The battery on my Fabia 1.9tdi has just failed completely and irretrievably at a miserable 3 years 2 months from new!

The Skoda Assist recovery driver who came on my initial call out started the car with a power boost which I now find melted some of the power cables!

This after failure to start next day and another Skoda Assist recovery to the supplying dealer in Marbella, 35 km away.

Four things here call for comment.

How can a modern battery in a well used car fail in such a short time?

Why cannot a Fabia tdi battery be removed without dismantling a fair bit of the car.

Never let anyone start yout Fabia Diesel with one of these wretched boosters.

How can Skoda/VW/Seat conceivably charge 150 Euros (about

3 years aint bad for a battery.

Usually VAG supplied batteries give up way before that. Especially the 'sealed' maintenance free ones, they run dry and give up.

Just make sure you alternator isnt faulty and over charging.

3 years aint bad for a battery

I have seen cars that have got 8 years out of a battery before it gave up the ghost due to a faulty alternator. I was very impressed by that!

It depends on how the battery is maintained.

If you can get to the bungs to top it up and you service it regular they can last for years longer. The Delco maintenance free ones fitted to Vauxhall's allways seemed to. But the VAG ones dont.

I only got 13 months use from an original battery on a brand new Octavia 1.6. One morning, I noticed the starter seemed to be running a little slow and by afternoon the battery wouldn't start the car at all.

The battery in the other Octavia that a coworker got at the same time is still fine.

Unfortunately, warranty here in Trinidad is only 12 months... had to pay out-of-pocket for a replacement.

Things that kill lead acid batteries..

Deep discharge or prolonged undercharge (your Fabia was in the showroom with bootlight on for weeks)

High ambient temperature (move back to England)

Shock and vibration - dirt roads to your villa?

Electrolyte allowed to run dry - check em!!

The best I managed was 11 years from a cheap-looking Polish-made battery fitted from new to my Peugeot 505 Family Estate.

The battery in my last Felicia died at 2.5 years old, but had been damaged by a faulty alternator. My wifes Octy is 4 and 3/4 year old and the battery is going strong despite the car having been very underused for its first 4 year (13K miles).

Price seems steep - local dealer (Sherlodge Garage) have Bosch 3-year jobs, cheapest I have seen - the 063 is only

I'm up there with William on this.....2000 Octy 2.0, 45K miles, original battery still going strong.

never actually had to replace a battery in any car i've had.

Are they ferociously expensive then? (eyes wallet nervously)