My Octavia diesel estate has been sat on my drive for 2 days and now won't start. It's fitted with a Bosch battery but unsure how old it is having got the car 2 weeks ago.

I've noticed no problems previously and it's not struggled to start before.

I'm going to get a friend (who has jump leads) to help me start it then given it a good run. Is this a common problem? Is it time to get a new battery and take no risks?

I wouldn't have thought any more common than any other mark with a diesel engine. It is cold and diesel will be high compression to turn over. If the battery is on its' way out, then winter will provoke it.

 

I would expect a battery to last 2-4weeks (maybe more in right conditions) standing so 2 days is no good.  Try driving it if you want or somewhere with a battery tester that will test the voltage under load. You could also check the voltage when engine running to make sure the alternator is charging.

 

Most likely a battery issue and if it is likely to be 3 or 4 years plus probably start there.

Edited 18 January, 20179 yr by TheClient

It could be that the battery is possabily on the way out. Might be worth while geting the battery checked at a decent garage first before splashing the cash.

It will not be the original battery I think, being a Bosch, so would recommend getting it charged up first and then tested.

 

If it has a decent charge the tester will probably be able to test the alternator too, just to be sure.

 

If you are lucky it has just been used unsympathetically and allowed to run down in the cold and dark weather, or it has been sat and just given a jump start to sell on to you, without charging.

 

If it was low on charge during the few freezing nights we have had so far, then it may need replacing though, as this can kill them.

Thanks all, it started first time once it'd been jump started, I've driven it for half an hour after 15 mins idling on the drive so hopefully it'll start tomorrow giving me chance to take it to a garage for a test etc.

I've attached a pic of the battery, just in case you guys don't think it's suitable.

I did think that perhaps it had been standing for a while when I bought it, given it was -5 when I saw the car and was already running, but I then drove it 100 miles back home and had turned it over each day apart from the last two days (I was awaiting insurance etc).

Cold (like we are having right now) will kill off a battery if it's weak. You may need a replacement.

Its a bit left field... but.... my 05 FSI drained out the battery a few times before I worked out what was happening.

 

Turns out the electric fans were kicking in for some reason (as yet not identified)and running until the battery died. The car doesn't overheat or anything, the fans have kicked in after the car has been parked and switched off. It was only one night when I was stood at the counter of my local chippy I suddenly heard a noise coming from the car and checked it out. I disconnected the fans at the plug and since then no problems.

 

It has been suggested to me that it is an earth fault at play here but as yet I have not had time to look more deeply into it.

 

Im not saying this is definitely the issue you have - but if your battery checks out as ok then it is worth "keeping an ear" on the car when it is parked.

This morning I went and started her up, no problems.

However, then the alarm kicked off...

Assuming this is linked to a power supply problem from the battery? I'm taking her to a garage later today, but was wondering if anyone has seen this before?

I did think that perhaps it had been standing for a while when I bought it, given it was -5 when I saw the car and was already running, but I then drove it 100 miles back home and had turned it over each day apart from the last two days (I was awaiting insurance etc).

If you have turned it over each day, for a number of days without driving anywhere, you may have inadvertently drained most of it's power yourself.

 

Depends how many times you have done this but a diesel takes a good amount of battery power to start the car. If you are doing this and not driving, the battery has no opportunity to re-charge.

 

Also, check your hazard switch isn't remaining lit (check in dark through window) as this was an indicator when I had a similar problem, and it wasn't the battery.

 but I then drove it 100 miles back home and had turned it over each day apart from the last two days (I was awaiting insurance etc).

Tut tut!

 

You have heard of ANPR, or did you get short term insurance for the vehicle?...........................................I'm not judging.

Tut tut!

 

You have heard of ANPR, or did you get short term insurance for the vehicle?...........................................I'm not judging.

Don't panic.

I got a one day insurance until I had chance to look for the best deal.

If you have turned it over each day, for a number of days without driving anywhere, you may have inadvertently drained most of it's power yourself.

 

Depends how many times you have done this but a diesel takes a good amount of battery power to start the car. If you are doing this and not driving, the battery has no opportunity to re-charge.

 

Also, check your hazard switch isn't remaining lit (check in dark through window) as this was an indicator when I had a similar problem, and it wasn't the battery.

Turn it over two/three times. I'll keep an eye on that though, I've done 150miles in the past two days on it now, rescheduled battery testing at a local garage for tomorrow. Fingers crossed it's more my fault than a replacement battery.

Just to update: Took it to a garage today and was only showing half charge, decided to just have a new one fitted and starts better on the first turn, so hopefully it was just the battery and was ran down due to being turned over but not driven.

Just a thought, and something that I do in winter when my 1.9PD sits for days without use.  The cig-lighter socket is a 'permanent live', so I connect it up with a trickle charger (1A max) fitted with a cig-lighter plug, and leave it for 24 hours or so.  Works well for me & my 8 year old battery.  I have got the luxury of being able to run a mains lead to the car to plug the charger into, so it's not for everyone.

I use a solar charger but at the moment it is in the Audi. I must get that sold one day.

what's the solar charger like tilt for charging the battery?. Been thinking about getting one for my other car.

On 1/19/2017 at 00:24, warweezil said:

Its a bit left field... but.... my 05 FSI drained out the battery a few times before I worked out what was happening.

 

Turns out the electric fans were kicking in for some reason (as yet not identified)and running until the battery died. The car doesn't overheat or anything, the fans have kicked in after the car has been parked and switched off. It was only one night when I was stood at the counter of my local chippy I suddenly heard a noise coming from the car and checked it out. I disconnected the fans at the plug and since then no problems.

 

It has been suggested to me that it is an earth fault at play here but as yet I have not had time to look more deeply into it.

 

Im not saying this is definitely the issue you have - but if your battery checks out as ok then it is worth "keeping an ear" on the car when it is parked.

Actually for your mentioned "problem", i have read that the car may occasionally turn the fans on during parking even if the ignition is off and car is locked.

So that might be a normal operation according to the manual.

8 hours ago, Stuart-h said:

what's the solar charger like tilt for charging the battery?. Been thinking about getting one for my other car.

It's a foldable one, bit like a small laptop case. Depends on what you want it for?

 

If your other car gets little use and is left standing (with the battery still connected) then they are ideal.

They do not provide enough power really to give extra charge to your battery, but they should give enough to prevent the alarm ETC draining your battery. I think it is 4watt iirc. Don't bother with anything smaller for your car. It is only a trickle charge at this size.

 

Can be bought for under £20. Plug into cig lighter (if it remains live) and just leave it on the dash.

Doesn't necessarily need the sunlight although this does provide more power. has led to show charging and a non return / anti drain device installed (apparently). Face it south if possible.

 

A little common sense like fully charging your battery in the first place and the solar charger should keep it topped up, ready to go. .

On 26/01/2017 at 11:25, Isitme said:

Actually for your mentioned "problem", i have read that the car may occasionally turn the fans on during parking even if the ignition is off and car is locked.

So that might be a normal operation according to the manual.

Yes Electric fans can run after the car is left - for a short period - IF the engine has reached the required temperature for fan operation, However, in my case, the car has run no hotter than 90 degrees  and hasn't had fans running - even when stood in traffic, and to drain the uprated battery fitted to the car means there is a problem. its running on an 85 AH battery from a diesel mini bus.  Ive cleaned up a lot of the connections, especially the underbonnet earths, so far so good - But Im keeping the jump pack in the back of the car "just in case" next problem to sort out is the single speed heater fan, when I can find time to strip out the glovebox

If you've got the same problem with what I had on my last octivia both fans would work when the engine is cold! Its a doggy switch whitch is tricking the fans into working.
My local garage quoited me to £500 replace the fans as its an all in 1 unit.