Hi fellow Roomster owners.  Yesterday, the battery failed on our 2012 Roomster.  Admittedly this was our fault as we left the lights on for half an hour before we realised.

The RAC jump started the car and followed us to Halfords, where we selected the battery that their car reg checker told us we needed.  However, they then refused to fit it as they said we needed a 'coded' battery and they don't sell them.

Luckily, the car started ok and we were able to drive home.

I therefore have 2 questions:

1. Is the fact that the battery went flat after 30 mins of the headlights being left on, a sign that it needs to be replaced? The RAC man did say that it was still the original battery, so seems it's pretty old.

2. If we do need a new one? What is this 'coding' that Halfords referred to? Does it mean we can only get the battery replaced at a Skoda garage?

 

Thanks for your advice.

"coded" would mean a battery that needs the car coding to it, normally a battery for a vehicle with an AGM-type battery. I don't believe the Roomster normally had these, but I could be wrong. Which engine is in your car (petrol or diesel, and the size)? Does it have stop-start assist?

 

If you run your reg on this website, it's normally accurate about what it needed - https://www.tayna.co.uk/ 

 

Most garages can do the coding needed. If you've got a garage you trust, they'll normally test the battery that's on the car free or for very little, and let you know if it's getting on for replacement. 

2 minutes ago, StevesTruck said:

"coded" would mean a battery that needs the car coding to it, normally a battery for a vehicle with an AGM-type battery. I don't believe the Roomster normally had these, but I could be wrong. Which engine is in your car (petrol or diesel, and the size)? Does it have stop-start assist?

 

If you run your reg on this website, it's normally accurate about what it needed - https://www.tayna.co.uk/ 

 

Most garages can do the coding needed. If you've got a garage you trust, they'll normally test the battery that's on the car free or for very little, and let you know if it's getting on for replacement. 

Thank you so much for coming back to me.  I've checked that website that you linked to and it's come back with the 027 battery, which is the same as the Halfords one.

 

Our Roomster is a 1.6 Diesel and it does not have Stop/Start assist.

 

The guy from Halfords took the cover off of our current battery and showed me that it had a BEM code on it, but I guess that doesn't necessarily mean that that code has been used to link it to the car?

1 hour ago, Sally_H said:

1. Is the fact that the battery went flat after 30 mins of the headlights being left on, a sign that it needs to be replaced? The RAC man did say that it was still the original battery, so seems it's pretty old.

 

You will probably find that it will continue to start with its usual vigour, if it doesn't then definitely replace it.

 

Is it time to replace? - Probably, not starting the vehicle after sidelights left on for 30 minutes indicates it has little reserve capacity remaining after 10 years of service, I dont suggest you have it tested as the results will be exactly that.

 

If it continues to start OK then you have time to source the battery you want at the price you want, I would suggest upgrading to the larger capacity 060 version which seems to fit snugly in all the Skoda battery trays (take measurements to check), the cost is little more, sometimes even less for a significant extra capacity.

Edited 5 January, 20251 yr by J.R.

I replaced my battery a couple of years ago and no coding is required. I bought a battery from a local car spares which cost half of what skoda quoted and fitted it myself. No problems whatever since. 

19 minutes ago, edbostan said:

I replaced my battery a couple of years ago and no coding is required. I bought a battery from a local car spares which cost half of what skoda quoted and fitted it myself. No problems whatever since. 

What year is your Roomster please?

If the vehicle has Automatic Idle Stop (Stop-Start) you require an EFB or AGM battery - which must be adapted (coded) into the vehicles BCM when it is replaced.

If the vehicle does NOT have stop-start, a standard Lead-Acid battery can be used, which does not require coding.

Were Roomsters ever made with stop/start?

 

I had always thought they were a hybrid of very old Octavia and Fabia tech, part of their continued appeal to me, if they had made a 4x4 TDi version I would have one in a flash but given the low tech niche vehicle ethos I can see why they didn't.

Take the AI generated answers on Google with a pinch of salt.  But is what the answer it gives to the search. 

 

Simples.

If you have a car and no STOP / START OFF button then likely does not have Stop / Start. 

 

 

Edited 6 January, 20251 yr by Ootohere

2 hours ago, Ootohere said:

Take the AI generated answers on Google with a pinch of salt.  But is what the answer it gives to the search. 

 

Simples.

If you have a car and no STOP / START OFF button then likely does not have Stop / Start. 

 

 

Definitely don't have stop/start.  Is it only those that need the coded batteries?

Yes.

On 05/01/2025 at 22:01, Sally_H said:

What year is your Roomster please?

2013 1.2 tsi.

On 06/01/2025 at 13:27, Ootohere said:

Take the AI generated answers on Google with a pinch of salt.  But is what the answer it gives to the search. 

 

Simples.

If you have a car and no STOP / START OFF button then likely does not have Stop / Start. 

 

 

My 1.2tsi 2013 has no stop start.

On 06/01/2025 at 13:27, Ootohere said:

Take the AI generated answers on Google with a pinch of salt.  But is what the answer it gives to the search. 

 

Simples.

If you have a car and no STOP / START OFF button then likely does not have Stop / Start. 

 

 

My 1.2tsi 2013 has no stop start.

BEM codes were meant to mean that VW Group had a strangle hold of you (and your wallet) when it came to needing a new battery, maybe BMW also tried that handy trick as well, though with time that got "kicked into touch", so that was that.

 

Luckily your car didn't need coding, probably the only use for BEM info in your car would be for dealer's to handle warranty claims on the original battery.

 

I'd surprised that any/all Halfords branches are now not completely up to date with which cars needed battery coding carried out - and have the kit to do so if needed.

 

Edit:- I'm sure that I coded in the new Bosch EFB that the AA fitted to my younger daughter's 2019 SEAT Arona - just in case the AA hadn't bothered to do that - they certainly hadn't cleared all the fault codes when the original battery died.

Edited 9 January, 20251 yr by rum4mo