Replacing the battery on a late Mark 1 Fabia vRS

[Dunkuk]

I just reread this post and the discount code for 25% off is in the first post, doh!

trebormint - At an extra £100+ the lightweight battery doesnt seem like a good idea to me. You could buy something like a space saver spare wheel, or put the money towards lighter wheels etc. I don't think it's worth it for the sake of a few kg.

Edited 20 November, 2012 by Dunkuk

[trebormint]

I just reread this post and the discount code for 25% off is in the first post, doh!

trebormint - At an extra £100+ the lightweight battery doesnt seem like a good idea to me. You could buy something like a space saver spare wheel, or put the money towards lighter wheels etc. I don't think it's worth it for the sake of a few kg.

Maybe, maybe not. Another reason I might use one is so I can install my forge CDA. Used to have it on my Toledo and there was loads of space, but its a bit tight around the battery on Fabia.

Though not quite an extra £100 but not far off, and I do believe Linden offered a 10% discount over on seatcupra. Anyways, I'm just thinking outloud....... :think:

[Binzie]

Fantastic write up and appropriate for all us SE drivers whose guarantees are well and truly up now !

Were your symptoms hesitancy upon starting or just slow turning, I seem to be having a little of both, but she gets there first start everytime (just a little longer in the cold)

I had the meter on her yesterday and the battery was giving out 12.7v and 14.6 running so assume all was well

I will be checking the magic eye if i have one and also the date

Thanks again

[DRJ]

Thank you - it applies to all late model cars of course - the SE is no different. From memory the problem was hesitancy but without researching the other topic(s) I referred to I can't advise further.

[Binzie]

I had mine drop tested today and it was only on 45% after being driven for a while so decided to change it !

I too bought the wrong size battery due to whatever has changed in the build (07 vrs se) I dont know why the battery is bigger

The only downside is the batteries coat didnt fit but ive saved it, if there are downsides to removing it ??

glow plug light didnt even come on (was on for 3 or 4 seconds before) and the delay in power steering seems to have gone ...result !

£52.40 from eurocarparts using briskoda discount saved me £17.50

It is pretty much a "get it all set up and then rip it out" job !

[DRJ]

Unfortunately Euro Car Parts have been informed that their systems are reporting the wrong code for a late Mark 1 vRS, but it appears they haven't altered them to recognise this fact.

[Dunkuk]

Wrong code for an SDI as well I think. Its very confusing knowing which one is the correct one.

[Binzie]

Bargain though and it fits !

[DRJ]

... but if you check how much I paid for the correct battery to fit - £51.62

[robstaaaar]

1st class post/guide. Much appreciated.

[VRSD30]

Quite a few batteries come up on ECP, have you a link to the one you bought? Cheers.

[DRJ]

If you mean me I've described it in the OP

[Foxmeister3]

Thanks DRJ for an excellent guide, I've just used it to replace the battery in my car with a new Exide Premium Battery 027. I too found that my radio went into SAFE 1000 mode after connecting the new battery. However, unfortunately I've never had the 4 digit radio code. I queried this when I bought the car new and the dealer told me I would never need the code as my radio will only work with my car and simply learns the code from the car when the battery is re-connected.As I found out today that was only partly true.

The procedure that I've found necessary to get the radio to learn the original code from the car after re-connecting a battery is as follows:-

1. With the ignition off, and the radio turned off, pull all the fuses in the fusebox labelled 'Radio'.

2. Wait a few seconds then replace the fuses.

3. Turn the ignition on.

4. Turn the radio on and it should then display 'LEARN' and automatically reads the original code from the car and the radio will be working normally again.

I should add that this procedure only works if you have the original radio that was paired with the car.

Hope this helps someone avoid a trip to the dealers.

[rmb]

Hi, did not work for me, on Fabia 1 but radio went into safe mode of it's own accord and now

does not like the code.

So probabally a fault in the unit.

If you take V5 and radio serial number, found on the body of the radio to a main dealer they will check the code on their computer system.

Carts at Bridgwater were most helpfull andno charge to check.

[VWD]

Changed mine last year .got mine through local place .Changing it was easier than Haynes says .( Perhaps the difficulty varies from model). All I had to do was take of the negative ( and for those not of an electrical persuasion -it MUST be negative ( or in older cars, earthy side) FIRST) , then the positive , lift the lid clear, unclip the cover ,remove and remove holding bracket. No tools other than a long extension for the securing nut, and 10mm spanner for the leads. Fitting was a reversal .Remembering to reconnect positive first,then negative . ( For those wondering the order - with both leads connected, the positive is +12 above chassis. Short the positive to chassis and BANG. Remove negative ,or on ye ancient cars the earthy side and there's no longer a circuit)

[virgo17]

Just wanted to say a big thanks for this tutorial. I'm about to replace the battery on my Fabia2 1.9 TDI Estate and most of this info seems to be totally relevant. My car even has the same original battery ID as yours.

I have ordered the same Exide replacement from Europarts and hope to do this at the weekend.

My original battery just failed with no prior indication. Only thing we had done was a longish run a few days before. Funny thing is that the battery on my other previous Fabia2 1.9TDI Saloon went the same way a year earlier. Original battery on both was a Varta and I'm beginning to wonder if there's something funny about them.

Thanks again for the info.

[old289]

DRJ,

What an excellent post. Many thanks.

I would have ordered the wrong sized battery without this article.

I was going to order the Exide 027 (640 CCA & 62ah) you recommended but then I saw that Tayna had a Varta Silver Dynamic with a 5 year warranty.

The Varta's specs are virtually the same at 610 CCA and 63ah. Not bad for £61 inc delivery.

The two batteries have the same dimensions:

242 (L) x 175 (W) x 190 (H).

http://www.tayna.co....tery-P3190.html

Edited 13 January, 2013 by old289

[old289]

virgo17,

Original battery on both was a Varta and I'm beginning to wonder if there's something funny about them.

Just coincidence. My original fitment Akuma battery has just packed up thanks to old age basically. A bitterly cold night probably was the last straw. There will be loads of drivers ordering new batteries as this cold spell continues.

My local battery specialist swears by the quality of the Varta Silver Dynamics. His prices are good but Tayna's are even better.

[jeffers 667 vrs se]

Changed my battery yesterday following your very good step by step.A couple of things I did differently-I extracted the old battery with the jacket in situ and swapped it onto the new one before replacing it.Also I put jump leads onto the terminals connected to a jump starter thus maintaining the power supply and no reset of radio or windows etc. was needed.Hope this helps others!

[DRJ]

Thank you - as I noted I found it was easier clamping the new battery down with the jacket off. And I don't have a jump-starter - that's a good idea.

Despite the nearly new battery in mine the instrument lights still flicker when the car's being started...

[jeffers 667 vrs se]

I just made sure the jacket was raised about 3cm on the new battery,then when clamped down in place, pushed the jacket down-seemed easier to me.In regard to the jump starter,I think they are a very good idea and mine cost only £20 a while back from netto.It has made me many friends in my street on cold winter mornings when car batteries have given up the ghost.Again thanks for this post as without it a novice like me would probably never have attempted the work involved.Cheers!

[Fabia_19]

My battery was changed yesterday, very good guide here! Made it extremely easy for me to do.

An easier way to reset the one touch windows is to pull the switches up as if you we're closing the windows, when the windows are at the top and closed continue to hold the switches up until you hear a click. The windows will then work

[badboyharry]

Changed my battery today on my Fabia vrs se 07 with a new Heavy Duty VARTA E44 - 780 perfect fit in plastic cage no modifying needed dropped strate in 096 size,with 5 years warranty £68.95 with free delivery from Batterymegauk cant be bad

Dimensions

12v 77Ah 780CCA

Length (mm) - 278

Width (mm) - 175

Total Height (mm) - 190

Weight (Kg) - 18.3

Terminal Type - Standard Post (A)

Terminal Layout - RH+ this battery replaced the smaller Akuma 027 battery in the later mk1s from factory , this 096 type of battery is alot better for the electric power steering pump that runs off the battery as stops any delay in powering the steering and far better in the very cold weather , 096 battery is standard on the early mk1 Fabia vrs dont no why they messed with it probly cutting currents lol w

[Jrjg]

Hi DRJ

Just a quick query to confirm that the 10 mm, 13mm, t20 and t25 star pieces, as well as the long extensions, are all the tools that are needed?

I am borrowing them you see, and due to cycling to work, can't realistically get a full socket set box back home!

Looks to be a very clear and concise guide by the way, hopefully it will serve me well this afternoon!

JRJG

[Jrjg]

No bother I have got it all sorted and fixed.
Car starts fine now, just need to have a play to reset the radio and the one touch windows

Turns out i had to go and buy a socket set, extensions and ratchet anyway, the bloke I had lent the tools off hadn't put the 'adapter' for the extension in... At least I have some now! And won't need to lend/borrow/beg in the future!
Thanks again for the guide - pretty much spot on!

JRJG