Octy Estate Elegance 2.0TDI 2008

Wifey leaves on "side" lights for 6 hours and won't start. Yes it did bong but "your car bongs all the time" RAC quoted 2 hours so I drove to her and used a leisure battery to start it as she was nose in and I couldn't park next to it. It started straight away. Good job I took the spare battery. The amber steering wheel warning light came on but went out after 200 meters of driving.

My question is do I need to replace the 5 year old original battery (Varta 61Ah 540A) as its been completely flattened or will my CTEK charger recover it tonight?

I see the manual recommends replace at 5 years but is that necessary?

Some detail

Lights left on:

Front 2 x 5W = 10W

Rear no plate 2 x 5W = 10W

There are 4 bulbs each side on the rear cluster

Tail lights 4 x 5W = 20W

Rear parking lights 4 x 3W = 12W

So that's 52W draw so say 6 amps for 6 hours = 36amps = Battery half flat = Won't start. Seems about right?

I did see a recent thread on battery deals so off to read that. On and to took for an alternate breakdown provider. " hours wait in the middle of town?

It may recharge to full state again. Worth trying. I've got the same in mine and is 6 years old. Still doing ok.

There are good deals on batteries at the moment from ECP using discount code BRISK25 (online)

Mine started to loose charge as it came to five years old at the start of winter. I changed it for a genuine VAG "economy" battery. It was a competitive price, came with a two year warranty, and since it's VAG I don't anticipate changing it for years.

Stick it on the Ctek and see how it goes.

Bear in mind that it should take the Ctek a good 16 hrs to charge that battery....if it charges it much quicker then the battery's capacity is seriously reduced and will probably need replaced.

Depends on the ctek output.

I would disconnect the battery and let the ctek do its recondition program if yours has it built in.

Thanks all

Interestingly the 096 Bosch is a little cheaper on ECP ebay than ECP direct with a 30% discount code!

From driving home 30 mins and then putting on my CTEK it was at the middle charge. After 2 hours its Ctek now on the last stage light (measured at 2 amps just now) so looks like its charging it.

Depends on the ctek output.

I would disconnect the battery and let the ctek do its recondition program if yours has it built in.

Do you mean the 4 hrs 16V recondition? Yes my 7000 does that but I thought that it had to be fully re-charged first.

Charge it and run it through the summer then replace it coming up to next winter.

Mine caused some very odd issues when going all coming from the extra winter draw.

To close this and provide advice for others.

I took Octy to National for a free battery check. "Can't find the Bosch tester but this one will do". Chap croc clips tester to Varta battery, dials in DIN and capacity and presses start. 20 secs later screen shows "Good". Chap asks do you want me to test alternator? I start it and his gadget says alternator good at 14.4V.

All fine sir off you go.

Drove to Halfords and asked for free battery check. No problem, I'll follow you out. Grabs Bosch 121.

Connects to battery with croc clips again. 20 secs later Bosch reads 89%

"Nothing wrong with that".

So 5 year old battery lives on.

I've read lots all about the rapid-rip-off outfits on various motoring forums but today to National and Halfords.

Edited 7 March, 201313 yr by Web Ferret

Excellent.

Just goes to show it's worth getting them tested before you fork out for a new one.