AGM batteries ( not EFB’s)

[Micky 32]

Hi, i don’t own a Superb but a BiTDI Passat ( same platform) and probably uses the same battery.

 

How long are your AGM’s lasting? Mine is exactly 3 years and i think there are signs it’s weakening. One example is after the first cold crank in the morning i find the heating steering wheel switches itself on. On VCDS i have seen SOC drop to 58% and 16ah available intermittently, then it would go back up to 90%, strange behaviour.

[ope126]

I own a 2yr old Passat also.

The battery (fitted from factory) is a Varta - 7P0 915 105 AGM (Made in Germany).

 

VW Parts have advised that the replacement battery is as follows; Varta - 000 915 105 CC (AGM).

 

My Superb has a factory fitted Banner - 6R0 915 105 B (EFB) (Made in Austria).

 

ŠKODA Parts have advised that the replacement battery is as follows; Varta - 000 915 105FC (EFB).

 

I will just get an AGM (possibly Varta E39) for the Superb when the time comes...

Edited 13 February, 2020 by ope126

[MartiniB]

interesting what voltage remains after a night?
when engine is on and charging is active then 14.7 to 15.0
when i leave car it's 12.0 to 12.4
but on the morning it's dropped -
first number(V) is after open the door and second(V2) after ignition on(with  engine OFF)

Date	WeekDay	V	V2	drop
20.01.21	2	11,8	11,3	0,5
20.01.22	3	12	11,7	0,3
20.01.23	4	12	11,6	0,4
20.01.24	5	11,8	11,6	0,2
20.01.26	7	11,9	11,7	0,2
20.01.26	7	11,7	11,5	0,2
20.01.28	2	11,7	11,4	0,3
20.01.29	3	11,8	11,4	0,4
20.01.30	4	11,7	11,3	0,4
20.01.31	5	11,9	11,4	0,5
20.02.01	6	11,9	11,4	0,5
20.02.02	7	12	11,7	0,3
20.02.03	1	11,9	11,5	0,4
20.02.05	3	11,8	11,4	0,4
20.02.06	4	11,8	11,4	0,4
20.02.07	5	11,8	11,5	0,3
20.02.10	1	11,7	11,3	0,4
20.02.11	2	11,8	11,5	0,3
20.02.12	3	11,9	11,6	0,3

have couple times focused dealer's attention about my car's Start-Stop doesn't work as any other tested wechicle -
during first hour of driving engine has been never stopped,
but when Start-Stop shuts down the engine then only for 20-25 seconds

 

it's 47 months old, but Star-Stop problem came in the first winter

 

code on car sticker:
 J2D = Battery 380A (68 Ah)
on battery:
7P0 915 105
12v 68Ah 380A DIN
680A EN/SAE/GS
VARTA
 AGM
612 880 RA Made in Germany
JCB
BEM Code:
7P0912105
JCB360131V2WJ
*205 JCB3G1V2WJJ*
 

 

[Micky 32]

Yep i have the same AGM battery. I have a conductance tester. My battery when new ( rated 680A ( EN) tested at 770 is amps. I checked a friends Golf with exact same battery but a year older ( 4years) and his still reads 750 A. Mine now reads anything between 577-609 A so there’s definately a decline, compared to other batteries.

Edited 14 February, 2020 by Micky 32

[Clockworks]

Mine seems to be on its way out at 3.5 years old. If I don't drive the car for a week KESSY stops working, as does stop/start. I've had a "12v low" warning message a couple of times, but the car always starts up fine.

[310golfr]

On 13/02/2020 at 17:28, MartiniB said:

interesting what voltage remains after a night?
when engine is on and charging is active then 14.7 to 15.0
when i leave car it's 12.0 to 12.4
but on the morning it's dropped -
first number(V) is after open the door and second(V2) after ignition on(with  engine OFF)

Date	WeekDay	V	V2	drop
20.01.21	2	11,8	11,3	0,5
20.01.22	3	12	11,7	0,3
20.01.23	4	12	11,6	0,4
20.01.24	5	11,8	11,6	0,2
20.01.26	7	11,9	11,7	0,2
20.01.26	7	11,7	11,5	0,2
20.01.28	2	11,7	11,4	0,3
20.01.29	3	11,8	11,4	0,4
20.01.30	4	11,7	11,3	0,4
20.01.31	5	11,9	11,4	0,5
20.02.01	6	11,9	11,4	0,5
20.02.02	7	12	11,7	0,3
20.02.03	1	11,9	11,5	0,4
20.02.05	3	11,8	11,4	0,4
20.02.06	4	11,8	11,4	0,4
20.02.07	5	11,8	11,5	0,3
20.02.10	1	11,7	11,3	0,4
20.02.11	2	11,8	11,5	0,3
20.02.12	3	11,9	11,6	0,3

have couple times focused dealer's attention about my car's Start-Stop doesn't work as any other tested wechicle -
during first hour of driving engine has been never stopped,
but when Start-Stop shuts down the engine then only for 20-25 seconds

 

it's 47 months old, but Star-Stop problem came in the first winter

 

code on car sticker:
 J2D = Battery 380A (68 Ah)
on battery:
7P0 915 105
12v 68Ah 380A DIN
680A EN/SAE/GS
VARTA
 AGM
612 880 RA Made in Germany
JCB
BEM Code:
7P0912105
JCB360131V2WJ
*205 JCB3G1V2WJJ*
 

 

15v when engine running is a bit high, battery water/acid  can start to boil at 15v +

also 11.3v  on a battery is way too low, is the car starting ok at 11.3v ?

are you measuring the voltage across the battery terminals, most cars will struggle to start at 11.3v

 

 

[MartiniB]

measured in the lighter socket,
cheap device from Ali shows +0.1 if compare to values reported by OBDEleven from car computer

 

i can't say there are huge problems with starting engine,
but it's not as quick as before.

 

BUT, this winter is enough considerate cause lowest temperatures were just -5°C
usually we, in Latvia, have at least two weeks under -20°C and few nights even under -30°C

[J.R.]

I have a similar device from Ali-Express, - this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QC-3-0-Motorcycle-Boat-Car-USB-Charger-Socket-LED-Voltmeter-With-ON-OFF-Switch/223336772714?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=522127690917&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

 

And I keep an obsessive eye on it, mine under-reads by 0.2v compared to all my multimeters & battery testers, VCDS also gives a not wholly accurate reading but i use them all as comparators.

 

Your figures with the ignition on look very low to me, I have had battery drain problems in the past hence my obsession with the guage my vehicle will start with 11.6v showing (which is actually 11.8v) but the volt drop from the starter will throw up fault codes.

 

Are you perhaps noting the voltage while the glowplugs are heating?

 

Mine will show similar voltages while the glowplug light is on and I never start the engine till it goes out, in fact i dont look at the glowplug light I watch the voltage display and wait for it to rise back to 12v +/-

 

As I can see my voltage from outside the car the most meaningfull one is before I unlock the door with the remote, the battery will be at rest and only 20mA standby current being drawn, as soon as the door is opened you have volt drop from the interior lights and a significant drop as the canbus starts talking to all the modules, if mine is down to 12v (real figure 12.2v) then I cross my fingers as to whether it will start.

Edited 15 February, 2020 by J.R.

[J.R.]

Mine charges at a displayed 14.2 v sometimes 14.4v so probable corrected figures of 14.4 - 14.6v

 

When I switch off it drops to say 12.7v and within a few minutes down to 12.4v, now I have the parasitic drain within normal limits (change of canbus gateway plus disconnection of towing relay) it will maybe drop 0.1v overnight then remain at that level for a few days before dropping another 0.1v, if I haev opened the doors to get something out then the battery drain is accelerated, cold weather also drops it a bit.

 

My battery despite being under a year old has a lower cell voltage than the predecessor after having tried to start the car when the battery was too far discharged.

 

Its showing 735 CCA against the rated 780 CCA on the tester and says that it has 85% life left, I have never measured a battery that showed more than its rating, there are many different scales like the EN, DIN or JIS, the straight CCA scale always gives a higher reading than the EN one, the CCA of my battery is 780EN, the above figures are using the CCA scale, it shows up lower and with less life left if I use what I think is the correct EN test regime.

 

Like the voltage guage in the car my battery tester I use as a comparator and dont believe the figures as gospel.

[310golfr]

On 13/02/2020 at 02:33, Micky 32 said:

Hi, i don’t own a Superb but a BiTDI Passat ( same platform) and probably uses the same battery.

 

How long are your AGM’s lasting? Mine is exactly 3 years and i think there are signs it’s weakening. One example is after the first cold crank in the morning i find the heating steering wheel switches itself on. On VCDS i have seen SOC drop to 58% and 16ah available intermittently, then it would go back up to 90%, strange behaviour.

battery manufacturers will tell you that agm batteries are better, but lots of people seem to be having problems with them before there even 3 years old.

when you consider this plus the extra cost of agm batteries, i think your better to just buy a good quality standard battery which will likely last longer than 3 years.

After 3 years the car is out of warranty anyway so no issues there,  plus alot of people code there stop start to off  so no need for an agm battery 

[310golfr]

6 hours ago, MartiniB said:

measured in the lighter socket,
cheap device from Ali shows +0.1 if compare to values reported by OBDEleven from car computer

 

i can't say there are huge problems with starting engine,
but it's not as quick as before.

 

BUT, this winter is enough considerate cause lowest temperatures were just -5°C
usually we, in Latvia, have at least two weeks under -20°C and few nights even under -30°C

i prefer to measure across the battery terminals with a good multimeter.

at 11.8v car would probably start but at 11.3v  i doubt it.

if your readings are correct or near enough correct though, i'd say your alternator is over charging and this  is  destroying the battery  😢

[MartiniB]

15 hours ago, J.R. said:

Are you perhaps noting the voltage while the glowplugs are heating?

 

Mine will show similar voltages while the glowplug light is on and I never start the engine till it goes out, in fact i dont look at the glowplug light I watch the voltage display and wait for it to rise back to 12v +/-

TSI don't have this, but during start engine i can see temporary drop to ~8v

 

15 hours ago, J.R. said:

When I switch off it drops to say 12.7v and within a few minutes down to 12.4v

i noticed similar picture, but not in minutes, voltage drop from 12.6v to 12.2v comes within 40 seconds

 

9 hours ago, 310golfr said:

i prefer to measure across the battery terminals with a good multimeter.

can't imagine that manipulations in the morning rush

[Micky 32]

23 hours ago, Clockworks said:

Mine seems to be on its way out at 3.5 years old. If I don't drive the car for a week KESSY stops working, as does stop/start. I've had a "12v low" warning message a couple of times, but the car always starts up fine.

If the car isn’t used for a few days it turns of Kessy anyway, to prevent battery drain. Says it in the manual but you shouldn’t be getting 12v low though.

[J.R.]

9 hours ago, 310golfr said:

i prefer to measure across the battery terminals with a good multimeter.

at 11.8v car would probably start but at 11.3v  i doubt it.

if your readings are correct or near enough correct though, i'd say your alternator is over charging and this  is  destroying the battery  😢

 

MartiniB needs to do this as a priority, once he knows any difference between the battery voltage (use more than one multimeter to be sure) and what his guage is indicating then he can make a mental correction of his readings as I do.

 

However his voltage readings seem too high when charging and too low when ignition on, cranking etc which gives credence to your hypothesis of overcharging and damaged battery although the former may not necessarily be responsable for the latter.

 

8 volts at cranking is very low and indicative of a shagged battery unless you are cranking for a long time.

[mandp]

Each time I look at this title I wonder what `EFB's` are. Can anyone elucidate?

Thank you.

[Micky 32]

47 minutes ago, mandp said:

Each time I look at this title I wonder what `EFB's` are. Can anyone elucidate?

Thank you.

Enhanced flooded battery, the peasant version of AGM ‘s 😉

[MartiniB]

i have opened bonnet -
11.68v directly on + and -
11.8v on lighter socket device

 

turned engine on -
14.78v directly on + and -
15.0v on lighter socket device
14.9v by car computer

 

[Clockworks]

On 16/02/2020 at 10:56, Micky 32 said:

If the car isn’t used for a few days it turns of Kessy anyway, to prevent battery drain. Says it in the manual but you shouldn’t be getting 12v low though.

 

I took my car for a fairly long drive yesterday (160 miles round trip) after being parked for a few days. As usual, KESSY wouldn't unlock the car, but no problems starting, and no warning messages.

 

After nearly 2 hours of A-road driving, I got into Plymouth and had to stop at a few traffic lights. Stop/start didn't work - symbol on the dash had a line through it.

When I parked, KESSY wouldn't lock the car.

 

I set off back home 2 hours later, and KESSY unlocked the car OK, but stop/start still wouldn't work as I queued in traffic to get back onto the main road.

 

50 miles and an hour later, stuck in rush hour traffic, and stop/start still not working. It finally started working at the last roundabout before I got home - over 150 miles and nearly 4 hours of driving.

 

Time for a new battery I think?

[Micky 32]

10 minutes ago, Clockworks said:

 

I took my car for a fairly long drive yesterday (160 miles round trip) after being parked for a few days. As usual, KESSY wouldn't unlock the car, but no problems starting, and no warning messages.

 

After nearly 2 hours of A-road driving, I got into Plymouth and had to stop at a few traffic lights. Stop/start didn't work - symbol on the dash had a line through it.

When I parked, KESSY wouldn't lock the car.

 

I set off back home 2 hours later, and KESSY unlocked the car OK, but stop/start still wouldn't work as I queued in traffic to get back onto the main road.

 

50 miles and an hour later, stuck in rush hour traffic, and stop/start still not working. It finally started working at the last roundabout before I got home - over 150 miles and nearly 4 hours of driving.

 

Time for a new battery I think?

Next time start stop doesn’t work check what the start stop status is on the radio display,

 

[Clockworks]

18 hours ago, Micky 32 said:

Next time start stop doesn’t work check what the start stop status is on the radio display,

 

I didn't know that there was a status screen for stop/start.  Any clues on where to find it please?

 

Edited 19 February, 2020 by Clockworks

[Micky 32]

Press “ car “ on your radio/sat nav until you see vehicle status. On the bottom of screen you’ll see start stop tab and touch it. It will display why start stop is not working. If you’re having battery issues you’ll probably see something like “ power consumption is high”

[Micky 32]

On 16/02/2020 at 16:57, MartiniB said:

i have opened bonnet -
11.68v directly on + and -
11.8v on lighter socket device

 

turned engine on -
14.78v directly on + and -
15.0v on lighter socket device
14.9v by car computer

 

If your battery is reading 11.6 with no real load on it means one of 3 things. Your alternator not charging correctly, battery is run down and needs charging or your battery is fecked!

[Clockworks]

90 mile round trip today. Car had been sitting for 4 days, KESSY unlocked the car with no problems.

I found the "start/stop status" screen, and had that showing as I set off.

 

Initially, I had 3 messages showing what was disabling stop/start:

 

Power consumption too high

Not up to operating temperature

Interior temp too low

 

The last 2 went off within a couple of miles as the engine and interior warmed up, but the first one stayed on for 40 miles (over an hour of driving).

Presumably it's a bad translation of poor battery charge status, rather than excessive discharge rate?

I didn't have the heated seats or screen heaters on, lights were on auto (DRL only), AC off and fan set to low, no wipers, etc.

 

On the return journey, stop/start worked perfectly, and no warning messages