Warrior193

Hi, welcome to the forum. Charging through the summer won't probably be necessary if your trips are a bit longer - the automatic engine-stop function is probably a reasonable test for battery SOC ( if it disables itself, the battery would certainly benefit from an external top-up) Do you own a 'smart charger'? Testing with a multimeter will only give a no (or low-load) battery terminal voltage unless you test with the lights, etc. switched on - to test battery condition properly requires a high rate discharge voltage test which measures the battery voltage while running a pre-determined load. Do your cars in Norway still have the battery SOC function in the Maxi-dot display? Skoda removed it from UK vehicles sometime around MYs15-16. Re. your Webasto auxiliary heater, I wish that was available as an option here in the UK.

I hope that wasn't the service manager you were having the conversation with!

I mis-read that - I'll book my visit to SpecSavers!

Also don't mind LHD - although you really do need to be able to trust your co-driver when overtaking from 'our' side of the road.

I wasn't really thinking Eurobox though, just something that went where it's pointed and can manage a decent corner without slowing to a crawl or disappearing into the scenery - with the Bullett/Vanishing Point soundtrack to go with it.

I tend to agree with you on the soundtrack - the off-beat of a reasonably big V8 is the best IMO. But my choice would be road-holding (as I'm allowed only 1 choice) - with moderate power oversteer available.

Good point!

Hi Dave, are you aware that you don't actually have to remove it from the vehicle for charging? - unless the issue is actually getting a power supply to it.

Hi Pete, the 75% SOC indication MAY be misleading, depending on whether the battery was fully charged before testing it - the energy recuperation system on these micro-hybrids will not normally allow the vehicle alternator to charge the battery to 100% - to allow spare capacity in the battery to permit regenerative charging when on overrun coasting or braking. The battery in my 1.4 TSI often gets down to 40-50%, at which point the auto engine stop function ceases - chiefly due to short trips to work being my main mileage. I'd advise getting the existing battery charged and retested before discarding what MAY still be a serviceable unit. If it has actually reached the end of its life, there are several suggestions on the forum for suitable replacements - search battery replacement. Is yours AGM of EFB?

I quite like that in the yellow/gold.

Which you can hide with an engine cover, available on a popular online supplier starting with E (genuine Chinese-source OEM)

I am currently using 215/60/R16s for my winters, summers are standard 205/55/R16 - the 215/60s increase the rolling circumference by approx. 4% over the 205/55 size, which makes my speedo read exactly right when checked against a GPS. Suggesting the speedo reads about 4-5% high on the standard 205/55 size.

I give my Octavia a top-up about every two months during the winter - 18 mile round trip work commute, 3 days a week being my main mileage currently. I use a Ring RSC608 smart charger. Battery SOC usually indicates 40-50% before charging. My battery and alternator were replaced under warranty in the first year-current battery is only an EFB. I intend to replace it with an AGM when it dies - and get the change coded.

Yep, guilty as charged. Came over on my OE in '84, married the girl next door - still here. Born and grew up in Windy City, moved to Taradale in 1980.

Hang in there Lady E.

Hi Banana, love the colour of the 'stang (assuming that's yours's in the Avatar) Do you have a strip near River City now?

+1 for the above - the 'liquid moly' reference rings an alarm bell too, if the oil used has any friction-modifier additive in it I can easily see where gearbox syncro-hub operation could be adversely affected.

I drove a Canada spec. Passat with the 8-speed TQ box in 2019, quite liked it although I've always preferred a manual for normal driving. I think the gap has closed a bit now with reduced engine-braking from the micro-hybrids.

Tena Koe Kiwi, welcome to the forum.

No, recommended method is to connect charger negative only to the flat earth-tag on the firewall bulkhead - same applies when jump-starting, either as donor or recipient.

No, my guess is that the manufacturer just changed materials or made some improvement to it, maybe ongoing R&D?

Hi Dave, welcome to the forum - I'd take a guess that it's just an updated/uprated version of the original.

Hi Jase, charging with battery still connected is fine - charger + to battery post, Charger -ve to tag on firewall bulkhead (important) Note to 1st poster - that battery is pretty well discharged, probably from the short runs. I'd invest in a reasonable smart charger to see if that helps. The automatic stop-start and regenerative battery charging systems really do not like short trips, especially as the alternator doesn't fully charge the battery!

Hi Fox, welcom to the forum. All highly disappointing - make sure you aren't fobbed-off with a base loaner while your Kodiaq is in for repair. Give them one more chance at fixing it properly, then tell them you want to reject.

Crumbs, you must be doing some miles! It takes me about 2 months to get rid of a tank-full on my essential trips to work.