RS4 Terminal 30 Causes Slow Cold-Start Cranking

Had a similar issue with my 2004 Audi S4 4.2L. The symptoms matched exactly, slow cranking and starting problems after sitting idle. The root cause was a combination of issues in the charging system. First, voltage drop testing revealed the alternator was not providing consistent output. The starter motor was drawing excessive current due to worn brushes, putting additional strain on an already weak battery. The repair required: 1. Full charging system diagnosis 2. Replacement of the voltage regulator 3. New starter motor installation 4. Battery replacement 5. Testing of the ignition switch and circuit breaker This was a serious electrical system repair that took multiple steps to resolve. The original issue could have damaged other components if left unchecked. Many shops might replace just the battery, but the underlying charging system problems would persist. The fix has lasted over 40000km with no electrical issues since. Make sure your mechanic does a complete diagnosis of the charging system before just swapping parts. Terminal 30 problems often indicate a larger electrical issue that needs addressing.

Thanks for sharing that detailed fix. The slow crank issues on my RS4 sound identical. Getting it looked at next week and hoping its not as extensive as yours was. Curious, did you ever notice any strange behavior from the dash lights before the problems started? Mine flicker occasionally at idle. Mind sharing roughly what the total repair cost was? Also wondering if youve had any other electrical gremlins pop up since fixing the charging system and wiring harness? Just trying to budget and plan for worst case.

After seeing my mechanic last week, the Terminal 30 continuous plus issue was fully resolved. The main problem turned out to be simpler than my earlier case, just a heavily discharged battery causing the electrical faults and flickering dash lights. The repair was straightforward compared to my previous experience. The battery was beyond recovery and needed replacement. The total came to 290 Euro, which included diagnostic time and the new battery installation. This was much less costly than my earlier charging system overhaul. Since this fix, all electrical issues have cleared up completely. No more dash light flickering or cranking problems. The short circuit checks also came back clean, and the fuse box connections were all secure. Much better outcome than expected. If your dash lights are flickering similar to what mine did, definitely have them check the battery first before exploring more complex charging system repairs. Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one.

Just got back from the mechanic after dealing with my RS4 starting issues. Great news, it was just the battery causing all the trouble, including those flickering dash lights I mentioned. The mechanic did a full diagnosis first, checking the starter motor and wiring harness connections. Turned out the battery was completely drained and unable to hold charge anymore. They installed a new one for 290 Euro total, including labor. No other electrical problems were found during testing. The ignition switch and all circuits checked out fine. Car starts perfectly now, even after sitting overnight. Such a relief it was a simple fix rather than a major charging system overhaul. Really appreciate everyone who shared their experiences here. Sometimes these electrical gremlins turn out to be basic issues with straightforward solutions.