My lovely Yeti will be 10 years old in November and I was wondering if there exists any recommendation regarding battery replacement. We've done just under 71,000 miles if that has any bearing on the subject.

Thanks

It might be on its last legs, or it might go on for another 2 or 3 years. At some point it will die or you will end up with spurious warning lights.

I would buy a premium one (Varta, Bosch etc). I swapped our 2017 one last year (8.5 years) for the best spec Varta one.

Edited 24 March24 Mar by Prezafab

If your battery is in fact the original factory-fitted one, it has done very well - there is often a date code stamped onto the top of the battery negative post giving date of manufacture (format is WW,YY) that will confirm battery age.

Consider having the battery load-tested before replacement and base your decision on that.

Thanks guys. Looks like I may be on borrowed time. I'll look to getting it changed soonest.

(As already put) see if you can see a date on the battery and have the battery load tested to see how it performs as it could have more years in it yet and unless you've had the car from new the battery might have already been changed in the car's life.

The car battery is one of the most oversold car parts with many premature replacements. Use of an appropriate battery charger maintainer following the instructions in the car's 'Owner's Manual' and for charger with a few preventive recharges to 100% the battery can give lots of useful service life.

If it is an original factory battery and you'd sooner renew it fair enough but particularly with stop/start you'll want to get the new battery 'coded' in so that the very, very dumb computers know it's a new battery (or know sooner perhaps).

I was told Tosch is a Varta with a different label, don't know if that still holds but it usually pays to get a good battery (like those) and take figures with a pinch of salt it's all about how long the battery lasts with good output rather than over-impressive label figures.

Good luck.

On my 2016 Yeti the original EFB Battery was failing after 4 years. The stop start was never kickimg in by 2020, so 4 years.

Replaced it with a Varta AGM battery and that is still going strong 6 years later.

The 4 year life could be for many reasons including VW perhaps ballsing-up the computer program for the battery system (there was a Recall for this on my wife 2015 Mk3 Fabia, I'm sure VW would blame the battery rather than themselves but I've never seen the paperwork on the Recall), then of course there's use, abuse and neglect of the battery by some owner/drivers (present company excluded, I hope).

I put an AGM battery on my wife's 2015 Mk3 Fabia but ass I still use a battery charger on it now and again despite all the short journeys it gets I think an EFB would have done just fine at a lower purchase cost. AGMs were expensive at the time, perhaps a shortage of them as some car manufacturer(s) might have balls'd up the battery charging and other car owners need to replace, but I don't know. 😁

If AGM going in engine bay then it gets extra (bottom) insulation over EFB - we've got away with not bothering so far but who knows we might lose some battery life.

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies. I shall get the battery checked out as soon as possible.

@nta16 In the last 10 yeaers I've not had any need to charge the battery other than run the engine on a journey.

My battery gave up the ghost after 5 years (golf R MK8) due to all the electrical demands on it with "modern cars"

If it's 2019-on car then you done well to get 5 years out of the battery many other owners report 4 years or less plus a Golf R probably has a lot of toys and all the "aids" and "assists".

Still on the original battery just short of 11 years old.

Graham, is your Yeti stop/start?

10 hours ago, nta16 said:

Graham, is your Yeti stop/start?

At 2016 - so either MY16 or 17 depending on registration month, it will be.

Edited 26 March26 Mar by Warrior193
typo

That's what I thought, if so at 9+ years old, 71k-miles and never had the use of a battery charger (to get it to 100% charge if required) and no signs of battery being low, particularly if the stop/start is usually used, I would just have the battery checked and unless very (very) low I would just try my usual slow recharge to 100% with an appropriate battery charger maintainer following instruction for charger and instructions in the car's 'Owner's Manual' and see how that goes rather than replace the battery prematurely. But if there's going to be any worry about a low result then best to just replace the battery and have it 'coded'.

2 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

At 2016 - so either MY16 or 17 depending on registration month, it will be.

13 hours ago, nta16 said:

Graham, is your Yeti stop/start?

Yes it is and used too.