Hi Guys, it seems my 64 1.6 TDI DSG  with stop start needs a new battery. Leaving it a few days almost makes it impossible to crank over. I use my neighbours charger for half an hour to give it some power to get it going. Using a multimeter with the engine off I get around 12.3v. When I start the motor it goes down to 8v and then back up to over 14v. These are all very vague numbers as I did this a few days ago and didn't write them down. 

So I spoke to my local independent vag garage and because it is replacing a varta AGM battery like for like it was coming in at just under £250!!! Hopefully this would include any VCDS changes needed. 

 

I have seen halfrauds do a similar AGM battery (https://www.halfords.com/motoring/batteries/car-batteries/halfords--096agm-start%2Fstop-agm-12v-car-battery-5-year-guarantee-548638.html) for £159, but I believe I need to find someone with VCDS to reprogramme and make changes. Is that correct?

I do have an old laptop with VCDS and an OBD cable from my golf gti MK4 days. Could this work??

 

Is the Varta £250 option the best one??

 

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Cheers

 

Nick

 

Try using your neighbour's charger for a whole day, or longer, if it is a relatively modern, small thing (pic?)  Half an hour's charging is not nearly enough. Personally I wouldn't want to fit a new battery to a car at the moment (while lockdown lasts) unless completely unavoidable; because from lack of use, a new battery could be permanently damaged within weeks of fitment by loss of charge.

 

Unfortunately your old VCDS set-up from that era isn't likely to be able to do the job.  

 

 

I've used tayna.co.uk before, they were very good and really well priced.

8 minutes ago, pist0nbr0ke said:

I've used tayna.co.uk before, they were very good and really well priced.

+1

 

I've got the replacement batteries for both my previous cars from tayna, been happy both times.

Edited 17 April, 20206 yr by PetrolDave

48 minutes ago, Moosekat said:

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. 

 

THIS is what I put on mine, used a few of them now and have absolutely no issues. Delivery from TAYNA was good but obviously things are a bit different now.

 

It is the best Varta out there and a lot less than £250

 

Car may just need a good charge though

 

4 minutes ago, Wino said:

Try using your neighbour's charger for a whole day, or longer, if it is a relatively modern, small thing (pic?)  Half an hour's charging is not nearly enough.

 

Yes, overnight at least, preferably with a modern 'smart' charger

 

53 minutes ago, Moosekat said:

I do have an old laptop with VCDS and an OBD cable from my golf gti MK4 days. Could this work??

 

I Doubt it. you would need a newer cable and up to date VCDS

 

5 minutes ago, Wino said:

because from lack of use, a new battery could be permanently damaged within weeks of fitment by loss of charge.

 

A good battery like a 096 size Varta will cope with it, I have more vehicles than chargers and my Octy has been neglected for weeks, but the battery has a Ctek battery sense monitor and it has been fine.

 

But as you say, charge the old one first and see.

Thanks guys. The charger is a really old beast, but did not want to kill the battery by leaving it plugged in all day. Will borrow it again and give it all day.

When I charged it before I attached the red clip to positive, unclipped the cars black terminal to the battery and attached the chargers black clip to the chassis. This time can I leave the cars black terminal attached to the battery?

Just now, Moosekat said:

 This time can I leave the cars black terminal attached to the battery?

Always connect the black clip to the chassis - otherwise the battery management system will get all confused.

1 minute ago, PetrolDave said:

Always connect the black clip to the chassis - otherwise the battery management system will get all confused.

Sorry I meant lead not terminal

Try buying a ctek or similar smart charger and just using the agm programme.

 

do it once every couple of weeks.

If you do need a new battery I too wouldn’t fit it yet. Although if you have a garage I might buy it and keep it on the side as demand will be high after this.

Edited 17 April, 20206 yr by cheezemonkhai

Thanks for everything guys. 

I think I am going to get the Varta from Tayna, which looks great. My only issue is reprogramming my Octavia for the new battery. Does not seem to be anyone near me (Maidstone) with VCDS.  Anyway I have a pic of the battery in my car at the moment to make sure I am replacing it with the right one. 

What are the downsides of not reprogramming the car when installing a new battery??

16 minutes ago, Moosekat said:

When I charged it before I attached the red clip to positive, unclipped the cars black terminal to the battery and attached the chargers black clip to the chassis. This time can I leave the cars black terminal attached to the battery?

 

If I'm reading that right, you didn't charge the battery at all that way, because nothing (neither charger lead, nor battery clamp) was connected to the battery negative post?

No it was attached to the chassis, where there is a specific part to attach a charger lead or jump starter lead. 

 

Was just following orders 🙂

Edited 17 April, 20206 yr by Moosekat

Sure, but you said you took the negative lead off the battery too? Or did you mean something else?

3 minutes ago, Wino said:

Sure, but you said you took the negative lead off the battery too? Or did you mean something else?

No. I totally see what you mean. There was nothing attached to the negative terminal , but it still somehow charged the battery though, as before it would not start, and after half an hour it started instantly. 

I am now really confused. 

Yes - there is a whole list of people who have VCDS systems.

 

Luckily - we have the BIG boss of Briskoda - Gismo - who lives in Kent and has a VCDS.  Send him a PM and he might be able to assist.

 

 

Edited 17 April, 20206 yr by varaderoguy

5 minutes ago, Moosekat said:

still somehow charged the battery though

Not possible.  Needs both leads connected or there is no circuit that includes the battery.

5 minutes ago, Wino said:

Not possible.  Needs both leads connected or there is no circuit that includes the battery.

Must of had it connected then 😄😄😄

Ross-tech have also produced a very helpful YouTube video for what is needed.

 

 

 

Honestly, give it a long charge and if you insist on buying a battery, just don’t fit it yet as it’ll be dead as a doorknob too without any miles for the next month?

 

I have the same battery and charge it every 2 weeks with a smart charger. It’s shows as pretty low (but not flat) state of charge after just two weeks.

 

30 minutes on a home charger will have no effect on a truly flat battery. If it starts after 30 minutes, then it’s likely too low to start but not dead.

 

When it won’t start, does the dash still light up and radio work?

 

As for if you don’t code it, sub optimal charging and potentially the charge management system will let it get too low before allowing charge in. Probably others too, but the world won’t explode 😂

 

 

Can I add that I still have a  Hex-Can vcds and it can read my 2016 plate module 19 Can Gateway adaptions for battery coding. So you don't necessarily need the very latest cable. 

3 hours ago, paulski said:

Can I add that I still have a  Hex-Can vcds and it can read my 2016 plate module 19 Can Gateway adaptions for battery coding. So you don't necessarily need the very latest cable. 

From 2019 models you DO need either a HEX-V2 or a HEX-NET cable though.

Firstly, agree with the above, charge the battery first.

You can't charge a battery without connecting to both terminals or having something connected at least so what you may have seen is a recovery in the static voltage as the current had stopped and maybe the temp happened to be higher.  

 

Second, my Yuasa AGM cost me £126 a few weeks back.  

 

Thirdly, if it does need changing it'll only kill the battery of you let it drain and start drained.  You can just charge it every now and then.  Mine was completely useless after 2 weeks and if I needed to use the car that's not helpful so I changed it out and I'll just keep and eye on it and charge of I need to.  It's covered by a warranty anyway.

Aldi have modern chargers for sale less than £12.
You need this type to charge an AGM battery it has to be charged slowly with minimal amps

an old charger will probably damage the battery 

if you are not using the car could you fit any old battery and leave it on charge. Not AGM. Everybody has old batteries in the shed/garage for emergencies 🤞

3 hours ago, mar-mite said:

Aldi have modern chargers for sale less than £12.
You need this type to charge an AGM battery it has to be charged slowly with minimal amps

an old charger will probably damage the battery 

if you are not using the car could you fit any old battery and leave it on charge. Not AGM. Everybody has old batteries in the shed/garage for emergencies 🤞

 

So I've read, however not according to the CTEC manual.

I got a ctec mxs 5.0 like many others have, as it's generally regarded as the go-to charger and is sold as an OEM ones for many cars.

However the charging profiles look like this.

The only difference I can see is that the AGM battery charges 0.3v higher, but with the same current.

 

 

Not saying the smart charger isn't worth it though as clearly it does have current control and a cycle.

That said, many chargers from 20 years ago so had a trickle charge. 

 

 

I think the main advantage is that newer charges detect the type of battery and charge accordingly older chargers generally don’t have the functions as AGM batteries didn’t exist.