The original battery on our 2004 Fabia is starting to be sluggish after the car has been left standing for a week or so - it doesnt owe me anything so its time to change it.

Firstly how should i charge it using a trickle charger - connected or disconnected? The manual also states that when disconnecting the battery the ignition shuld be ON - surely this must be a typo?

TPS do original and economy batteries, the latter being half the cost - which one should i go for?

Lastly, i contacted a supplier called Manbat who seemed to know what they were talking about. They asked if the neutral cable had an additional thin wire connected to it, which it has - a brown one. They said that the OBD would need to be reset when changing the battery as this wire indicated that the ar was fitted with a smart charge device, which would overcharge the battery and destroy it within 18 months if it was not reset to tell it that a new battery had been fitted.

I called two dealers and they had never heard of this, saying it was ok for me to replace the battery witout resetting.

Has anyone else come accross this, please. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

It's a good idea to clear fault codes after a battery has been disconnected. Little things like heater flap motors should be re calibrated etc.

But nothing to reset when it comes to the charging system.

It's a good idea to clear fault codes after a battery has been disconnected. Little things like heater flap motors should be re calibrated etc.

But nothing to reset when it comes to the charging system.

Thank you.

Good point about the heater flaps - after i charged the battery last weekend, having disconnected the battery, i noticed that there was a slight booming noise from the airflow - i guess ive messed something up. How do i reset the flaps, please? Do i need VAG.com or can i do it using a more simple device. Im starting to wish id left it alone, as it wasnt broken yet. Thank you for your help.

How does the TPS economy price compare to aftermarket suppliers?

No particular reason to buy genuine IMO.

Your car is a bit long in the tooth to have the sort of charging system that Manbat were thinking of, I believe. That thin wire is one of two that are used for voltage sensing, the other goes via a 5A fuse in the battery-top fuse holder.

Edited 9 January, 201610 yr by Wino

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Edited 9 January, 201610 yr by Wino

Thank you.

Good point about the heater flaps - after i charged the battery last weekend, having disconnected the battery, i noticed that there was a slight booming noise from the airflow - i guess ive messed something up. How do i reset the flaps, please? Do i need VAG.com or can i do it using a more simple device. Im starting to wish id left it alone, as it wasnt broken yet. Thank you for your help.

VCDS is required.

How does the TPS economy price compare to aftermarket suppliers?

No particular reason to buy genuine IMO.

Your car is a bit long in the tooth to have the sort of charging system that Manbat were thinking of, I believe. That thin wire is one of two that are used for voltage sensing, the other goes via a 5A fuse in the battery-top fuse holder.

TPS is the cheapest ive found - £52

VCDS is required.

Thx, looks like it needs to be booked into garage then.

I guess i should have connected it to power before disconnecting the battery - easy solution would have been jump leads to my car sitting next to it - learnt something for next time.

See if anything seems not to be working before you book it in anywhere. Apart from resetting one-touch window operation I would imagine everything else will be fine.

Seems a decent price for the TPS batt.

See if anything seems not to be working before you book it in anywhere. Apart from resetting one-touch window operation I would imagine everything else will be fine.

Seems a decent price for the TPS batt.

Thanks - will do. Its just the deep "booming" noise coming from the airflow which might indicate something amiss with the heater flaps based on the other response. Ive got it on charge at the moment as i didnt get the TPS battery today after thinking i needed the smartcharge sensor reset. Price is great for a proper branded battery with 4 year guarantee - will get one next week. Ill also make up some leads to connect the car to anothr battery in future to avoid problems - life used to be so much more simple one upon a time. Thanks for reassurance.

VCDS is required.

Im interested in this, i had flap problems (so to speak :P) before i fitted new battery, now i have no flap faults .. could you point me in the direction of how i go about resetting via VCDS please.

08 HVAC

04 basic settings

Channel 01

Should be in a drop down box too with a gen issue of VCDS.

Ok old battery fully charged and reconnected. Sorry to sound dim but how do i go about getting the flaps reset via VCDS without going to a main dealer. Can someone recommend someone in the south London / Surrey area please.

08 HVAC

04 basic settings

Channel 01

Should be in a drop down box too with a gen issue of VCDS.

 

Cheers, and what should i look for?

 

What is full heat/ full cold?

 

Hmm maybe i can do this with free vcds lite?

Ok im learning - should i be able to reset the flaps with VCDS Lite from Ross tech and this cable, please -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161932074699?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Edited 9 January, 201610 yr by italiastar

Cheers, and what should i look for?

 

What is full heat/ full cold?

 

Hmm maybe i can do this with free vcds lite?

It's a basic setting routine, it will run and then say ok/not ok

Ok im learning - should i be able to reset the flaps with VCDS Lite from Ross tech and this cable, please - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161932074699?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Should work, but as with all non genuine stuff it's a gamble.

It's a basic setting routine, it will run and then say ok/not ok

required vcds to be registered and activated... so assume not possible with free ?

required vcds to be registered and activated... so assume not possible with free ?

I guess not then.

Check out the vcds owners map on here and see if there is anyone near you that can help you out. Where abouts are you?

Andy

Chorley, Lancashire

Ok old battery fully charged and reconnected. Sorry to sound dim but how do i go about getting the flaps reset via VCDS without going to a main dealer. Can someone recommend someone in the south London / Surrey area please.

There's a post on here somewhere with a list of members with VCDS who will help out. Might be worth a search and ask.

Here you go...

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/262215-list-of-vcds-owners-previously-known-as-vag-com/

Ive tried previously and got no reply :P