Hi Everyone,

 

I'm Martyn and I'm new to the forum. I've recently bought a Skoda (February) and would like some input on an issue.

 

It's a 2018 Octavia vRS TDI. When I bought it, it had a slight squealing from something on the fanbelt circuit. Mainly only when the engine was cold. To me it just sounded like a failing idle wheel so I chucked it in to my mechanic to have the belt, pulleys and idle wheels replaced. 

 

However, when I picked the car up (after closing time) the noise was still there and was actually louder than before, it also didn't go away when warmed up like before. I called them next day to ask about the noise and they said they'd have to have it back in to check it out.

 

Car went back and they said that everything on the circuit was fine as it was all new but that the noise is coming from the alternator, tested the battery and apparently that's the problem, the battery isn't holding the correct charge when the car is running causing extra stress on the alternator which is making it squeal.

 

I'm fine with that explanation, however, I'm concerned that I'll spend £311 to have the bettery replaced (Skoda garage quoted) and it's not actually the battery and it's the alternator. 

 

Just wondered if anyone else has had a noise like this and solved it. 

 

I've attached a clip of the noise.

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Thanks. 

19 minutes ago, Martyn91 said:

I'm concerned that I'll spend £311 to have the bettery replaced (Skoda garage quoted)

Don't get the battery from a Skoda main stealer then!!

1 minute ago, KenONeill said:

Don't get the battery from a Skoda main stealer then!!

My mechanic said VAG have made it stupidly difficult for Indy's to code these new batteries, he tried to do one recently and the codes VAG gave him wouldn't work, and so therefore he recommended me to go straight to the dealer.

14 minutes ago, Martyn91 said:

My mechanic said VAG have made it stupidly difficult for Indy's to code these new batteries, he tried to do one recently and the codes VAG gave him wouldn't work, and so therefore he recommended me to go straight to the dealer.

 

It's not that hard to adapt a battery in the car, and you could DIY this yourself (if you have access to these tools)

You might lookup the VCDS user list on this forum to find someone local to assist for a beer token (and still save a load of money()

11 minutes ago, varooom said:

 

It's not that hard to adapt a battery in the car, and you could DIY this yourself (if you have access to these tools)

You might lookup the VCDS user list on this forum to find someone local to assist for a beer token (and still save a load of money()

Thanks varooom. But I'm not one to delve into coding ect. Mechanical maintenance yes, give me brakes and suspension any day but not electrics and coding unless it's an app like Carly for example.

If you buy a battery from Tanya, let's say £140 delivered, then chuck someone off VCDS say £20 for adapting, then you are saving lots compared to dealer mad prices.

Comment was also to show that your mechanic might need to see those documents and learn from them, this is a simple process.

 

Best of luck with whatever route you go with.

32 minutes ago, varooom said:

If you buy a battery from Tanya, let's say £140 delivered, then chuck someone off VCDS say £20 for adapting, then you are saving lots compared to dealer mad prices.

Comment was also to show that your mechanic might need to see those documents and learn from them, this is a simple process.

 

Best of luck with whatever route you go with.

Cheers, appreciate the support. I've had a few quotes all within £30-£40 of eachother.

 

I'm not too bothered about the cost and ways of reducing it via DIY etc, I'm more looking for others with the same or similar issue that can say; yes the battery needs replacing or no, it's something else that could be causing the noise.

 

Again, appreciate the advice nonetheless.

45 minutes ago, Martyn91 said:

I'm more looking for others with the same or similar issue that can say; yes the battery needs replacing or no

Find a decent fast fit place, and ask them to do a "deep load test" on the battery. That'll be free as long as you buy a new on from them if needed, and come in under £200 coded in.

10 hours ago, Martyn91 said:

My mechanic said VAG have made it stupidly difficult for Indy's to code these new batteries, he tried to do one recently and the codes VAG gave him wouldn't work, and so therefore he recommended me to go straight to the dealer.

I think your mechanic might be thinking of the code for the particular battery which isn't on batteries now you just do as varooom's helpful 'How to adapt a new battery' thread.

 

Below is the example from my wife's car where like many others the factory didn't bother with the code and just put ten ones (1111111111).  A site member 'coded' the new battery for me using an OBDEleven from a phone for a beer token.  The battery was changed from a (Moll) EFB type at 59Ah to a (Bosch brand label) AGM type (called Fleece by VW) at 60 Ah and battery code (serial number) from 1111111111 to 1111111112.  

 

 

 

Edited 23 May, 20233 yr by nta16

9 hours ago, Martyn91 said:

I'm more looking for others with the same or similar issue that can say; yes the battery needs replacing or no, it's something else that could be causing the noise.

Can't help with that - but - the battery and alternator do work as a team and if one's not doing enough it makes the other work harder so both wear the other.

 

As the car is recent to you you can't know (unless you do?) how much the car battery has been used and abused.  A 2018 car possibly uses more electric than you realise and the battery can have a hard life, VWSkoda only expect 5 years for a battery anyway, less I'd imagine for newer models

 

Because of this some have gone back to helping the battery with a battery charger and maintainer as happened many decades back.

 

The computer programs in the car don't like a battery that's is in a low state of charge and health and can start to throw up all sorts of unexpected issues even before warning lights and messages and the car still starts and the exterior lights seem bright still.

 

I prefer to recharge a battery and get more reliable and longer life out of it but in your case you need to change the battery if it isn't holding charge and this will help your alternator and might help with the noise.

 

Let us know how you get on with changing the battery and if it helps or solves the noise.

 

If not I know what I'd try but you may prefer to leave things to your mechanic.

 

4 hours ago, nta16 said:

the battery can have a hard life, VWSkoda only expect 5 years for a battery anyway, less I'd imagine for newer models

also @Martyn91 True this, based on knowing private hire (and taxi using private car) drivers well enough to know that their expectations were 2 or 3 years battery life for Octavia and Superb 3s,

12 hours ago, nta16 said:

Let us know how you get on with changing the battery and if it helps or solves the noise.

 

 

Once again your obsession is running away with itself.

 

23 hours ago, Martyn91 said:

I'm concerned that I'll spend £311 to have the bettery replaced (Skoda garage quoted) and it's not actually the battery and it's the alternator. 

 

Just wondered if anyone else has had a noise like this and solved it. 

 

I've attached a clip of the noise.

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

The noise you have is almost certainly the alternator pulley one way sprag clutch coupling especially as you have replaced everything else. You will notice that the long side of the belt will be oscillating when the noise occurs.

 

A cheap and easy job to do with basic tools and no need to remove the alternator.

10 hours ago, J.R. said:

Once again your obsession is running away with itself.

So you've learn nothing with recent events and are back to your previous self, this you may feel is good for you, it's not so good for me,  leave me to my obsessions and you stick to yours - we will never see eye to eye so as they have it in Frozen "Let it go".

 

Yes I am on the journey back to health. Please explain what would you have wanted me to have learned from recent traumatic events.

 

I only ever comment when your obsession causes you to write rubbish like changing the battery as a cure for alternator noise, the rest of the time your battery and VAG computer focussed verbosity simply amuses me.

 

 

J.R. even you will admit you don't know it all and sometimes you are wrong - and even mistaken alternators types before.  The OP I'm sure can decide for himself what he wants to follow or ignore anything anyone puts here, so take a day off, give yourself, and me a rest, and come back even more invigorated another day. 😄

 

I can also think of a very cheap and easy thing to try without tools and need to remove the alternator - AND - not (directly related to the battery 😄) outside of your belief system, but the OP has chosen not to go a DIY route whether you - or I - like it, personally I feel it's his choice and he might know better than either of us what's best for him.

 

Now - "Let it go, let it go  . . ." no I've never seen Frozen either.  As Dave Allen used to say goodnight and let your god go with you.  I'm beginning to warm to you again.

 

If you do not post rubbish that may waste peoples time and money then every day will be a rest day for you.

 

The OP asked

On 23/05/2023 at 14:39, Martyn91 said:

I'm more looking for others with the same or similar issue that can say; yes the battery needs replacing or no, it's something else that could be causing the noise.

 

To which you replied that you cannot help with that in order to  launch into the usual lengthy battery and computer discourse including telling him that he needs to change the battery which at £311 he he had expressed he was reluctant to do unless it was definitely the cause.

 

The OP has not chosen to go a DIY route in regard to the alternator pulley:

 

On 23/05/2023 at 13:52, Martyn91 said:

Mechanical maintenance yes, give me brakes and suspension any day but not electrics and coding

 

I ask for a second time - "Please explain what would you have wanted me to have learned from recent traumatic events."

 

On 23/05/2023 at 11:35, Martyn91 said:

Car went back and they said that everything on the circuit was fine as it was all new but that the noise is coming from the alternator, tested the battery and apparently that's the problem, the battery isn't holding the correct charge when the car is running causing extra stress on the alternator which is making it squeal.

 

On 23/05/2023 at 23:00, nta16 said:

I prefer to recharge a battery and get more reliable and longer life out of it but in your case you need to change the battery if it isn't holding charge and this will help your alternator and might help with the noise.

 

Let us know how you get on with changing the battery and if it helps or solves the noise.