Hi

 

My Mk2 is well overdue a new battery, I think it may be the original and it’s an 11 plate! 
 

I was looking on good old EuroCarParts and they’ve suggested a range of batteries, but when I start putting in specifics I get only one, in theory can I upgrade from the standard? 
 

What have other people done? 

Photo attached is the current battery. 

Hi Tom,I just replaced mine with one that had more amps than the standard one,,Halfords..no doupt someone will tell you all the tech stuff from this site...

The biggest one to fit in an Octavia 2 is type 096 or type 100. Diesel especially get the largest capacity AH and CCA, you can such as below. 
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171524178659?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=skXrc9TbReq&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=45o-tdWCRea&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

I have purchased one recently from them for my S2 and used ABS batteries before. I also got a discount against the auction of about £6 bringing cost down to about £75 delivered. At the moment next day delivery would be Tuesday/Wednesday. 
 

Tanya batteries is also a forum favourite they have a dedicated website plus eBay listings for things like a Varta E44 if you want a branded product. Think they deliver even on Saturdays. Please double check. 

Fitting is simple. You need a 8 or 10 mm spanner for the nuts on the battery posts. And I think a 13mm long reach socket for the battery securing bolt and plate. About halfway across the width of the battery down the gap to the left of the battery in your picture. When removing the battery the plastic casing can be unclipped as it’s in 2 parts. I have not had to do that myself as i did a swap on my Octavia 2 yesterday for a used battery to tide me over. Sometimes when lifting the old battery out, it catches in the wing end so you need to angle it a little or slide it left towards the engine just to get it to clear the retainer in the battery tray(best explanation I could think of )

The warning lights will all extinguish except the steering light until you actually drive to extinguish that one. You will lose the miles since last fill on the dash. Radios not usually an issue as coded to the car. This is all from my experience on Octy 2005 and Superb 2011. 

If it performs well why replace it?

2 hours ago, MasterTom said:

Hi

 

My Mk2 is well overdue a new battery, I think it may be the original and it’s an 11 plate! 

Yes that has the markings of an orignal battery.

 

 

These are the direct drop in size for your car (as you have a shroud around the outside it appears)

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/types/027/

 

You have currently a 60Ah and 480CCA rating, you will want to make sure you exceed both values or match.

There is a Varta D24 a 60Ah with 540CCA that I would fit as minimum

Then you have a Varta D15 a 63Ah with 610CCA, as you can see it has more power

You have also the Bosch S5 005 made in the same factory as Varta (out of stock on Tanya)

2 hours ago, gav_is_con said:

The biggest one to fit in an Octavia 2 is type 096 or type 100. Diesel especially get the largest capacity AH and CCA, you can such as below. 

Does the plastic tray that surrounds the OP's battery expand (it looks like it has some room to slide open bigger?)

23 minutes ago, varooom said:

Does the plastic tray that surrounds the OP's battery expand (it looks like it has some room to slide open bigger?)

That one looks different to my one on the Octavia. The superb has a cloth jacket as opposed to plastic. The Octavia one separates mid way half way down the battery on both sides. The 096/100 are quite large batteries and they fit nice and snug with the casing/covering. 278x175mm approx I think will fit here but I am pre-fl octy. There are plenty of posts on this here I’m sure. 

1 minute ago, gav_is_con said:

That one looks different to my one on the Octavia. The superb has a cloth jacket as opposed to plastic. The Octavia one separates mid way half way down the battery on both sides. The 096/100 are quite large batteries and they fit nice and snug with the casing/covering. 278x175mm approx I think will fit here but I am pre-fl octy. There are plenty of posts on this here I’m sure. 

It's what I was getting worried about when you suggested 096 size, as I was not sure if the OP's shroud would be able to cover the new size.  I guess worse case scenario would be to change this, as you say probably already exists a post somewhere. 🤝

On my Yeti an 096 battery fitted but the felt shroud would not fit back around, the best compromise looked like Alexis Sales jacket 🤣

 

I fitted a plastic battery cover and lid from an Octavia 2 which is a snug fit around an 096 battery and makes the engine bay look far more "finished" its an interchangeable fit on any PQ35 platform vehicle battery tray.

4 minutes ago, J.R. said:

On my Yeti an 096 battery fitted but the felt shroud would not fit back around, the best compromise looked like Alexis Sales jacket 🤣

 

I fitted a plastic battery cover and lid from an Octavia 2 which is a snug fit around an 096 battery and makes the engine bay look far more "finished" its an interchangeable fit on any PQ35 platform vehicle battery tray.

Hopefully not an AGM, as they need that felt (fibreglass) surround as AGM's don't like heat and it shortens the lifespan.

 

I like the look of a hard plastic case mind you, just beware of the battery type fitted.

It probably is I think its a Bosch Blue, the more expensive series, same I think as the Varta silver, the plastic case is probably giving more insulation that the felt with a gap round the side and no cover at the top although maybe that is to allow the charging heat to dissipate.

3 minutes ago, J.R. said:

It probably is I think its a Bosch Blue, the more expensive series, same I think as the Varta silver, the plastic case is probably giving more insulation that the felt with a gap round the side and no cover at the top although maybe that is to allow the charging heat to dissipate.

Maybe you can chop the existing one and have the battery side that faces the engine fully covered, and the gap away from the engine side?

 

If you do decide to fit the correct size felt, this is part number for my Octavia 096 size 5Q0 915 411 H, no doubt found on the many auction sites.

No way would that tatty thing ever find its way under the bonnet again, even when my battery dies from overheating I will still be able to stare lovingly at the plastic box and cover 😆

 

Thanks for the part number, I will consider it if the battery fails prematurely, it has already survived some 44°c days this summer.

 

Nothing (almost) can any longer be found on the many auction sites now that I am permanently in France I'm afraid, it's back to begging at main dealers that don't even have parts people any more, oh for a TPS! but only in my dreams

Edited 30 December, 20223 yr by J.R.

24 minutes ago, J.R. said:

No way would that tatty thing ever find its way under the bonnet again, even when my battery dies from overheating I will still be able to stare lovingly at the plastic box and cover 😆

Granted they are fugly as anything.

 

Thankfully AGM's are quite tough, just probably yours might not last as long, but they happily prove us wrong all the time.

 

You do some long journeys, so I suspect yours will be healthy as a horse.

When I originally got mine (petrol), the previous cheapskate owner had fitted a Halfords-branded 42 AH thing. This had a two year guarantee and predictably outlasted the guarantee period by about five minutes and was generally marginal.

 

I looked at the Tayna (so spelt!) website, and they had a Varta 60 Ah number with a longer guarantee than the Halfords inadequate thing, delivered, for less money. Not a difficult decision to make.

 

One warning about battery fitting is that they are not lightweight items, and if it is possible to have a mate around when fitting, that can be helpful.

 

Generally, Varta and Bosch offer very similar products, but the Varta item is usually slightly cheaper. I'd have also considered Yuasa, but they didn't really have a competitive option when I looked. 

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

Small point but presently the positive battery post clamp has been overtightened and squashed and sits high on the battery post, easily sorted next time it's disconnected and reconnected.  And perhaps the battery cover is upside down(?). 

 

Edited 30 December, 20223 yr by nta16
ETA: Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

I've just replaced mine (for the second time, the last one only lasted 4 years).

 

A few pointers.

 

You don't need to keep power on the car (by using jump leads etc.), its easy enough to get everything going again (and my second one had died completely anyway).

 

Take of the front half of the screen around the battery, it makes things a lot easier.

Disconnect the negative terminal first, it avoids accidentally shorting the positive terminal to the body with your spanner and creating sparks. Needs a 10mm spanner.

Remove the securing bolt (buried under the tubing on the inboard side) with a 13mm spanner.  Note that this bolt isn't vertical, the head is tilted inwards.

You have to ease the battery inwards (towards where the bolt was) to unhook it from the tray.

Whilst the battery is out, make sure the securing bolt can be done up with your fingers (you'll see why later).

I transferred the cardboard sleeve from the old battery to the new battery.

Put the new battery in, tucking the lip at the bottom into the outside edge of the tray.

Replace the securing bracket and bolt using your fingers - if you use a socket at this point you risk cross threading the bolt as the head doesn't line up with the gap beside the battery.  Once it is more is less tight you can finish it off with a socket.

Replace the front half of the screen.

Attach the positive terminal and then the negative terminal.  At this point the hazard flashers will start flashing, just use the 'remote' to 'unlock' the car to stop them.

Replace the cover and start the engine.

The steering warning bulb will be lit - when you first drive the car perform a full left and full right lock and then it will go out.

The 'one shot' electric window control won't work.  For each window hold the control to run the window all the way down and then all the way up.  Then the 'one shot' will work again.

 

Both batteries I've fitted weren't fully charged when I got them - either top it up with a charger first or be prepared to take the car for a run when you've done the job.

P.S.  make sure and remove the vent blocking plug from the new battery before you install it.

I have not seen a new battery with a vent plug for about 15 years, they now use a sort of matrix gallery construction, bad description but you would have to chisel one apart to see what I mean!

11 minutes ago, J.R. said:

I have not seen a new battery with a vent plug for about 15 years, they now use a sort of matrix gallery construction, bad description but you would have to chisel one apart to see what I mean!

IIRC, all 'sealed for life' lead-acid vehicle batteries are valve regulated (VRLA) type now - they are designed to vent through the valve if abused.   

21 minutes ago, J.R. said:

I have not seen a new battery with a vent plug for about 15 years, they now use a sort of matrix gallery construction, bad description but you would have to chisel one apart to see what I mean!

The battery I bought yesterday from Halfords had one, the one I bought online just after lockdown for my Triumph Stag also had one.

Google and find SSP504, then you will be able to see the VRLA, and on next page the labyrinth for wet batteries.

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

42 minutes ago, avi4tor said:

The battery I bought yesterday from Halfords

Is this why the the bolt holding the securing foot / bar clamp was at an angle (or perhaps a different physical size replacement battery from factory original).

 

I found Halfords have a different battery number than Tayna for two Kias and an old Merc I've put batteries back into.  With the Merc not only was the number different but the Halford battery had a second layer of plastic clamping foot bar on it which my neighbour didn't want me to remove so I spent 20 minutes getting the clamp to just about fit and securing bolt at an angle.  First of the two Kias I used some texted rubber strip held on by bluetac (which is extremely strong but easy to remove) to pad out the gap to stop battery movement, on the second someone had already used some square rubber tubing that was effective for the purpose.  Both Kias were Picantos but three years apart both with Halfords batteries which I guess were replacement sizes for the original factory ones.  (36ah 330 CCA!  and last for many years.)

 

Do you know why you only got 4 years out of your previous battery?

 

Edited 5 January, 20233 yr by nta16
spelling

45 minutes ago, varooom said:

Google and find SSP504, then you will be able to see the VRLA, and on next page the labyrinth for wet batteries.

 

Labrinth, that was the word which evaded me!