4 hours ago, nta16 said:

As winter is approaching I've been thinking of doing a general warning thread about the battery but don't know where it'd go as it cover most models now.

Battery issues were already bad for VAG due to most Korraq's and some Kodiaks needing new batteries under warranty (2019). Supply has never really recovered. I had to replace a battery on a 2017 VRS and that set me back £250.

 

To that end, a trickle charger is a good idea. I personally recommend an ODBC charger to plug into your ODBC2 port to keep the battery happy.

Your battery is a year old under warranty. Get it checked out.

0345 thought here....

 

You don't have something like a dash cam wired in do you? If it's wired into permanent live then your battery will be constantly draining. Suggest a rewire to switched live (from rear windscreen wiper fuse)....

@nta16

In the General Automotive Chat section there are pinned threads on preparing for winter.

Or maybe for a General Thread warning on battery conditions across Skoda models the 'General Maintenance' section would be a good place for a thread if there is not already one sitting waiting to be revived.

On 05/10/2021 at 11:45, nta16 said:

Tayna - 096 AGM CAR BATTERIES - https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/types/096-agm/

 

ETA: I've just remembered, when I bought my battery in June there was apparently a shortage and the price was £9 higher than now (from Tayna).

 

What are the chances of a battery shortage at the second cold snap of this autumn/winter?

 

 

I guess it depends on how cold the winter is going to be, the current availability is very good.

 

There was a lot of demand earlier in the year, people had been working from home or furloughed resulting in a lot of cars sat with draining batteries.

The industry knew the demand would be there once the restrictions lifted, once one or two suppliers lift pricing.. others follow.

 

I know there was a bit of a dip in availability as manufacturers struggled to fulfil orders quickly, lead times almost doubled.. i guess reduced staffing/production rates during the pandemic was a huge factor.

 

Good points MATT0693.

There are shortages or long lead times on many items now for various and combined reasons and I think it might go on for a while.  I was more thinking of the annual milder short supply on the shelves as the weather here is so unpredictable (forecastable) as regards exact timings, extremes and location, severe frost in one county and mild in its neighbours.

As my (self inflicted) purchase was, a car battery is often a "distress" or quick need purchase at that time rather than a considered and timely purchase so you're often in with the herd purchasing leading sometimes to less choice or availability.