I've just collected my No2 new(er) Yeti and was alarmed to see that the battery box looks like some felted origami effort.  What happened to the old solid (well ok.... plastic) battery box with sturdy clips n'all that my old 1.8 tsi had?  I'm sure there's a good reason - other than cost. Anyone know?

My 2010 Yeti had the fabric "cosy".

Does it really matter?

My 2010 Yeti had the fabric "cosy".

Does it really matter?

I don't know if it matters - that the purpose of my question, as well as my general sense of curiosity about changes and their reasons.

Mkv golf battery box is a straightforward up grade and takes minutes one of my first jobs when i got both my Yetis. that and a proper hydraulic bonnet strut from superskoda. carpet felt and bent steel rods are fine if they are what you like.

A priority is keeping the battery cool as possible in a confined (ever shrinking) space at the lowest cost and weight.

A priority is keeping the battery cool as possible in a confined (ever shrinking) space at the lowest cost and weight.

Yeap - that makes sense. I seem to recall hearing that diesels tend to work their batteries harder too (although I'm not sure how true that is). Thanks for the reply.

I'm afraid the priority is cheapness where they think people won't notice- otherwise why is the battery OK in a golf v but east european ones need cheap underlay? 

I'm afraid the priority is cheapness where they think people won't notice- otherwise why is the battery OK in a golf v but east european ones need cheap underlay? 

It was one of the first things I noticed when I opened the bonnet - :notme: WTF is that? Very New Age.... :sun:

Some have ducted air and some just felt - cost/benefit

It was one of the first things I noticed when I opened the bonnet - :notme: WTF is that? Very New Age.... :sun:

 

But as I said, my 2010 Yeti had the fabric cover, so this isn't anything new.

I've owned about 25 different cars in my lifetime,  and the Yeti is the first one that had any kind of battery box..... in all the others (except for the Citroen Xsara Picassos where it was under the passengers seat) the battery has been in the engine bay but otherwise uncovered.  My first Yeti,  a 1.6 Greenline diesel, had the full plastic box within its very full engine bay;  my present 1.2 DSG petrol Yeti has the felty cover in the wide open spaces of the engine bay.  Make of it what you will!

Yeap - that makes sense. I seem to recall hearing that diesels tend to work their batteries harder too (although I'm not sure how true that is). Thanks for the reply.

They work harder because Diesel engines run at a far higher compression so it takes more oooph to turn the starter motor over. That's why diesels have more powerful batteries.

The output from a battery falls off sharply at low temperature. I would guess that is one reason for the felt type insulation. Help to reduce the cold winter effect, and also reduce any high under-bonnet temperature effect. My old Jaguar had its own thermostatically controlled cooling fan on the battery box. Batteries have come on a lot since then.      

I suspect it's down to engine and or model what battery compartment it has.

 

My 2015 Greenline has a plastic box and cover.

Mkv golf battery box is a straightforward up grade and takes minutes one of my first jobs when i got both my Yetis. that and a proper hydraulic bonnet strut from superskoda. carpet felt and bent steel rods are fine if they are what you like.

Didn't know you could get a hydraulic strut - that's useful to know.

The Yeti is the first car that I've had for ages that doesn't have one and it still feels a little strange when opening the bonnet.

I take it is just a simple bolt up job?

Didn't know you could get a hydraulic strut - that's useful to know.

The Yeti is the first car that I've had for ages that doesn't have one and it still feels a little strange when opening the bonnet.

I take it is just a simple bolt up job?

It is for the Octavia, probably similar for the Yeti although the length of throw and mounting positions may not be identical.

OK thanks, hadn't looked at your avatar so assumed you were talking about a Yeti.

I'll leave as is then.

Didn't know you could get a hydraulic strut - that's useful to know.

They are available, I believe someone on here did a bulk buy for members a few years ago.

Probably somewhere in here:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/83-group-buys/

Plenty Euro 6 VW Group vehicles now have soft battery covers, maybe cost savings and weight savings no matter how little that is.

The battery looks nice and cosy as they are, and maybe there is less issues with damp around batteries with these covers.

The output from a battery falls off sharply at low temperature. I would guess that is one reason for the felt type insulation. Help to reduce the cold winter effect, and also reduce any high under-bonnet temperature effect. My old Jaguar had its own thermostatically controlled cooling fan on the battery box. Batteries have come on a lot since then.      

Nice theory but I'd be more likely to say it's a matter of cost cutting than for any technical reason.

 

Fred

I had many cars in the past where battery was just on a shelf, with a bracket to hold it in place,not in a box.

Aren't cars with start stop fitted with different batteries, I'm sure someone told me if you need a replacement it's about £80 for non start stop and over £200 if it's the special ones used where start stop is fitted, therefore I assume no box is cost saving to offset better battery materials.

I had many cars in the past where battery was just on a shelf, with a bracket to hold it in place,not in a box.

Aren't cars with start stop fitted with different batteries, I'm sure someone told me if you need a replacement it's about £80 for non start stop and over £200 if it's the special ones used where start stop is fitted, therefore I assume no box is cost saving to offset better battery materials.

That's an interesting point.  Hopefully I'll not need to change it any time soon, as the 'old' TSI managed 70,000 miles without any battery issues.  This newer Yeti  is a start-stop and I'm still getting used to it. It's stalled on me a couple of times, at slow speeds, each time while turning right into a road junction, having stopped to allow traffic to pass, which I've put down to my not getting used to the difference in performance between the 1.8 tsi and the diesel 150 PS. 

That's an interesting point.  Hopefully I'll not need to change it any time soon, as the 'old' TSI managed 70,000 miles without any battery issues.  This newer Yeti  is a start-stop and I'm still getting used to it. It's stalled on me a couple of times, at slow speeds, each time while turning right into a road junction, having stopped to allow traffic to pass, which I've put down to my not getting used to the difference in performance between the 1.8 tsi and the diesel 150 PS. 

 

I had many cars in the past where battery was just on a shelf, with a bracket to hold it in place,not in a box.

Aren't cars with start stop fitted with different batteries, I'm sure someone told me if you need a replacement it's about £80 for non start stop and over £200 if it's the special ones used where start stop is fitted, therefore I assume no box is cost saving to offset better battery materials.

Rather suspect it's wistful thinking that savings will be put into better materials. Yes, stop-start vehicles tend to use AGM's

Edited 18 December, 20169 yr by Warrior193

Rather suspect it's wistful thinking that savings will be put into better materials. Yes, stop-start vehicles tend to use AGM's

I take it you don't mean Annual General Meetings   :D   ..... AGM's ?