I bought a used 2014 Superb. 

Had it inspected at the dealer and they found no significant faults (other than 1 side mirror heating element not working). 

 

The weather is starting to get cold and I have noticed that the car does not start as briskly as it used to. Previously it would start immediately, now it takes a few seconds and it sounds like the starter working harder than before. 

 

Could it be the battery? Haven't had to replace a car battery before so I have no clue how long they last, but maybe this is the original battery. Should it not last more than 3-4 years?

I have a 2014 superb 4x4, had same issues in the morning just last week, had battery checked and replaced. Could have charged battery but only delaying the inevitable. 

Cost me £170 for a stop/start battery, including fitting and keeping a connection to battery while changing over

Battery life is hugely dependant on the driver.

 

Coming / leaving home headlights turned on?

Headlights turned on manually or left in Auto (i.e. on and off before/after the engine is started/turned off)

Stop/start left on or manually turned off each journey.

Regular short journey's or lengthy motorway runs.

etc. etc.

 

The Superb does get very finicky when the battery begins to fail, best to get it swapped, especially this time of year.

I would change the battery - impression I get is that Skoda fitted the Superb with as cheap a battery as they could get away with and you are lucky if you get 3 or 4 years service out of them.

In my case (2012 Elegance Estate) the original fitted was a Banner 70aH.

It really was not fit for the job especially when you have extras like a heated windscreen.

Getting it to start last winter was decidedly dodgy so replaced the Banner with a Platinum Prestige Plus battery (part number = B096SPPLA, CCA:720, 75aH). 

Paid £100.95 at National Tyres (offer on at time) fully fitted - has made a massive difference in the starting and pleased with it so far (5yr warranty so will outlive my ownership of the car).

Hmm - Worried I'll have to change my battery on my 2014 1.4 soon - OK at the mo.

 

Very different to the MK I Superb that was fitted with a well specced and long lived battery - My previous 2003 1.9 pd is still going strong with its original! (under new ownership)

 

 

14 hours ago, bigjohn said:

Hmm - Worried I'll have to change my battery on my 2014 1.4 soon - OK at the mo.

 

My 2014 1.6d is going as stong as ever on the battery. Minus 2 and 3 degrees recently and it turns the car over and fires it up immediately. It's usually a spell of cold weather that tells me when a battery is going end of life.

 

My guess is that because I have start/stop on the car, it wasn't an option foe Skoda to use one of their usual "bargain basement" batteries, they had to use a half decent AGM start/stop enabled one. 

33 minutes ago, TheRobinK said:

 

My 2014 1.6d is going as stong as ever on the battery. Minus 2 and 3 degrees recently and it turns the car over and fires it up immediately. It's usually a spell of cold weather that tells me when a battery is going end of life.

 

My guess is that because I have start/stop on the car, it wasn't an option foe Skoda to use one of their usual "bargain basement" batteries, they had to use a half decent AGM start/stop enabled one. 

This is the battery my car came with when I bought it a year ago. No idea if it has been replaced or not. It is properly coded.

 

27 minutes ago, TLV said:

This is the battery my car came with when I bought it a year ago. No idea if it has been replaced or not. It is properly coded.

 

Very similar to my 2011 Elegance 170 estate, yours appears larger capacity 

Battery banner 5KO 915 105 F

70ah 340a din 570a en/sae

Just now, gav_is_con said:

Very similar to my 2011 Elegance 170 estate, yours appears larger capacity 

Battery banner 5KO 915 105 F

70ah 340a din 570a en/sae

Mine takes longer to fire up as it has keyless I hold the button longer for it to fire up. Maybe a sign of it not being strong enough. Plus I have heated front screen and seats, plus auto lights. Plenty to suck the power out. 

49 minutes ago, TLV said:

No idea if it has been replaced or not. It is properly coded.

 

The part number on that battery is a VAG OEM one and Banner was/is an OEM supplier.

 

I suspect that it has been changed as it has a 72AH rating - as far as I know, there were a lot of 2011 Superb diesels (2.0 as well as 1.6) that were supplied with only 61AH. Superb owners were more than a bit peeved when batteries gave up after 2 years and they found that Passats/VW's of the same era and same motor had gotten 72AH ones.

 

The cranking amps on your current one is higher - 640 - than the 61ah battery (that was 540 I think). Us diesel owners like our cranking amps, we need them to turn the motor over properly at ignition time.

 

I think it's reasonable to assume that you are on your second battery and it was fitted by a dealer.

 

Edited 4 December, 20178 yr by TheRobinK
Add info

2 hours ago, TheRobinK said:

My guess is that because I have start/stop on the car, it wasn't an option foe Skoda to use one of their usual "bargain basement" batteries, they had to use a half decent AGM start/stop enabled one. 

 

Ah, thanks there is hope yet. Mine is also stop/start 

 

 

3 hours ago, TheRobinK said:

I think it's reasonable to assume that you are on your second battery and it was fitted by a dealer.

 

It doesn't appear to be an AGM battery, yet it has been fitted to a car with stop/start. Penny pinching?

3 hours ago, TLV said:

It doesn't appear to be an AGM battery, yet it has been fitted to a car with stop/start. Penny pinching?

 

Penny pinching is certainly possible on the batteries - Skoda has form for that. It could be that a previous owner was not willing to pay the extra for the AGM battery. 

 

I think when Stop/Start became an item on cars like the Greenline, they didn't use AGM and used ECM (enhanced batteries that could handle more frequent charging cycles). Do you think your battery  might be one of those? I'm not sure how you tell.....

15 minutes ago, TheRobinK said:

 

I think when Stop/Start became an item on cars like the Greenline, they didn't use AGM and used ECM (enhanced batteries that could handle more frequent charging cycles). Do you think your battery  might be one of those? I'm not sure how you tell.....

 

Looking at mine don't think it's AGM - poto attached:-             [EDIT] Just realised EFB = Enhanced Flooded Battery

 

 

Edited 4 December, 20178 yr by bigjohn

7 hours ago, TheRobinK said:

 

Penny pinching is certainly possible on the batteries - Skoda has form for that. It could be that a previous owner was not willing to pay the extra for the AGM battery. 

 

I think when Stop/Start became an item on cars like the Greenline, they didn't use AGM and used ECM (enhanced batteries that could handle more frequent charging cycles). Do you think your battery  might be one of those? I'm not sure how you tell.....

 

There is no indication of it being anything other than the most common flooded lead-acid battery. Stop-start maybe stops the engine once a month when it's warm and starts it back up after about 10 seconds nearly every time it has occurred. I have not looked for signs of tampering with the stop-start system, but I'd rather not have it work anyway, at least not on this battery. As of now, the car has not struggled to start, not even in cold winter mornings.

 

These days battery manufacturers commonly have an AGM battery series, an EFB battery series and several flavors of lead-acid batteries. AGM and EFB batteries are specified as stop-start batteries, the rest are not.

Edited 5 December, 20178 yr by TLV

Despite my local MOT place saying there was nothing wrong with the battery at the weekend (I told them it won't start the engine after being left for a day or so) I'm looking at a replacement myself. I usually manage to start it with a booster pack but that did not work this morning; it just clicks away and tries to crank, but never fires. I think I know what to get for my 60 plate MK11 Superb Elegance 2.0 diesel estate and it's something like this unless anyone can suggest an alternative. It's currently got this:

 

 

What I want to also confirm is, when I swap out the battery, will I need to recode the radio/columbus system and/or reset/reprogramme lights, seat memory, windows, mirrors? At a pinch I could run a set of jump leads whilst I do the swap but it's a faff.

 

Thanks All...

I fitted the Varta as that enduroline was not available and I am completely happy with it starts instantly..
The columbus will learn its code form the car no need to reset.
Also I recoded my car with vcds to tell it it had a new battery and what Ah it was and changed the serial number but there is mixed views if this is really necessary 

OK, I've just ordered the Enduroline as it seemed pretty good next to the slightly more, and much more expensive, options; will report back as to how the swap went.

3 hours ago, DEL80Y said:

I fitted the Varta as that enduroline was not available and I am completely happy with it starts instantly..
 

 

I think it was a Varta that was fitted (original) to my Superb I that is still going strong after 14 years and 200,000 miles

 

Edited 5 December, 20178 yr by bigjohn

I had varta original in mine, lasted 3 1/2 years 

1 hour ago, bigjohn said:

 

I think it was a Varta that was fitted (original) to my Superb I that is still going strong after 14 years and 200,000 miles

 

Maybe the higher mileage driver gets to keep the old one longer. My Octy one lasted ages too. Superb one showing problems starting now. 

50 minutes ago, dudec said:

I had varta original in mine, lasted 3 1/2 years 

 

Maybe size matters - The one in my Superb I was huge, the one in my Superb II is tiny

 

 

 

 

How easy is it to change the battery?

 

Found one from a retailer that advertises it fits my model Skoda. 

 

Otherwise, I would go to the dealer, although I have no idea what that would cost at the moment.

 

I have no tools at home since I live like a nomad for the time being. 

46 minutes ago, Trolle1977 said:

How easy is it to change the battery?

 

Found one from a retailer that advertises it fits my model Skoda. 

 

Otherwise, I would go to the dealer, although I have no idea what that would cost at the moment.

 

I have no tools at home since I live like a nomad for the time being. 

There are several places that sell the Exide EK700 AGM battery for 135€. You can walk in and pick one up at places like akuladu or motonet, if that's what you're into. I prefer that to buying parts online if the price is the same. There are many cheaper options out there as well, if you're willing to accept an EFB or regular lead-acid battery.

 

I've checked what the dealer is asking for batteries. About twice as much as local battery shops, for the same battery. If you decide to replace the battery yourself and have no way to code the replacement, make sure the replacement battery is of the same type and with the same Ah rating as the one you're replacing.

 

If you're unsure about the performance of your battery, it can be load tested at nearly any workshop. Though, the car not starting in the first second or two is commonly a sign of a battery on its way out. If you're having difficulties with your battery replacement, I'm local with tools, VCDS and possibly willing to help.

New battery now in place. Easy enough swap. Remove the leads, remove the felt cover that surrounds the battery if you have one, undo the clasp at the bottom and do the swap.

 

All seems as normal although I had to reset the time and I have an ESP message which I believe will go away after a 10 minute drive.

 

Will update tomorrow once I've given it a good run...