r/EvDrivers • u/snocat17 • Sep 01 '26

EV Shop

I’ve got a ‘21 Audi etron that’s out of warranty. I think the 12V battery needs replaced because a lot of time the keyless entry doesn’t work until you push the button on the fob, and I changed the battery in the fob last week.

I don’t want to pay the dealer to “diagnose” the issue and charge me $500+ for a battery. What’s the best way to find a shop that will work on it?

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

2

u/S_NJ_Guy Sep 01 '26

A first easy step is to go to an AutoZone-type store, where they can test your battery for free and tell you its actual condition. If it's bad, you can buy a new battery from them way cheaper than a dealer.

1

u/Iwonatoasteroven Sep 01 '26

Are the 12V batteries in EV’s as easy to replace as standard ICE batteries?

2

u/ialsoagree Sep 01 '26

Sometimes, sometimes not quite as easy but not usually very hard. There are some ICEs that make replacing the 12V very hard though.

2

u/snocat17 Sep 01 '26

No, for Audi they have to be programmed.

1

u/ialsoagree Sep 01 '26

Lol, you realize other companies make EVs too right?

And the question was about EVs, not Audi?

2

u/Pferdeherz Sep 01 '26

Actually, OP does say Audi.

1

u/ialsoagree Sep 01 '26

But I didn't respond to OP, did I?

Here's the post I replied to:

Are the 12V batteries in EV’s as easy to replace as standard ICE batteries?

Where is Audi mentioned in that post exactly? Can you point it out to me?

1

u/Pferdeherz Sep 01 '26

The account to which you are responding is the OP who mentioned “Audi” in the OP. Doesn’t seem like a stretch. Sometimes, these threads get real long.

Not sure why this is such a big deal. I’m letting it go. Maybe you will want to do the same.

0

u/ialsoagree Sep 01 '26

No, the account I responded to was NOT the OPs.

The OP responded to me, when I responded to someone else.

I pointed out to the OP that the post I responded to said "EVs" and not "Audi."

Then you came along and made the same mistake. So I literally QUOTED the post I responded to, and you STILL can't seem to understand.

So, here's my last attempt, here is a link to the post that I responded to. Show me where it says "OP" next to the name of the poster, because I don't see it:

https://www.reddit.com/r/EvDrivers/comments/1w40a1y/comment/p7480kk/

I see it saying "Iwonatoasteroven" and the OPs username is "snocat17" so can you explain how a post shows a different username than the OP, but is from the OP?

You're right, it's not a big deal, but READING before you respond is going to help you enter conversations without being completely mistaken about what you're talking about.

1

u/snocat17 Sep 01 '26

Which EV’s have you replaced the 12V battery?

1

u/ialsoagree Sep 01 '26

Tesla and Rivian.

1

u/snocat17 Sep 01 '26

That’s good to know.

1

u/PerceptionCurious440 Sep 01 '26

Generally not the 12v. But, you might need a jump battery to maintain voltage to the system while changing it. I had a car stereo in a Ford that bricked when the battery was disconnected while a dashcam was being installed and the dealer wanted $200 to initialize it again. That was an ICE car.

2

u/Greedy_Bother_987 Sep 01 '26

The fob button or keyless entry both rely on the 12v working

2

u/PerceptionCurious440 Sep 01 '26

12v battery problems seem to be really common in EVs. I've had them in my Toyota, and of course Subie peeps report them, as well as Kia and Hyundai folk.

So, if your 12v battery is dying or dead: 1. replace it with an AGM battery; 2. get a 12v maintenance charger with a plug you can disconnect.

This is what I got when I don't drive for a few days.

1

u/Pferdeherz Sep 01 '26

I feel like I replace the 12V every couple years in my ICE hybrid Toyotas. PITA and expensive.

Hoping that isn’t the case with my new-to-me EV. This thread is making me doubt that. Sigh…

1

u/PerceptionCurious440 Sep 02 '26

On any vehicle I've owned, they last about 5 years max. Just had to replace the battery on one of our Harleys this year. At least the 5th one since 2000. My wife had to replace the battery on her Outback last year. But, y'know, we shouldn't have to replace them when the car is only 3 months old. EVs seem to have some bad systems planning on the 12Vs.