My Roomster 1.2 TSI (2012) still has the original battery fitted and appears okay in terms of starting the car first time. I have read that battery voltage of around 12.2  indicates that the battery is only reaching 60% capacity. I have been monitoring this for a few days and it seems stable at that mark.

 

I am considering changing now rather than waiting until the cold weather takes hold but wonder if this might be premature? 

 

If a replacement is thought a good idea is there a particular good quality type/brand that could be recommended?

 

I have done a quick search of suppliers like Eurocarparts etc but when I use my reg number and/or the drop-down selector the battery that is recommended as suitable does not match the original dimensions ie my existing one is about 240*175*190  but all sites give 207*175*190.  Any idea why that might be so? I would be concerned that a shorter length would be unlikely to match up to the leads and basically just not fit as it should.

 

Thanks in anticipation for any insights on this.

 

 

I bought mine from Halfords 15 months ago no problems, I just asked what they had, they looked my model up, one in stock, fitted, 3 year guarantee, I think it was about £80, this was the first cold night last year, so I don't think I'd wait, unless you have alternative transport to get a battery when it happens, because it's usually the most inconvenient moment,

I was on my way to a meeting in Birmingham, I didn't get there. I kept the old battery out of curiousity and charged it up at home I just about got 12.2 v  out of it.

I'd think that at the 7 year point, your original battery is getting past its best, one thing about the voltage you are measuring, cars with smart charging systems do seem to maintain the battery at quite a low voltage, well that is what I've found anyway, so 12.2V might not be the best/highest voltage that battery could be sitting at when fully charged, but until you have tried charging it you will never know.

Replacing your battery just at the onset of winter must be a smart idea, as long as you replace it like for like and not just fit in the cheapest available - but you seem to have worked that out already.

I can't answer why/how you are not finding an exact equivalent replacement battery physically and as time goes on, with a better performance than the original, I've never been in that situation - yet.

If you are able to swop over batteries yourself, buying online should give you more/better battery for your money - ie Tayna Batteries who have been used by quite a few members on most VAG motoring forums.

Varta and Bosch (look to be the same frames) normally provide reliable batteries and varying "qualities", always aim to equal or increase the capacity and CCA of your next battery.

Thanks for these helpful replies.

I have also found further information on this very site https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/393021-new-battery-fitted-today/ which mentions the possibility of having to code the battery in to the ECU (see P2)!  My original battery does have a BEM code sticker but I have no idea if the Roomster has a battery management module, how can I tell and does it matter?

I have solved the size discrepancy issue using the Varta code of my OEM  5K0915105D which identifies it as identical to that fitted in the Yeti 1.2 (242*175*190).

Yuasa are one of the best batteries. In the size that you want it looks like their part numbers are YBX3027, YBX5027, YBX7027, YBX9027. The higher the Yuasa part number, the better the battery (and more expensive). Google "Yuasa YBX 9027" for the best online prices on their top model. Amazon.co.uk sells them too, but not always the cheapest. The YBX7027 and YBX9027 are stop/start batteries that can start the car up to 300,000 times. The YBX3027 and YBX5027 are the non-stop/start batteries and can only start the car 30,000 times. You can fit a stop/start battery to a non-stop/start car.

 

Also see the Yuasa website:

 

yuasa.co.uk

 

Bosch, Varta, and Exide and also good batteries.

Edited 1 November, 20196 yr by Carlston

Yuasa definitely one of the best batteries, I had one on a 750cc Honda for 14 years, from memory it was still on when I sold it.

I had always assumed that Yuasa was a proper quality brand in batteries, but I seem to remember that some time in past, people were complaining after discovering that their replacement Yuasa batteries were failing early and at that time most did not have the relevant data on them or the website to "add" them to the car's battery management module so that they could perform at their best, or integrate into the car's systems fully.

 

I'm still locked into the Varta/Bosch options if and when I need new batteries for my cars - maybe just habit, while at least SEAT at times fit Exide at factory, I'd still probably fit a Varta/Bosch if and when I needed to replace a failed Exide - each to their own I suppose.

 

Being a Costco member, for me Bosch makes sense cost wise normally.

 

OP, does your car have auto stop/start, if so you need a EFB at least.

Ordered a Varta Blue 02 from ECP. Based mainly on being a recognised and seemingly reliable brand. Existing Varta is is the original and that still works but as mentioned initially voltage reflects that it will probably struggle come the cold weather.

Thanks again to all for such informative replies.