Evening all

The battery on my Fabia II Combi is on its way out. Not surprising sadly. It's currently using an 027 Varta, fitted in 2020 during the pandemic, and the car has only done an average of 3,000 a year since. Was warned in June when I had it serviced that it was on its way out, and in the cold it's really struggling to crank.

 

Any recommendations on what to replace it with please (in terms of brand, CCA etc.) given the car gets only occasional use and low annual mileage (my daily driver is my Superb). Car is stored on the drive, so it is open to the elements and the cold.

 

Thanks

Chris

Not much cranking power required for a 1.2 HTP so I'd say just go with something with a decent length guarantee, above all else.

Just replaced my battery on my mk3 stop start Halfords price for a Yuasa type battery with 5 year warrranty £170, used a company called Battery Charger UK same battery delivered free £84 70  same warranty 5 years had many other sorts Duracell Exide and some makes I have not heard of all various wananties but well worth a look, battery arrived in a well packed sealed bag/box not issue at all very pleased with the service and could not believe the price 

On 20/11/2024 at 20:24, chrisgreen said:

Evening all

The battery on my Fabia II Combi is on its way out. Not surprising sadly. It's currently using an 027 Varta, fitted in 2020 during the pandemic, and the car has only done an average of 3,000 a year since. Was warned in June when I had it serviced that it was on its way out, and in the cold it's really struggling to crank.

 

Any recommendations on what to replace it with please (in terms of brand, CCA etc.) given the car gets only occasional use and low annual mileage (my daily driver is my Superb). Car is stored on the drive, so it is open to the elements and the cold.

 

Thanks

Chris

 

Seems quite a short lifespan. My 1.2TSi is still on it's original battery after 12 years* and the one on my Clio ll lasted 14 years (turned out to be a Yuasa) . My mileage and exposure conditions pretty similar to yours.

 

* Watch it expire this winter after I've said that.

25 minutes ago, phs12 said:

 

Seems quite a short lifespan. My 1.2TSi is still on it's original battery after 12 years* and the one on my Clio ll lasted 14 years (turned out to be a Yuasa) . My mileage and exposure conditions pretty similar to yours.

 

* Watch it expire this winter after I've said that.

It’s the first time I have put a Varta battery in a car and I won’t be using one again. I know it’s not a regularly driven car; but I agree the lifespan of the Varta has been very poor. It replaced the factory battery and that was 8+ years old by the time it was done.

 

My Rapid Spadeback was 9 years

old when I traded it in, still had the factory battery in it and it was fine. 

So, ended up ordering a Bosch S5 005, which is arriving on Wednesday. Got a good price on Amazon for it - just over £70.

 

One last question - what’s the best grease to use on the terminals?

Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) is the old school recommendation. I used this when I took mine out for a recharge a month ago.

 

Have you removed/refitted a battery before from a Fabia (the 4 year old one that's in it maybe)?

Don't really need greasing.

Was mainly an issue in days gone by when the sealing wasn't so good round the posts, and battery acid might wick up onto them. 

Dry works great for me.

 

Be aware that the posts are slightly tapered,  so if you seem to be running out of squeeze on the clamps, Loosen off again and push them further down. Then tighten while holding down as far as they can go.

Chris,

I used to go down to Ruislip to do a stock check many years ago, when I worked for Lex. Think we used to stay at a Village Hotel down there.

On 23/11/2024 at 18:45, phs12 said:

Chris,

I used to go down to Ruislip to do a stock check many years ago, when I worked for Lex. Think we used to stay at a Village Hotel down there.

Small world, My dad worked for Lex for a while back in the 80s, before he moved on to become a fleet buyer for Budget Rent a Car. You probably stayed at the Barn Hotel in Ruislip. It closed down earlier this year. Currently hosuing asylum seekers ahead of being redeveloped into flats.

Battery update - finally got round to fitting the Bosch S5 005 on Saturday morning. Immediate difference, car no longer strugglingt to fire up on inignition. Gave it a few good motorway runs over the weekend to get some charge into it as well. Used Liqui Moly battery terminal grease (and gave the positive and negative terminals a clean up at the same time).