Disconnect and Reconnect the Battery

Last updated: June 6, 2026

Taking the 12 V battery off an Audi Q2 (GA, 2016–present) is a simple under-bonnet task. Here’s the safe order plus what to re-teach once power is back.

Battery Location

The 12 V battery sits in the engine bay, under a cover. The petrol (TFSI) and diesel (TDI) Q2 has no high-voltage system to worry about.

Disconnecting

1. Turn the ignition off, take the key clear and wait a minute.
2. Undo the negative (−) terminal first and move the lead aside.
3. To remove the battery, undo the positive (+) and the clamp.

Reconnecting

1. Connect positive (+) first, then negative (−) last.
2. Reset the clock; the MMI reloads itself.
3. Re-teach the one-touch windows — see our Q2 window guide.
4. Stop/start may behave conservatively for a drive or two while the battery monitor relearns.

A matching battery doesn’t strictly need coding, but a different type/capacity should be registered to the battery-management system with an OBD tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Negative or positive first on the Q2?

Negative (−) off first and on last.

Does a new Audi Q2 battery need coding?

A like-for-like battery generally doesn’t; a different type/capacity should be registered for correct charging.

Will I lose my MMI or radio?

No code is normally needed — just reset the clock; the MMI reloads.

Why won’t my windows auto-close now?

The power cut wiped their learned travel. A quick re-initialise fixes it.

Any warning light that stays lit? Look it up on autodtcs.com. To clear the service message, see our Q2 service reset.