It would be useful to know what sort of battery is fitted in my Monte Carlo. I did look under the bonnet but there is a black plastic box covering the top of the battery. I can't identify the battery or see how the attached assembly comes off. Please don't tell me to read the manual and then if the info isn't there to download the digital handbook. I prefer not to remove the box on top of the battery.

What I have learned is that batteries fitted to cars with Start/Stop systems are AGM or EFB. I'm thinking it's almost sure to be EFB in a Skoda because they are the cheaper battery. Can anyone confirm this? Necessary to know because charging the car battery can result in problems if the charger doesn't match the type of battery.

I asked this question last year on this forum about my 2024 Fabia SE L and was (reliably) informed that it was EFB type.

(There's nothing about the battery type in the Owner's Manual.)

5 hours ago, bazz2004 said:

Necessary to know because charging the car battery can result in problems if the charger doesn't match the type of battery.

A "smart" (they're not) charger maintainer will sort this for itself.

Unfortunately VW omit a lot of information from their 'Owner's Manuals' that other car manufacturers give freely, type of battery fitted by battery is just one of these things.

You do want to read the 'Owner's Manual' and instructions for the charger maintainer for charging the car battery and the 'Owner's Manual' will also give information about the battery and charging.

Yes unfortunately some batteries (particularly on German marques) are so smothered it bits you can't see them and it's not so practical to bother to remove these bits or the battery unless really necessary.

Sensible very occasional preventative charging with an appropriate charger maintainer when required should have an EFB battery (in normal/average) use giving a long reliable use life, slow long recharges are generally better than quicker shorter recharges with a about 4-amp (£15-£30) charger maintainer being fine.

I have no enthusiasm for the Skoda manuals and have ordered a CTEK CT5 Start Stop charger. It's the only smart charger that I am confident will check the type of battery at the beginning and adapt to its condition.

As I understand it the negative connection from the CTEK has to be made to the earthing point which is close to the battery. The positive lead is fastened with the crocodile clip directly to the battery terminal.

First of all I undo the negative lead on the battery then permanently fit the CTEK lead to the earthing point. After the battery is charged I turn it off and remove the charger. I then reconnect the cars negative lead to the battery. The CTEK negative lead remains in the car for its next use.

Have I got this right?

11 hours ago, nta16 said:

...Unfortunately VW omit a lot of information from their 'Owner's Manuals' that other car manufacturers give freely, type of battery fitted by battery is just one of these things....

The print version of the Skoda Fabia's Owner's Manual includes a good deal of information about the starter battery. However, it does not provide 'technical' details of the battery itself (eg. the battery type, capacity, etc.)

However, this is far from unique and my 2021 Hyundai i20 car's 650-page Owmer's Manual was little different. Although the car had Stop/Start, the battery was a dinky little conventional wet-acid thing (not EFB or AGM). It was possible to see the top of the battery and the labelling on it, and replacement was easier than on a Fabia (or on my 2009 Roomster). But the assumption with a modern car is that owners won't (and shouldn't) be DIYing battery changing and the Fabia Manual makes that clear.

As my Hyundai's original battery needed very regular charging (either by driving the car or using a battery-charger) to maintain its charge-state, I wanted to find out when it was made but this proved to be impossible. I got in touch with Hyundai UK, but they didn't know and then contacted Yigit Aku (the Turkish battery manufacturer) who refused to tell me as the battery in my car was not sold retail but provided direct to Hyundai. In the end I swapped the battery for a new Yuasa (build-date unknown!) and that discharged in exactly the same manner.

18 hours ago, bazz2004 said:

It would be useful to know what sort of battery is fitted in my Monte Carlo. I did look under the bonnet but there is a black plastic box covering the top of the battery. I can't identify the battery or see how the attached assembly comes off. Please don't tell me to read the manual and then if the info isn't there to download the digital handbook. I prefer not to remove the box on top of the battery.

What I have learned is that batteries fitted to cars with Start/Stop systems are AGM or EFB. I'm thinking it's almost sure to be EFB in a Skoda because they are the cheaper battery. Can anyone confirm this? Necessary to know because charging the car battery can result in problems if the charger doesn't match the type of battery.

If you let me know reg or VIN, I can look up what was fitted at factory.

bazz2004

I use an elderly CTEK MXS 5.0 5Amp battery-charger.

Both of my 2021 Hyundai i20's starter-battery's terminals were easily accessible and I 'permanently' attached the charger's eyelet cables to those terminals making subsequent charging very simple.

My 2024 Fabias starter-battery terminals are less accessible. So, rather than using the 'permanent' eyelet connection method, I use the charger's crocodile-clip cables, connecting the positive crocodile-clip to the battery's positive terminal and the negative crocodile-clip to the dedicated earthing point to the right of the battery (as described in the Owner's Manual).

This may be less convenient than using the eyelets, but it avoids having to mess about with the battery terminal-connectors to fit the eyelets (and I'm also not certain that the eyelets on the cables that come with the charger are the right size to fit on the Fabia's battery terminal-connectors).

It's perhaps worth adding that attaching my CTEK charger's positive crocodile-clip to my Fabia battery's positive terminal needs a modicum of care to ensure that the clip is firmly connected.

Edited 10 June, 202510 Jun by DerekU

2 hours ago, DerekU said:

The print version of the Skoda Fabia's Owner's Manual includes a good deal of information about the starter battery. However, it does not provide 'technical' details of the battery itself (eg. the battery type, capacity, etc.)

Derek that's more or less what I put and VW omit other details like oil like capacities fuse box(es) diagrams are sometimes wrong and other stuff I forget. Yes I know other manufacturers Owner's Manual aren't perfect too but some at least are more comprehensive in the information they give. As you well know I promote reading and referring to the VWŠkoda Owner's Manuals as they are still a very good source of information and if read and referred to can save time, hassle, money and unnecessary visits to Dealerships, garages, mechanics and auto-electricians. And if an owners reads and refers to the Owner's Manual they can know more about the car than many long term owners of the car (particularly those that think they know but are mistaken).

2 hours ago, DerekU said:

But the assumption with a modern car is that owners won't (and shouldn't) be DIYing battery changing and the Fabia Manual makes that clear.

Does it? I can't get to check a 2023 Fabia as the VWŠskoda Owner's Manual has a 'sorry not working now come back later' message for 2023 Fabia. If this is so the you and I perhaps should be advising baz2004 to be using a battery charger maintainer on his 2023 Fabia, though you probably put more faith in VW dictates than I. You are good at research, if you want to I'd be interested to see what VWŠkoda say and dictate on battery charging with regard to the latest Fabia and then take that into consideration about if I should advise later Fabia owners to DIY recharge. It doesn't save me time, money or hassle or prevent me from wasting materials whether anyone recharges their car battery or not and generally it's of very little importance to life.

As with the Ctek chargers my personal experience of them is that they are over valued and over priced but as I've spent and wasted many, many ten of thousands of pounds on old over valued and over priced cars (and other items) I can understand why others do so too I and don't try to stop them from doing what they want, how could I anyway.

3 hours ago, bazz2004 said:

First of all I undo the negative lead on the battery then permanently fit the CTEK lead to the earthing point. After the battery is charged I turn it off and remove the charger. I then reconnect the cars negative lead to the battery. The CTEK negative lead remains in the car for its next use.

Have I got this right?

Not really, see Derek's post(s).

@bazz2004 if you are allowed to DIY recharge your battery then up to you if you want to you could post up a photo (landscape please) of your engine bay battery area and arrow can be added for earth point or see below for my wife's 2015 Fabia which will be the same except earth point variation of possibly position and shape. It also gives more information on charging. Sorry it's from the VWŠkoda 'Owner's Manual' but that keeps things more official and easier for me to cut 'n' paste.

You will be "charging with low voltages" if using a 5-amp CTek.

HTH.

Edited 20 May20 May by nta16
submitted before finished

The battery "Changing" advice in my 2024 Fabia's Owner's Manual reads as follows:

Have the replacement carried out by a specialist garage. The new 12V battery must have the same specifications as the original battery.

(My Manual defines a specialist garage as "a workshop that carries out specialist service operations for Skoda vehicles. A specialist garage can be both a Skoda Authorised workshop or Skoda Partner who is authorised to proved services as well as an independent workshop").

The image below is of the UK-nearside part of the engine compartment of a Fabia Mk 4 with 1.0litre motor. I've green-arrowed the earth-point and an (easily) removable protective cover over the battery's positive terminal is red-arrowed.

I'm sorry I posted my question. I did ask for replies without referring me to the Skoda manuals.

It's just as rude for me to say this but some of us need to get out more.

The required answers are likely in the thread but drowned out by the torrent of words. I'll post back at a later date when I've sorted things out and also explain why I'm doing what I'm doing because that's important.

6 minutes ago, bazz2004 said:

drowned out by the torrent of words

See the 17 words I typed a few posts above here, which will answer your question, if you wish. 🙂

On 09/06/2025 at 14:51, bazz2004 said:

It would be useful to know what sort of battery is fitted in my Monte Carlo. I did look under the bonnet but there is a black plastic box covering the top of the battery. I can't identify the battery or see how the attached assembly comes off. Please don't tell me to read the manual and then if the info isn't there to download the digital handbook. I prefer not to remove the box on top of the battery.

What I have learned is that batteries fitted to cars with Start/Stop systems are AGM or EFB. I'm thinking it's almost sure to be EFB in a Skoda because they are the cheaper battery. Can anyone confirm this? Necessary to know because charging the car battery can result in problems if the charger doesn't match the type of battery.

Don't assume, mine came with an AGM

@bazz2004 you (partially) got what you wanted with breezy-pete's reply, you also put what you thought about charger to battery.

You don't need to read any posts or parts of posts you don't want to, but you won't be the only viewer of this thread and posts now or in the future, you can ignore anyone or any posts or parts of posts you like but this isn't a private site, forum or thread so you have to sort through what you do and don't like.

I would have replied sooner - but I was out. 😁

IF I remember in future I will ignore you - but still might post in a thread you're in or started. As I guess you might only really see the start and end of this post I'll point out, or remind you if you already know, that if you want you can put me on your 'Ignore' list.

23 hours ago, bazz2004 said:

I have no enthusiasm for the Skoda manuals and have ordered a CTEK CT5 Start Stop charger. It's the only smart charger that I am confident will check the type of battery at the beginning and adapt to its condition.

As I understand it the negative connection from the CTEK has to be made to the earthing point which is close to the battery. The positive lead is fastened with the crocodile clip directly to the battery terminal.

First of all I undo the negative lead on the battery then permanently fit the CTEK lead to the earthing point. After the battery is charged I turn it off and remove the charger. I then reconnect the cars negative lead to the battery. The CTEK negative lead remains in the car for its next use.

Have I got this right?

Re-reading this posting I realise that you misunderstood what would be supplied with a CTEK CT5 charger.

The charger itself has a charger-to-battery connection cable with a special CTEK-designed MALE connector on its end.

Two connection options are provided - a crocodile-clip option or an 'eyelet' option. Each option comprises two wires (with a crocodile-clip or an eyelet on the end of each wire) and the wires join together in a special CTEK-designed FEMALE connector that accepts the MALE connector. So, you EITHER use the crocodile-clip option OR the eyelet option.

With a Fabia Mk 4, you need to connect to the dedicated earth-point that is to the right of the battery and to the battery's positive terminal. Realistically (unless one felt like butchering CTEK's cables!) the way to do this with the CT5 charger is to use the crocodile-clip option.

CTEK's advert for the CT5 charger is here

https://www.ctek.com/uk/battery-chargers-12v-24v/ct5-start-stop-uk?srsltid=AfmBOoqTIqPVC_ZFbjlEZQL1KPa5IEUkjkUKZgi0cs2Gb5iz-40eajy1

and includes several useful instructional videos.

Edited 11 June, 202511 Jun by DerekU

17 minutes ago, DerekU said:

Two connection options are provided - a crocodile-clip option or an 'eyelet' option.

Just for (your) info, so do the Ring and I guess some other makes and models (but I find the clips easy and convenient unless the battery is is very difficult to get at, even then most will offer two lugs).

Just a quick post as I've got to go out now. 😁

Edited 11 June, 202511 Jun by nta16
typo

I'm well aware that the type of connection methodology used by CTEK is quite common.

I'm a long-term (over 20 years) moderator on a motorhome forum. Motorhome owners are obsessive about batteries and their chargers of choice are generally CTEK or Victron.

I've no personal experience of the Ring 4A charger, but I have purchased a couple of Ring tyre pumps that soon died. Dismantling revealed poor quality components and design. So, for me, Ring products fall into the "Buy cheap, buy twice" category.

(My CTEK MXS 5.0 5Amp charger is 14 years old and is currently charging a 100Ah battery in my garage).

Getting back on track...

This image shows the starter-battery fitted to a Fabia Mk 4 with crocodile-clip charger cables connected to it.

The plastic cover (arrowed in green) protects a 'bus bar' carrying a set of connections, but (in my car's case) unclipping the cover does not help identify the battery's make, type or capacity.

Those data are not visually discernible on my car with the battery in situ. I can guess at the capacity (from the battery's dimensions) and my crystal-ball leads me to believe that it's EFB type and (possibly) a VARTA product. But I'm definitely not going to start disconnecting the stuff on the top of the battery just to confirm this.

2 hours ago, DerekU said:

I'm well aware that the type of connection methodology used by CTEK is quite common.

I'm a long-term (over 20 years) moderator on a motorhome forum. Motorhome owners are obsessive about batteries and their chargers of choice are generally CTEK or Victron.

I've no personal experience of the Ring 4A charger, but I have purchased a couple of Ring tyre pumps that soon died. Dismantling revealed poor quality components and design. So, for me, Ring products fall into the "Buy cheap, buy twice" category.

Now I know you know I will try to remember you know.

I too would sooner pay more money and have something last, my cheap Bradex is 40+ years old and Carcoon (get yer head round that one) charger is 30+ years old but as my mate's had two same model CTek 5s and they differ from each other and are £70-£80 each I'm not impressed with them but 14 years is a good start at longer term ownership. As with much in life each to their own. I only recommend the Ring as I've had the (former model (800)) work well for a number of years so can speak from personal experience, but there again my neighbour's £15 Lidl/Audi has worked finer for a good few years of regular use too.

Returning (once again!) to bass2004's original enquiry.

Although there are no immediately visible markings on my 2024 Fabia SE L's battery to identify its make, type and capacity, on the label near its positive terminal is the code "692 515 RA".

An internet search retrieves a German ebay advert for a new original VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda start/stop battery (€149) that carries that code . The advert includes the photo below (692 515 RA code green-arrowed) and the visible parts of my Fabia's battery match that photo.

Consequently, I'm happy to accept that my car's battery is a Varta product and EFB+ type.

The GOOGLE-search also retrieved larger size/capacity similar-appearance batteries (all EFB+ marked) said to be original-fit on VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda cars with start/stop.

As I said in the past, my car's battery-tray has extra bolt-holes for its hold-down bracket indicating that longer batteries (two different lengths) could be accommodated. So it's possible that Fabias with the 1.5litre 4-cylinder motor and/or that are marketed in 'cold climate' countries have a larger capacity EFB+ battery.

However, as bazz2004's 2023 Fabia Monte Carlo apparently has a "TSI 110 bhp" motor, it's likely that his car has exactly the same specification battery as my car's.

Edited 12 June, 202512 Jun by DerekU

Interesting this ties in with what another poster has put, with a different VWŠkoda model, with EFB+ and 49Ah. My wife's 2015 Fabia manual, 90ps, SE the batteries were offered at 60Ah to 70Ah, perhaps another reason the batteries don't last as longer on the more recent cars - or for VW fans perhaps the EFB+ batteries are so much better than the previous EFB batteries they fitted (and/or perhaps VW have improved their alternators and starter motors).