cliffcoggin

Undoubtedly the cold weather. Not only do low temperatures reduce the battery range, they also slow down the charging. Are you sure the battery is at 100%, or whatever level you normally charge to, when you set off in the morning?

Fair enough. Do please let us know if and how you resolve the problem.

Paul. If you are limiting youself to only a Q5 then you will have to compromise between range, fuel cost, and DPF problems. Perhaps it's time to consider another model or even another brand that would give you more options.

Matthew. The only thing I can think of that causes electronic problems without yielding error codes is a failing battery. Typically such a battery will cause problems like aircon failure, cruise control failure, loss of radio presets, false warning lights etc. I have never heard of it interfering with starting. Nevertheless I suggest you get the battery tested with a deep discharge tester, and if it is over four years old I would renew it anyway. Ensure the new battery is coded to the car if you change it.

It's a pity you didn't mention that fact earlier. It would have saved several of us wasting our time. It is not surprising you have electrical faults with false warning lights and a dodgy radio if the battery is not holding charge. Is there any other relevent fact you have not disclosed?

Any progress in solving this Adrian?

Any progress in solving this fault Dan?

That's very odd. I recall it was a long time before I found the switches in mine, (one for no alarm and one for leaving a pet inside,) because the handbook diagram was unclear. Unfortunately I don't now recall the exact location and I no longer have the car for reference. They may even have been on the near side door which of course would be the driver's door in Germany.

It's probably the temperature sender and/or fan switch. A diagnostic test should reveal the problem.

Paul. It makes no sense to do unneccesary journeys merely to keep the DPF clean, which is unlikely to work, and in the same breath be concerned at the mpg of a petrol or hybrid. If you do mainly short journeys a hybrid would be ideal for you as long as you can recharge the battery at home.

It could also be a faulty temperature sender.

Jason. May I try to summarise your posts to see if I have understood correctly? 1/ You have bought a defective car. 2/ The car is full of of unidentified parts that may or may not fit it. 3/ The car has no proper service history. 4/ The seller claims to be Romanian despite the address label in your picture being in Lithuania. 5/ You have no tools or knowledge with which to fix the car. Please correct me if I am wrong so that an accurate picture can be presented. I'd appreciate brief yes or no answers to each point for clarity.

That surprises me. I had such a switch in my 2007 A3 so I expected your modern car to be better equipped.

Is there a switch that allows you to lock the car without setting the alarm as a short term solution?

Was that new battery coded to the car? It's essential to do so to avoid spurious electronic faults such as false warning lights.

In that case try renewing the bolbs, because they degrade slowly over time. Are the lenses clean on the inside? Are the reflectors dull or dirty?

I have a feeling that the power and brightness of all car lights is subject to the Construction and Use regulations, so it would be worth checking before modifying your car.

Paul. Could there be a seat adjustment such as lumbar support that you have not discovered yet?

I don't think so Steve. Tony is charging the car very conservatively so there should be no cell imbalance, but perhaps the battery manufacturer or the control circuit manufacturer, which will both very likely be Chinese, has detected some anomalies in their records. I am only speculating here, so it would be useful to know what the reason really is.

I'm glad it turned out so well, and that you found a dealer who seems to be trustworthy.

This does not make sense. You unscrewed the cap many times to refill the reservoir so you do know where it is. I suggest you stop wasting money on new parts like a reservoir and thermostat until you have made a confident diagnosis. You have lived with the problem for a year so a few more days delay while we discuss the matter is of no consequence.

That is usually done to balance the charge between all the cells, so I guess Audi is suspicious about some of them. Do you often charge the battery at the maximum rate? That practice increases the chances of battery damage. (Note my careful use of the words "increases" and "chances". There are few certainties in the field of battery charging.)

Brian. I honestly do not believe the diagnosis from your garage. To change an engine because of limp mode is ludicrous, your mechanic is clearly clutching at straws. I have my suspicions about the cause of your limp mode, but I'll keep quiet until you have had the car tested by somebody competant. Finding an independant VAG garage is easy enough with an internet search.

That's disappointing considering he visited the forum yesterday.

Wonders will never cease.