Can someone please help me? I'm a 60 year old woman with very few car skills. My 30 year old son has even less skills than me.

I bought my Skoda with my teachers' pension lump sum in 2016. I thought it was my dream car.

I've had to jump start the car so many times!!!

 

I've changed the battery twice. Most recently I had one fitted at Halfords earlier this year.

There is obviously something draining the battery - how do I find out what it is??

 

It wouldn't start in May so I bought some better, heavy duty jump leads. They didn't start it.

My son thinks it might not jump because his car engine is smaller than mine - any chance this is true?

 

I've seen on this forum about reversing camera draining the battery, but I haven't got a camera on mine, just a sensor. 

 

I am at my wits end. I am sick to death of the car not starting. Can anyone please help? 

My immediate reaction is to suggest that the battery may not be charging properly...  since you've had a new battery fitted recently you need to get the alternator checked out.

Also look out for non standard Skoda extras fitted such as a non standard Skoda radio or dash cam?

Not got a dash cam and I'm fairly sure it's a Skoda radio.

 

I've looked up about testing the alternator. I will need to get the car running to take one of the battery terminals off :(

First thing we need to know is exactly what Yeti you have bought, (engine size, registration year, manual or auto) and what types of journeys you are doing.

Worth noting that at the moment lots of people are having battery problems due to not using their cars.
Frankly I wouldn't trust Halfords to touch a child's scooter. You are much better using a proper mechanic or auto-electrician. The latter I suspect will be the best option so they can trace and test for any problems.

Which part of Brum are you in? I have a friend with a garage in Solihull you may be able to recommend someone.

1 minute ago, BirminghamAnn said:

I've looked up about testing the alternator. I will need to get the car running to take one of the battery terminals off 😞

NO!!
Do NOT let the engine run with the alternator not connected to the battery!! That risks damaging the alternator.

It's a 2014 posh one. Almost 2 litres I think, with the sliding roof and leather seats.  Shame I can't drive it! 

I don't do long journeys, but surely a new battery should be ok??

I live in Bearwood. On the west of the City. Used to teach at the college in Solihull. It's a bit of a distance from me now.

I know what you mean about Halfords......I've had a fog light sign lit up on my dashboard since the day they fitted the new battery! 

 

How many miles has the car done since the lockdown and over how many driving cycles?

 

By that I mean for example the car has done 200 miles, 10 trips of 10 miles to the supermarket and 10 miles back.

 

Even a new battery will have lost its charge over that period if the car has not been used enough and for long enough journeys to put back what was taken out to start it and replace what had discharged while it was sitting.

 

Your expectation of a new battery not losing charge over an extended period would have been valid on older generation vehicles.

 

If your response to the above question shows that the car is being driven more than enough then there will be a parasitic drain or charging problem to diagnose and given your circumstances I would agree with Llanigraham that you need to find a decent garage to do the testingg.

I used to be a rep for a garage supplies company in Brum so know the area, and used to have a garage customer in Bearwood. Unfortunately they have now closed.

I presume you have checked that you haven't accidentally left the rear fog light on? If not this sounds like there could be a problem and the best person to look at that will be an auto-electrician. I can ask my friend if he knows anyone, if you like.

And I'm sorry to say this, but if you have bought a diesel and are only doing short journeys you are potentially heading towards problems. Modern diesels do not like journeys like that and get clogged up.


 

I haven't done many miles since the lockdown.

It didn't start in May, not even with a jump.  My son took the battery out, and charged it in the house.  It started first time when put back into the car.

That's when I bought the better jump leads, but it won't jump last weekend.

My son is reluctant to charge the battery again as he says it's difficult to get the battery out.

He thinks it might jump if he revs his car for longer (a Skoda Roomster) - is this likely?

 

The thing is - other peoples' cars start after being left for a while. My son uses his car less than I use mine, and it starts first time every time. 

1 minute ago, Llanigraham said:

I used to be a rep for a garage supplies company in Brum so know the area, and used to have a garage customer in Bearwood. Unfortunately they have now closed.

I presume you have checked that you haven't accidentally left the rear fog light on? If not this sounds like there could be a problem and the best person to look at that will be an auto-electrician. I can ask my friend if he knows anyone, if you like.

And I'm sorry to say this, but if you have bought a diesel and are only doing short journeys you are potentially heading towards problems. Modern diesels do not like journeys like that and get clogged up.


 

I've just worked out how to answer points! 

How can I check if I've left my light on? I thought they were automatic?

To be honest I'm hanging on for the class action money, and will swap my Yeti in like a shot. 

3 minutes ago, BirminghamAnn said:

How can I check if I've left my light on? I thought they were automatic?

To be honest I'm hanging on for the class action money, and will swap my Yeti in like a shot. 

 

Exactly which light is showing on the dash?
Fog lights have never been automatic.
The only "automatic" lights are the side and headlights, and I'm not sure whether they were fitted to a Yeti of that year.
Fog lights are switched on by pulling the switch out when it positioned for the side or headlights. If you have an "auto" setting on your switch then it has to be moved away from that setting to the side light setting to turn the fog lights on.

56 minutes ago, BirminghamAnn said:

My son is reluctant to charge the battery again as he says it's difficult to get the battery out.

 

Ah that might be part of the problem, you need to get a better son.

 

This is a long shot, but has anyone put an OBD2 dongle into the OBD socket under the dash?

 

I spent ages trying to diagnose the battery drain on my Yeti and it ended up being the dongle that I'd attached to help me track down the problem...

1 hour ago, Gyp said:

 

Ah that might be part of the problem, you need to get a better son.

 

 

 

I thought it, you said it

1 hour ago, Gyp said:

 

Ah that might be part of the problem, you need to get a better son.

 

This is a long shot, but has anyone put an OBD2 dongle into the OBD socket under the dash?

 

I spent ages trying to diagnose the battery drain on my Yeti and it ended up being the dongle that I'd attached to help me track down the problem...

 

Ha Ha. You offering?

No. I'm pretty sure there's no dongle in there, but to be fair I've no idea what an OBD socket looks like.

27 minutes ago, BirminghamAnn said:

 

Ha Ha. You offering?

No. I'm pretty sure there's no dongle in there, but to be fair I've no idea what an OBD socket looks like.

 

I'll pack a bag!

 

I can't find a picture of a right hand drive Yeti, but here's a youtube video of a left hand drive one. It's the blue multi pin socket

 

 

The RHD one is pretty much a mirror image, so the socket is on the same position but on the right.

 

I know it's unlikely, but if there's anything plugged into it, unplug it!

 

Another thing you can do is make sure all the interior lights are turned off, to the switch position that means they do not come on when you open the doors.  This includes the two in the rear.  Leave them off for a few weeks to see if that improves things.  (Turn them on if you need them, but off again afterwards.)

 

I don't think anyone else has said this, but unless your mileage is tiny each journey, something is faulty.  What puzzles me most is your comment that it is not now even jump-starting.  Is the starter motor not operating, or the engine not catching?  Even if the other car battery is a bit smaller, as long as it is decently charged, it should be able to start your Yeti as a one-off.

7 minutes ago, Zib said:

Another thing you can do is make sure all the interior lights are turned off, to the switch position that means they do not come on when you open the doors.  This includes the two in the rear.  Leave them off for a few weeks to see if that improves things.  (Turn them on if you need them, but off again afterwards.)

 

I don't think anyone else has said this, but unless your mileage is tiny each journey, something is faulty.  What puzzles me most is your comment that it is not now even jump-starting.  Is the starter motor not operating, or the engine not catching?  Even if the other car battery is a bit smaller, as long as it is decently charged, it should be able to start your Yeti as a one-off.

No, it's not even trying to start. The lights on the display just flicker. 

38 minutes ago, Gyp said:

 

I'll pack a bag!

 

I can't find a picture of a right hand drive Yeti, but here's a youtube video of a left hand drive one. It's the blue multi pin socket

 

 

The RHD one is pretty much a mirror image, so the socket is on the same position but on the right.

 

I know it's unlikely, but if there's anything plugged into it, unplug it!

 

Definitely nothing plugged in there.

3 hours ago, Llanigraham said:

 

Exactly which light is showing on the dash?
Fog lights have never been automatic.
The only "automatic" lights are the side and headlights, and I'm not sure whether they were fitted to a Yeti of that year.
Fog lights are switched on by pulling the switch out when it positioned for the side or headlights. If you have an "auto" setting on your switch then it has to be moved away from that setting to the side light setting to turn the fog lights on.

 

1 minute ago, BirminghamAnn said:

No, it's not even trying to start. The lights on the display just flicker. 

Definitely nothing plugged in there.

 

The car says 'check left fog light - when it's working.

3 minutes ago, BirminghamAnn said:

No, it's not even trying to start. The lights on the display just flicker. 

Definitely nothing plugged in there.

 

That implies to me that the battery is dead.  But the question is why.

I must say I really appreciate you lovely people trying to help me.

 

Just to add a proverbial 'spanner in the works', I've had about 5 episodes since I bought the car, when the passenger door won't close and shut.

i.e. when driving along, the passenger has to hold it shut. (!!) It eventually sorts itself out and will shut properly.

 

Not sure if it's connected, but it all smacks of dodgy wiring to me.

 

What sort of money am I looking at to get an auto electrician to sort it out? Is it ok to have one that 'comes to the door'?

17 minutes ago, BirminghamAnn said:

I must say I really appreciate you lovely people trying to help me.

 

Just to add a proverbial 'spanner in the works', I've had about 5 episodes since I bought the car, when the passenger door won't close and shut.

i.e. when driving along, the passenger has to hold it shut. (!!) It eventually sorts itself out and will shut properly.

 

Not sure if it's connected, but it all smacks of dodgy wiring to me.

 

What sort of money am I looking at to get an auto electrician to sort it out? Is it ok to have one that 'comes to the door'?

 

Shame you didn't tell us this at the start but I suspect that is where your "problem" arises.
I suspect that the wiring between the door and the pillar has breaks in it and these are "earthing" and flattening the battery. This is a problem that has occurred with the drivers door on some models. There is a new extended loom available from the dealers, but it can also be repaired by soldering new longer wires in place. For that you will probably need someone who knows what they are doing.

Cost: how long is a piece of string? All you can do is ring and ask them. 

2 minutes ago, Llanigraham said:

 

Shame you didn't tell us this at the start but I suspect that is where your "problem" arises.
I suspect that the wiring between the door and the pillar has breaks in it and these are "earthing" and flattening the battery. This is a problem that has occurred with the drivers door on some models. There is a new extended loom available from the dealers, but it can also be repaired by soldering new longer wires in place. For that you will probably need someone who knows what they are doing.

Cost: how long is a piece of string? All you can do is ring and ask them. 

 

Thank you. That gives me something to say when I ring them.  I did laugh when you said about the 'loom'. All I could think of was the kind you make a rug on