Do I Upgrade Battery / Alternator with DRL headlights?

Shades_RS

Shades_RS

Registered User
Joined
Jul 21, 2012
Messages
137
Reaction score
47
Points
28
Location
NULL
Just a quick question guys, I have face lifted my 08 model A3 to the newer 2010+, in doing so I have upgraded to DRL's but every couple of months I need to charge my battery, would this be due to the DRL's zapping power out of the battery as they come on from the initial first turn of the key even before start up. My miss's has pretty much pinched the car off me so uses constantly on short trips with a lot of stop starting etc.. So do I upgrade my battery or possibly alternator as I'm unsure what the newer model parts are specked at? Are they up rated to cover the extra load or just share the same parts? Anyone else had similar issues? Thanks in advance
 
The battery probably has just reached its peak and now is losing charge quicker than it use to.

DRLs won't take much power during startup but the short journeys in cold weather won't also be helping the situation.
 
If it's an 08 car the battery is 6 years old and probably requires changing because of the nature of the journeys you are now making that isn't good for a battery and will show up a battery with lower capacity. DRL's won't make any difference as they take little current.
Make sure you get a decent battery , Bosch or Varta are good.
Have a look at car parts for less
http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/

Karl.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shades_RS
Cheers guys, does anyone know if the alternator or possibly battery is upgraded on newer higher spec cars etc,
Thanks for info already, will change battery although I had it tested a little while back and it showed up fine.
 
What engine is yours? Based on my experience of jap cars then Diesel engines will have a beefier battery and alternator than petrol

To answer your original question, and as has already been said, there is no reason whatsoever to upgrade the battery just because you are fitting the DRL headlights

If the battey is on its way out anyway then that's a separate issue
 
My car is a 2.0 diesel 170.
Only reason I asked about the DRL's is because the lights come on the instance you turn ignition on, and are very bright at that, so there would be battery loss through that alone as engine isn't running so alternator can't do it's job.
also when headlight switch is on auto with the timer button engaged the lights stay on for a reasonable amount of time before and after when unlocking and locking the vehicle. Hence why I asked if there was upgraded batteries on newer models to cover the extra electronic bits and bobs or an uprated alternator which both would make sense? But as above I will change battery and see what happens, I'm sure lights on day in day out for a couple of minutes will eventually take it's tole on a battery if your not doing enough constant mileage to charge it back up? I could be wrong though that's why ive asked the question. Cheers
 
The power they use is tiny, i'd say the battery needs checking (halfords do a test for free) then get on to ecp/ecp ebay and order one if needed
 
They are LEDs mate if we are thinking of the same ones and draw hardly any power at all so you'll be fine

Tdi 170 will have a decent battery and alt too so nothing to worry about
 
As well as the LED's I have the xenon lights that come on automatically when locking and unlocking the car. but will get this battery changed and see how things go cheers
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sayam
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Replace headlights with LED DRL units
Replies
11
Views
3K
PH1L
PH1L
Jackx1
DRL Headlights
Replies
7
Views
1K
Jackx1
Jackx1
M
What headlights do I have?
Replies
5
Views
618
t8ups
t8ups
Shades_RS
RS3 Replica, Problem with DRL headlights
Replies
74
Views
7K
Shades_RS
Shades_RS
Niallr20
A3 DRL headlights
Replies
21
Views
2K
dp_motley
dp_motley
Top
Back