RNS-E - this does not exhibit the problem, so fixes became irrelevant.

[Dippy]

Yes I read about that. However I thought it only affected the non-Audi Phatboxes (I.e. the ones with the heatsink fin type cases rather than our "big-ears" style). I definitely do not have any display problems you describe. I'll just see how it goes...

[peterb]

Yes I read about that. However I thought it only affected the non-Audi Phatboxes (I.e. the ones with the heatsink fin type cases rather than our "big-ears" style).

Nope - it definitely affects the Audi-badged PhatBoxes shipped in the states! I bought mine from Clair Autos in the US of A, and it came in an Audi-badged box, with Audi part numbers on it.

I definitely do not have any display problems you describe. I'll just see how it goes...

You may be okay, then! Here's hoping!

[Golich]

While too late to help you Dippy,

I thought I'd share my recent battery experience. Started the car in the morning no problem as usual. Came out at night the battery only had enough power to turn dash and interior lights on.

Like you I thought I'd left something on. Now I knew the battery had been replaced within the first three years. So at 2.5 years old I thought surely I don't need a battery. But then I remembered my previous S4 had three new batteries over 5 years and Brooner has had a new battery within three years. So I checked out the warranty on the Audi battery. Its 2 years and £95ish. I looked at a more powerfull particularly the cold start Bosch with a 4 year guarantee for £65. It even has the same vent port for the vent tube that's fitted to the Audi battery. Sorry I can't remember the specifics of the Bosch battery but its a damn site better than the Audi spec.

Also, I too noticed a load of error codes (DTCs) which I cleared and have had no return since.

PS I'm totally stock ICE. I've yet to fit my PB. Interesting to note the possible issues with the US versions cos that's what mine is.

[peterb]

I've yet to fit my PB. Interesting to note the possible issues with the US versions cos that's what mine is.

I've only heard of these problems occuring with the old (CD-based) Nav+ HU.

[Dippy]

AFAIK you can only get US versions anyway. The UK part of the Phatbox site is showing no availability.

[peterb]

I suspect that the Euro spec PhatBox is only available from Audi dealers this side of the pond!

[ChrisG]

I remember the editor of Audi Driver ( Paul Harris) having an electrical problem with a Coupe some years ago, nothing much in the way if ICE, but the battery was draining very regularly. Eventually he connected a meter and traced the switched off circuits one by one until he found a current flow. iirc there was a faulty relay that was always allowing current flow.
Don't you just love these little challenges !

[Dippy]

No. That's why I paid the dealer to do it