Hi guys,

 

Hope this is the right place to post.

 

I have just purchased a 2011 Octavia VRS TDI.  The morning after picking it up the car wouldn't start... The battery was completely run down that the maxi display wouldn't even start. Luckily house mate was parked close by and was able to jump me.  It turns out I left the side lights on by accident... ooops.  

 

However, I have just noticed that after driving around all day (running engine 1 + hour after jump to start with) I have a battery sign pop up on the dash once the keys are turned.  I have also noticed that the "Control system for exhaust" sybol is also show, interestingly these go out once the engine turns over.  Is this normal?  

 

Stupidly I didn't check this when I took the car for a test drive and drove it home (I was watching the maxi-dot as I wasn't used to engaging the clutch to start the engine).

 

Any help would be appriciated, gutted on this as i have spent ages looking for this car in white and have finally got it and now this.  :(

Bad batteries cause some weird faults on the Octy.

 

Might sort itself out if the battery comes good after a charge. Other can probably advise better than me.

check voltage across battery when car is running.

 

should be getting 14.4v or higher. if you are getting less then alternator could be duff

could be a dead battery just not holding a large charge (try a new battery)

check voltage across battery when car is running.

 

should be getting 14.4v or higher. if you are getting less then alternator could be duff

could be a dead battery just not holding a large charge (try a new battery)

 

Thanks for the swift reply.  This was tested at 14.1 (80 AMPS) while the battery was being jumped there and then.

If you have completely discharged the battery it is likely to be dead now. Assuming it is the original it will be good to invest in a new one anyway.

 

As mentioned above a low or failing battery causes some very unusual faults on the Octavia. For the sake of £80 get a new one. You'll only find yourself in the same position come winter, usually when late for work!

 

I can recommend the Varta E44 or Bosch S5, both great batteries.

If you have completely discharged the battery it is likely to be dead now. Assuming it is the original it will be good to invest in a new one anyway.

 

As mentioned above a low or failing battery causes some very unusual faults on the Octavia. For the sake of £80 get a new one. You'll only find yourself in the same position come winter, usually when late for work!

 

I can recommend the Varta E44 or Bosch S5, both great batteries.

 

Thanks for the recommendation, I believe the battery is the original.  Car has only done 38K however.  I think the last service was done at about 16K according to the history.  I would probably guess it's due for another ?

Low mileage for the most is normally a good thing, but not always so good for a battery as it might not be getting a good charge in-between engine starts to sufficiently recharge it. Chances are if you'd only just bought it the car will have been sat on a forecourt somewhere for a while not getting charged, short test drives and been shunted around the yard to make room for other cars etc? All bad for a battery.

 

Either way Skoda went through a phase of fitting low spec batteries to their cars, which usually lasted until just outside the manufacturers warranty. My Superb is a 2011 model and the battery was a very low spec.

 

Yes you are due a service, is it not flashing up for one on the display?

 

If the first service was done at 16,000 miles this means the service computer is set to variable / long life servicing (up to 20,000 miles / 2 years - the car monitors engine load, number of starts, journey times etc. and decides for itself when it needs a service).

 

If you are on 38,000 miles then you have done 22,000 miles since the last oil change. I'd be getting it booked in.

 

What is your annual mileage? If it is close to 10,000 miles then you might be better off changing from variable servicing to fixed intervals (10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever is reached first).

 

Opinions vary but I am a fan of fresh oil at least once a year. It is the life blood of the engine and the turbo too.

 

You can get a minor service from a Skoda main dealer for as little as £139, probably cheaper from an independent...

 

http://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed/default

 

One little tip though, your car needs a particular type of oil due to it's DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter). Always only use oil that meets the VW 507.00 specification.

Edited 18 July, 201510 yr by silver1011

Low mileage for the most is normally a good thing, but not always so good for a battery as it might not be getting a good charge in-between engine starts to sufficiently recharge it. Chances are if you'd only just bought it the car will have been sat on a forecourt somewhere for a while not getting charged, short test drives and been shunted around the yard to make room for other cars etc? All bad for a battery.

 

Either way Skoda went through a phase of fitting low spec batteries to their cars, which usually lasted until just outside the manufacturers warranty. My Superb is a 2011 model and the battery was a very low spec.

 

Yes you are due a service, is it not flashing up for one on the display?

 

If the first service was done at 16,000 miles this means the service computer is set to variable / long life servicing (up to 20,000 miles / 2 years - the car monitors engine load, number of starts, journey times etc. and decides for itself when it needs a service).

 

If you are on 38,000 miles then you have done 22,000 miles since the last oil change. I'd be getting it booked in.

 

What is your annual mileage? If it is close to 10,000 miles then you might be better off changing from variable servicing to fixed intervals (10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever is reached first).

 

Opinions vary but I am a fan of fresh oil at least once a year. It is the life blood of the engine and the turbo too.

 

You can get a minor service from a Skoda main dealer for as little as £139, probably cheaper from an independent...

 

http://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed/default

 

One little tip though, your car needs a particular type of oil due to it's DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter). Always only use oil that meets the VW 507.00 specification.

 

Thanks for the help.  I will get the battery replaced and check to see if the issues are resolved.  I'll then get a service booked in ASAP. 

Hang on a minute.... When you turn on the ignition the engine light and battery symbols stay lit?

And then when you start the engine they both go out?

This is what they're supposed to do, unless I've misunderstood.

I wouldn't spend out on a battery just yet.. Yes it went flat but you left the lights on so you know why. Keep using it, if it goes flat again without leaving your lights on then change it, otherwise you're good.

Has your battery got a battery status 'magic eye' thingy on the top of the case? My 2009 OEM one has - black is OK, clear (more like straw colour) is supposed to be time to replace.

It's actually simply a measure of the electrolyte level in the battery, which uses a coloured ball floating in a tube.

My OEM battery indicator went clear after 3 years ownership from new, but I found that when I pulled the 'sealed for life' sticker off the top of the battery case, it had conventional screw caps over each cell. Took these off, and found that the battery was an old-fashioned liquid electrolyte type. The electrolyte was low, clearly below the top of the cell plates. Topped up with distilled water, and it's been good for the last three years since doing that.

Hang on a minute.... When you turn on the ignition the engine light and battery symbols stay lit?

And then when you start the engine they both go out?

This is what they're supposed to do, unless I've misunderstood.

I wouldn't spend out on a battery just yet.. Yes it went flat but you left the lights on so you know why. Keep using it, if it goes flat again without leaving your lights on then change it, otherwise you're good.

 

Hi there.

 

Yes when the ignition is on the lights on the dash for both battery and Control system for exhaust are lit, when the engine starts both go out.  I will attach a link to a video i have taken.

 

http://www.dropbox.com/s/qonntyfg23ip7cv/Video%2018-07-2015%2019%2030%2051.mov?dl=0

 

Can anyone else confirm this happens to their VRS?  Is this normal?

think you should give it a charge and a chance before scrapping it   riding round the block is not a cure  ---could take up to 24 hours on an external charger to get it back,    my 03 Seat battery has just been retired to emergency lighting duty

Edited 19 July, 201510 yr by cheshire cat

Hi there.

Yes when the ignition is on the lights on the dash for both battery and Control system for exhaust are lit, when the engine starts both go out. I will attach a link to a video i have taken.

http://www.dropbox.com/s/qonntyfg23ip7cv/Video%2018-07-2015%2019%2030%2051.mov?dl=0

Can anyone else confirm this happens to their VRS? Is this normal?

Your link won't open but yes sounds right.

I'd just drive it and stop worrying about it personally. If anything just put it on a charger over night.

Just took it out this morning and found the "Control system for exhaust" is now on even after the engine starts.  I guess I'm going to have to get some diags run on it.  Bad start to a new car     

As mentioned, this could be a bad battery.

 

The Octavia is notorious for generating unusual, unrelated and totally unexpected warnings and fault codes when the battery is failing, there are lots and lots of similar threads on this.

 

Despite this the car may start each morning just fine which for most people makes it difficult to justify changing the battery, it simply cannot be the battery, right?

 

We all have different opinions but for me an £80 fit-yourself battery is going to be the cheapest (and most likely) fix for me.

 

Even if it doesn't turn out to be the battery it isn't wasted money as you are now set-up with a new battery that you can get value from.

 

Dealers can charge upwards of £60 just to read the fault code, you've almost paid for the battery by this point!