Battery keeps going flat

[mccririck]

I have a 2020 Octavia diesel and recently the battery keeps going flat unexpectedly. It's done about 42,000 miles. Sometimes it starts fine and other times I can leave the car for a short time and come back and it won't start. I've been using a battery powered jump starter which gets it going but it's really annoying.

I'm having to make sure the radio is off and there's nothing plugged in to the USB or 12V sockets if I'm sitting in the car with the engine off.

When out driving the stop start is still working fine which makes it seem even odder.

 

Has anyone else experienced this or does anyone know what could be wrong? I'm thinking there could be a wiring fault.

[Carlston]

1 hour ago, mccririck said:

I have a 2020 Octavia diesel and recently the battery keeps going flat unexpectedly. It's done about 42,000 miles. Sometimes it starts fine and other times I can leave the car for a short time and come back and it won't start. I've been using a battery powered jump starter which gets it going but it's really annoying.

I'm having to make sure the radio is off and there's nothing plugged in to the USB or 12V sockets if I'm sitting in the car with the engine off.

When out driving the stop start is still working fine which makes it seem even odder.

 

Has anyone else experienced this or does anyone know what could be wrong? I'm thinking there could be a wiring fault.

 

Have you checked the battery voltage after charging it and leaving it overnight?

 

If you don't have a multimeter to measure the battery voltage, you could use something like these.

 

These two items could also be useful to keep an eye on the battery voltage when charging it with a battery charger.

 

search "LED car voltmeter cigarette lighter" to find on ebay, etc.

search "car cigarette lighter female socket battery alligator clip" to find on ebay, etc.

 

 

Edited 13 February, 2023 by Carlston

[mccririck]

No I haven't checked using a multimeter. However isn't the car supposed to flash up a warning on the dash when the battery level is low?

[Carlston]

17 minutes ago, mccririck said:

No I haven't checked using a multimeter. However isn't the car supposed to flash up a warning on the dash when the battery level is low?

 

The purpose of checking the battery voltage is to see if the battery has a bad cell.

 

You can check for a bad cell by fully charging the battery and leaving it overnight (perhaps at least 8 hours) and then checking the battery voltage. If after about 8 hours the voltage has dropped to a low level, such as below 12.2V, you probably need a new battery.

 

Although, it's best to perform the test with the battery disconnected (such as disconnecting the negative terminal) in case there's a parasitic drain, such as a radio gone bad and causing the battery to drain quickly.

 

Although your car is 2020, it's well know that Skoda don't use good quality and expensive AGM stop-start batteries, but a cheaper EFB battery.

 

The cheaper EFB battery doesn't last long, so you may need a new battery.

 

Usually battery problems turn out to be a battery with a cell that's gone bad, and the battery simply needing replacing.

 

If you do get a new stop-start battery, an AGM Varta battery is one of the best.

 

Edited 13 February, 2023 by Carlston

[ords]

3 hours ago, Carlston said:

 

The purpose of checking the battery voltage is to see if the battery has a bad cell.

 

You can check for a bad cell by fully charging the battery and leaving it overnight (perhaps at least 8 hours) and then checking the battery voltage. If after about 8 hours the voltage has dropped to a low level, such as below 12.2V, you probably need a new battery.

 

Although, it's best to perform the test with the battery disconnected (such as disconnecting the negative terminal) in case there's a parasitic drain, such as a radio gone bad and causing the battery to drain quickly.

 

Although your car is 2020, it's well know that Skoda don't use good quality and expensive AGM stop-start batteries, but a cheaper EFB battery.

 

The cheaper EFB battery doesn't last long, so you may need a new battery.

 

Usually battery problems turn out to be a battery with a cell that's gone bad, and the battery simply needing replacing.

 

If you do get a new stop-start battery, an AGM Varta battery is one of the best.

 

I'll 2nd that. My Varta AGM is 10 yrs old.

[mccririck]

The thing is it starts fine each morning.

[varooom]

On 13/02/2023 at 16:55, mccririck said:

Sometimes it starts fine and other times I can leave the car for a short time and come back and it won't start

 

10 hours ago, mccririck said:

The thing is it starts fine each morning.

 

I guess you're saying it has a hot start issue?  As both statements cannot be right.

 

So left overnight it's starts with no issues?

 

You should find and test voltage of battery after at least 2 hrs rest (or each morning before you touch ignition).  Whatever you decide, please be consistent in testing.

 

The other thing that I suggest is to get a fault code reader on the car, VCDS or equivalent.  Then you'll see if the car has flagged up any short to Earth faults.

[BigEjit]

On 13/02/2023 at 16:55, mccririck said:

I have a 2020 Octavia diesel and recently the battery keeps going flat unexpectedly. It's done about 42,000 miles. Sometimes it starts fine and other times I can leave the car for a short time and come back and it won't start. I've been using a battery powered jump starter which gets it going but it's really annoying.

I'm having to make sure the radio is off and there's nothing plugged in to the USB or 12V sockets if I'm sitting in the car with the engine off.

When out driving the stop start is still working fine which makes it seem even odder.

 

Has anyone else experienced this or does anyone know what could be wrong? I'm thinking there could be a wiring fault.

Sounds like an intermittent short circuit cell in the battery. This can happen if the battery has had a long period of discharge in the past promoting sulphate crystal growth that cannot be reversed. Add in an element of cupping of the plates from aging or frequent deep cycling and related heat and the short circuit can show when the battery warms up as the cupping effect increases. 
 

If you are able to check the battery voltage during a period of non start and it is around 10,5v, this will be your issue, confirmed further if it suddenly recovers to normal 12.5ish volts. (Intermittent short circuit.)

 

Replacement of the battery is the only solution to these symptoms. 

[ords]

Have you tried to get it looked at under warranty?

[mccririck]

OK this evening I stopped at Lidl for some things and when I came back out to the car the side lights were on. I checked it was locked using the remote by pressing the lock button from a distance and it was and the side lights remained on. When I got into the car the noise you hear when you have the ignition on and door open came on, but obvious the key was not in the ignition. When I turned the ignition on a message saying "Warning, Parking light on" showed on the dash. can anyone explain this? It did start this time.

 

It's booked in at a Skoda dealer but the wait is 1 month...

Edited 16 February, 2023 by mccririck

[J.R.]

1 hour ago, mccririck said:

can anyone explain this?

Your lighting switch is in the sidelight position.

 

The buzzing noise is to warn you when you leave the vehicle to avoid having a flat battery on your return.

 

If the switch is on the headlight setting then they will go out with the ignition off when you lock the car, the sidelights (parking lights) will not.

 

You can also inadvertently knock the indicator stalk while getting out which will turn on the parking lights on the side the stalk is moved to.

[mccririck]

ok what are "parking lights"?

 

The lighting switch was in the "auto" position. I double checked that when I got in.

[PetrolDave]

11 hours ago, mccririck said:

ok what are "parking lights"?

 

The lighting switch was in the "auto" position. I double checked that when I got in.

Parking lights are the side lights on one side or the other.

 

If you leave the indicator stalk to either the left or the right then the side lights on that side (parking lights) are left turned on with the ignition off - so did you check the indicator stalk on returning to the car?

[ords]

14 hours ago, mccririck said:

OK this evening I stopped at Lidl for some things and when I came back out to the car the side lights were on. I checked it was locked using the remote by pressing the lock button from a distance and it was and the side lights remained on. When I got into the car the noise you hear when you have the ignition on and door open came on, but obvious the key was not in the ignition. When I turned the ignition on a message saying "Warning, Parking light on" showed on the dash. can anyone explain this? It did start this time.

 

It's booked in at a Skoda dealer but the wait is 1 month...

Were the lights on, on both sides or just one side?

[mccririck]

I'm not sure if they were on both sides as I just noticed the offside ones were on as I came to the car from that side. However I don't remember the indicators going on when I turned on the ignition. What is the point in the parking lights?

[Ootohere]

For parking in areas like the roadside or layby where the speed limit is greater than 30 mph.

As per the Highway Code in the UK, as has been the case for decades.

Highway Code Waiting & Parking. 238-252. 

 

[mccririck]

27 minutes ago, toot said:

For parking in areas like the roadside or layby where the speed limit is greater than 30 mph.

As per the Highway Code in the UK, as has been the case for decades.

Highway Code Waiting & Parking. 238-252. 

 

Never knew this. Never seen anyone use them either.

[Ootohere]

Not good.  I see them and know it is not a car sitting with sidelights on and one faulty.

They are there so that people do see a parked car where there is no street lights.

Hopefully you see me if i am parked at the roadside or the lay-by i use them.

Only for a short while, or if in the car having a sleep / rest and there is a chance of a lorry not spotting me where i am.

Rear offside sidelight and one reg plate light on.

[mccririck]

6 minutes ago, toot said:

Not good.  I see them and know it is not a car sitting with sidelights on and one faulty.

They are there so that people do see a parked car where there is no street lights.

Hopefully you see me if i am parked at the roadside or the lay-by i use them.

Only for a short while, or if in the car having a sleep / rest and there is a chance of a lorry not spotting me where i am.

Rear offside sidelight and one reg plate light on.

I have never noticed it.

[Guzzle]

I'm having exactly the same flat battery problem. It's a 21 Octavia estate bought used last July so under guarantee. Local dealership uninterested & keep saying Skoda Assist will deal with it. Every time they arrive, jump start the engine & tell us we're at fault for not driving it enough! Recommended a solar charger as the battery drain is small. In 50 years of driving, the last 9 months has been a nightmare. I think that for us the car is not fit for purpose!

[Ootohere]

Welcome.

Does it get driven a few times a week or more and how many miles? 

 

Have the dealership deal with it if the battery requires replacing, they are your agent and the Warranty Providers, Skoda Assist are not replacing and coding the battery if that is what is required.

 

Talk with the Service Manager and the Master Technician (both of them there at the same time.) not just the Service Desk Receptionist or a Salesperson. 

[Guzzle]

Yes, only short journeys then 6-8 long journeys a year. Both retired. Both AA man & VW specialist said its our fault for not using it as intended. Not acceptable. We previously had a used Octavia 14 reg saloon which was a dream. Never any problem until it was totalled in RTA last year.. hence the newer model. 

[Carlston]

4 hours ago, Guzzle said:

I'm having exactly the same flat battery problem. It's a 21 Octavia estate bought used last July so under guarantee. Local dealership uninterested & keep saying Skoda Assist will deal with it. Every time they arrive, jump start the engine & tell us we're at fault for not driving it enough! Recommended a solar charger as the battery drain is small. In 50 years of driving, the last 9 months has been a nightmare. I think that for us the car is not fit for purpose!

 

If it's the original stop-start battery it will probably be the inferior EFB type rather than the superior AGM type.

 

Probably best just to fit a new battery and see if that sorts the problem out.

 

Varta are one of the best car batteries, so good that even Bosch rebrand them as their own. Varta have a battery finder on their website, although it's best to take physical measurements of the battery that's currently fitted. It's probably 175mm width and 190mm height, but length can vary in approximately 1.5" (38mm) increments...depending what the size is. The capacity that's marked on your current battery will also give a good indication of what size it is. It's something like 60Ah for a size 2, 70Ah for a size 3, and 85Ah for a size 4. Although make sure you do your own research so that you don't end up guessing.

 

A length of 242mm (about 9.5") is a size 2 battery, a length of 278mm (about 11") is a size 3 battery, and a length of 317mm (about 12.5") is a size 4 battery.

 

Bear in mind that AGM batteries have very low self-discharge compared to SLA (Sealed Lead Acid) batteries. I can't comment on the self-discharge rate of EFB batteries because I've never had one of those.

 

Varta car batteries

https://www.varta-automotive.com/en-gb/battery-finder

 

Edited yesterday at 18:22 by Carlston

[Stonekeeper]

It is possible you are a victim of the Battery management system in newer cars, so changing it wouldn't help.

 

There is a thread on here somewhere about disabling it and the car will perform as your old one did.

 

I am sure someone will jump in and explain.

[ords]

16 hours ago, Carlston said:

 

If it's the original stop-start battery it will probably be the inferior EFB type rather than the superior AGM type.

 

Probably best just to fit a new battery and see if that sorts the problem out.

 

Varta are one of the best car batteries, so good that even Bosch rebrand them as their own. Varta have a battery finder on their website, although it's best to take physical measurements of the battery that's currently fitted. It's probably 175mm width and 190mm height, but length can vary in approximately 1.5" (38mm) increments...depending what the size is. The capacity that's marked on your current battery will also give a good indication of what size it is. It's something like 60Ah for a size 2, 70Ah for a size 3, and 85Ah for a size 4. Although make sure you do your own research so that you don't end up guessing.

 

A length of 242mm (about 9.5") is a size 2 battery, a length of 278mm (about 11") is a size 3 battery, and a length of 317mm (about 12.5") is a size 4 battery.

 

Bear in mind that AGM batteries have very low self-discharge compared to SLA (Sealed Lead Acid) batteries. I can't comment on the self-discharge rate of EFB batteries because I've never had one of those.

 

Varta car batteries

https://www.varta-automotive.com/en-gb/battery-finder

 

Couldn't agree more. My Varta AGM is original. Car is regularly left standing for weeks at a time and and starts with no problem. Stop start starts working after about an hour into the journey.