The owners manual for my 2002 1.9TDi states that the reserve battery for the alarm should be replaced every 5 years. Haynes does not mention this in the index. I asked at the local Skoda dealership (Benfield Motors, Newcastle) and was told that they never change this item when carrying out a service and that the manual probably mentions because it covers cars sold in many countries but it this item is not relevant to UK cars.

A couple of posts in non-Fabia forums refer to reserve batteries in other models.

I assume that, if there is a reserve battery, it will have a limited life and need replacing. Also, that a failed battery could cause damage.

Can anyone shed light on this topic and tell me if there is a reserve battery in the Fabia I, where it is located, what the battery type is etc?

Is it located in the sounder module as for other cars?

Thanks, Mike

The back up "reserve" battery for the alarm is built into the alarm siren. It is two rechargable battery cells with solder tags which are soldered onto the sirens PCB unit. The siren can be unpluged and replaced or dismantled and the cells replaced but you will have to get replacements from CPC or RS

Thanks fabdarav, I'll have a look and get my soldering iron out. I assume the cost of a replacement siren makes the task worthwhile?

Mike

Do you have a problem with it?

No, I don't have a problem, but since the car's manual says the battery should be replaced after 5 years I assumed it would be a good idea to replace it - especially as car is now 10 years old. I was surprised that the local Skoda garage said they never replace this battery, so I was wondering if this means it is not an important or necessary service item. Or is it that the garage is just sloppy?

Now I am puzzled that the manual says the battery should be replaced if the job requires soldering contacts on a PCB. That does not seem a typical garage type task.

Now I am puzzled that the manual says the battery should be replaced if the job requires soldering contacts on a PCB. That does not seem a typical garage type task.

They just replace the whole unit (siren)

My car is 11yrs old..........I removed the siren 8yrs ago due to false alarms set off by neighbours Fabia central locking etc.........dealership couldn't get to the bottom of it.......alarm & imob still work fine .....just that there is always a fault code in the alarm that states "can not com with siren"....

I think when it's done for, it normally manifests itself in the siren making some sort of noise.

Easy way to test it, set the alarm off, and disconnect the car battery negative terminal.

The back up "reserve" battery for the alarm is built into the alarm siren. It is two rechargable battery cells with solder tags which are soldered onto the sirens PCB unit. The siren can be unpluged and replaced or dismantled and the cells replaced but you will have to get replacements from CPC or RS

Depending on battery type ,Maplin might stock some .Any idea of cell description?

Cef in kingston park will have the correct battery for it, if your local to benfield skoda you should know where it is

We don't replace them on service unless there is a problem.

It's not on any service schedule sheets we have. The five year is just an expected life, they will go beyond that.

Hi Tech1e. What sort of problem does this give? Is it always some sort of noise as thought by 'anewman'?

Can the battery fail quietly, so only it shows if the siren were tested and main battery disconnected. (How regularly should that test be done? It is not listed on the service schedule in owners manual). Can the battery fail and cause a short circuit or something (I've heard of battery failures causing damage), so the siren unit gets damaged?

Thanks hutchysrs50, I do know where you mean.