Charging/maintaining the Battery...

[vinnyf]

OK, I'm new to the S3 and don't (yet) know all the details of their charging systems, but in general it's safe to jump start your bike from a car IF the car IS NOT running. This isn't just an old wives tale, and I'd expound at FAR too much length on the reasoning behind it, but I'm sure nobody is really interested...

Good riding!
vinny

[IanB]

Two points:

I have been told that it is safe to jump start a bike from a car, but only using bike specific jump leads. Car sized leads allow too much current to be drawn, which can fry a bike battery. Never actually experienced this, but better safe than sorry.

You should never push start any vehicle, bike or car, which is fitted with catalysts, as this can soak them in fuel, which ignites once the engine is running and wrecks them. This may not be true of all FI systems, but again better safe than sorry.

If your bike is fitted with an alarm there will be a small current drain, which over time will flatten the battery. It's not a fault with either the alarm or the battery, it's just the physics. Something like an Optimate will solve the problem.

Bother, that's three points.

[Lom]

Thanks again for all the advice guys. And Left360, thanks a lot for that link. A battery tender Jr is on its way to save me...

If I can't wait for it to arrive and hook up the battery to my car for a boost charge in the mean time, I'll post the results. ***** the weather is so nice! itchitchitch...

[Speed_tripin]

I have less than 500 mi. on my 04 S3 (yes under 500 on 04 S3) and the battery died, luckily the dealership just replaced it, but my wife bought me the Battery Tender jr. for Christmas and have been using it since. Now if we could only have some decent weather to ride in with no more ice on these roads.

*Sigh* forcast tomorrow SNOW :-|