Ask a Shiter

[1duck]

I had a lion one fail, took it back traded it for a bosch that was in one of the non stop sales at ECP. Just looking now and the price looks like it has gone up a fair bit, that must mean they are preparing for yet another sale. I agree with bigfella though, just get the biggest battery you can physically fit in the gap, that's how I do it. 

 

Has anyone tried these fancy gel cell batteries? do they last any better?

[seth]

I've bought online from Tayna a couple of times.

 

https://www.tayna.co.uk/

 

The size and terminal layout is generally related to the battery part number code.  Once you establish thet it should be easier to find the one you want and also you might find some being sold with higher amp ratings than others.

[Alusilber]

 

The current one in the car is the original from 2009, so its had a good innings and its a 61Ah, 330A (DIN) 540CCA rated one, however phoning round local factors, local fast fits and even TPS (VW genuine parts warehouse) they all say its underrated for a diesel and shouldve been fitted with a more heavy duty one from new and thats what they want to sell me. Its definitely the original as its VW stickered with a VW part number and a manufacturing date of 2008 on it (car built late 2008, registered mid 2009) 

 

Funny you should say that, my (1.4 TSI) Golf was fitted with a 44Ah battery at the factory, but there is a VW TPI (Technical Product Information) bulletin for this engine that says the alternator voltage regulator needs to be replaced and the battery upgraded to a 72Ah job, to avoid occasional overvoltages causing the dashboard electronics to momentarily cut out.

 

Having said that, my Golf is currently sporting a 35Ah Lion battery (thanks to the Green Flag guy who came out when the original battery died, following Sod's Law, when we were camping at a music festival at the other end of the country) and the overvoltage occurrences are no worse than before...

[Hendry]

The only two pieces of battery information I can impart are that  

 

1.  Nothing lasts like the original battery which is usually unobtainable by the time it fails.  

 

2. If you can put off buying a new one by even a day do so.   This is because that will be the anniversary of the expiry of the warranty.   And the battery.....

 

VW actually do still sell the original battery, and unusually for an OEM factory fit one it actually has a part number to make it easier, must be because this one has had a hard life for the first 8 years old its life that the battery has failed despite being a relatively new car, 2009, so they still sell them, only trouble is its £146.

 

An equivalent to OE one made by Quantum and sold through VWs parts warehouses TPS is £99, or another Quantum one slightly underspecced on CCA, think its 520CCA as opposed to 540CCA is £48, I had ordered one of these back in November, ordered on a Tuesday, was told it would be in on the Thursday, called up and was told nope didnt come in, call back tomorrow, called back on the Friday, nope still not in call back Saturday, by this point my daughter was born and obviously I had more important things to do than chase up a battery and also had use of another car, now I dont. 

[Rave]

I haven't seen any Auto Express battery tests for a while but Exide always used to do well in them. The one that came in my Mondeo Mk3 V6 is clearly smaller than the original one but it still starts the car fine after 7 years (it looked pretty new when I got the car, admittedly). If you can get one for a reasonable price from ECP then I see no reason not to.

[Hendry]

VWs don't tend to go to your normal breakers, they go to VW specialist breakers who make Megabucks flogging stuff like the clocks, fancy steering wheels and alloys to people who own povo versions. The shells are then crushed.

 

There was a guy in Nottingham, reckoned if he bought a crashed good spec MK4 he could make the purchase price back in an hour on eBay by knowing what would fit into what. This was a few years back so Mk5 is probably at that stage now. Drag it in, engine and seats out, clocks and stereo, climate controls, lights, unboltable panels, wheels, brakes. Cost is two minimum wage spanner-wielders for about three hours, he was having shells taken away every day. Leave the glass, carpets, loom, anything that can't be detached in ten minutes.

 

Am actually surprised there isnt more of a market for this with other Makes like Vauxhalls, Fords, BMWs, Renaults, Seats. Skodas, especially the latter 2 considering VADGE also, because interchangeable parts to fit poverty versions is easy to do on most cars now, not quite sure why its mainly just specifically VWs that people who own them are into upspeccing them, OK I am but Joe Bloggs would likely be happy with my cars standard spec, nice wheels, leather wheel, trip computer clocks and so on, MP3 compatible Aux stereo. Most folks dont usually get bothered by the upspeccing of cars like I do, unless its another of these "VW Scene modder" crazes, hope not, wouldnt like to think of myself as a VW Dub scene fanboy! 

[tommotech]

I always use Banner batteries. Made in Austria and OE supply to BMW, Liebherr and some VAG products.

Not had one let me down yet.

[PhillipM]

Fitted loads of Lion batteries, don’t think they’re brilliant but then loads aren’t these days. Had little trouble myself.

 

Exide are pretty good if you don’t want to fork out the extra for Bosch.

Lion are just rebadged Exides.

[Wack]

I've bought online from Tayna a couple of times.

 

https://www.tayna.co.uk/

 

The size and terminal layout is generally related to the battery part number code.  Once you establish thet it should be easier to find the one you want and also you might find some being sold with higher amp ratings than others.

I've had about 5 batteries from Tayna , never had a problem

 

Looks like yours is a 096  £81 delivered

Brand Enduroline

Product Code 096

Voltage 12 Volts

Technology Wet Capacity (C20)

78 Ah CCA (EN)

725 A CCA (SAE)

780 A Length 278 mm Width 175 mm Height inc. terms 190 mm

Other References Unipart GBA3096 / GBA4096 / GBA3100

Guarantee 4 Years

Barcode (EAN) 5060518620584

[Lacquer Peel]

I would try one of the multitude of outlets where they sell batteries.

[Hertz]

Excide Excell, I have always found great value and usually £50-60 delivered next day from ebay, for example:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-Exide-Excell-71Ah-670CCA-12v-Type-096-Car-Battery-3-Year-Warranty-EB712/311578469316?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

 

My wife's car always has to have a new battery as she is doing short trips. Tried various different types including Lion and the Excide Excell always seem to be the best. Just bought one for the T4 and it should be coming today.

[MikeR]

nothing to stop you bunging in a battery that will fit for now  to give you a chance to shop around , I have stuck Nissan Micra batteries in other cars and it all worked ok .

I prefer to go for the larger capacity if possible , it will just take longer to charge or discharge , but if you want to save weight and go hypermiling , fitting a smaller battery is ok , it will charge up quicker and take its load off the alternator ,

[Sigmund Fraud]

I have got it into my head that the standard vw battery is a varta though.

 

Varta is one of many OEM suppliers for VAG, as is Exide !

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Just go to your local scrappy and pay a tenner for whichever one on the pallet shows most volts, in this weather if any of 'em are showing over 12 it'll be as good as new one, probably*.

[Des]

The best car battery is one that's in a car being used regularly. I cannot offer ideal conditions so tried one of the spiral lah-de-dah six pack looking fuckers as they'll last decades and take all of your abuse and neglect. Terminated shortly after the warranty. I've found it best to ignore brands and look for the best price / longest warranty / nearest  available to home and for fucks sake keep the receipt, copy it, tape it to the battery, laminate it to use as a radiator blind and have its likeness tattooed on your butt if need be but for Christs sake don't lose it.

[omegod]

Halfords on trade always worked out well for me 

[Squire_Dawson]

This is more of an academic question you'd ask in the lusher. Are Yuasa car batteries shit? I reckon to have read a few grumblings about them. I went to my local autoparts store to buy a new battery - 063 - for the Minor 1000. Last time I bought one from the same store years ago they sold Robert Bosch with a 3 year warranty and a cheapo unbranded with 2 years' warranty. On that occasion I bought boche. Now they don't have Bosch; instead it's Yuasa or unbranded, same guarantee periods as before. I opted for the unbranded 'Drive Tec' job at £42.

If I knew where to obtain one, it would've been a Samson battery, to keep things in the family, as it were. Is my prejudice unfounded?

[twosmoke300]

Never had any bad dealings with them - they do 2/3and 5 year warranty versions I think .

Drivetec is usually crap and a cheapy 063 is about 20 quid trade !

[Squire_Dawson]

Never had any bad dealings with them - they do 2/3and 5 year warranty versions I think .

Drivetec is usually crap and a cheapy 063 is about 20 quid trade !

 

I HAV BIN CONED!!!

 

We'll see how it stands up. Parts counter man said thirty-odd trade, I guess I should've worn my overalls.

[mercrocker]

Its all my local motor factor sells.   They have been OK.    Not as OK as the scrapyard Bosch-that-refuses-to-die that has been in the Cowley since I have had it, though. 

 

To be fair the Yuasa leisure and service batteries in the camper van have had a less than perfect maintenance regime and stood up to it, both now a couple of years out of a 3 year warranty.

[Squire_Dawson]

I was weighing up whether to ask at the scrappers or not, I suppose at about half the price of a new one you take a gamble. But I was persuaded to buy new.

[Tamworthbay]

Never had an issue with any Yuasa batteries, when I was racing the electric cars I was buying twenty a year and cycling them very harshly and never had a failure, not even a dead cell.

[DodgeRover]

Back in the day Yuasa bike batteries were good,

[RichL]

Been buying Yuasa batteries at work for a couple of years now. No problems.

Fitted an 075 on my old Focus last winter, 45 quid.

[Angrydicky]

The three year old Yuasa in my Austin A35 packed up last week, so I robbed the one out of the Standard. It has spent a lot of the last three years parked up awaiting a rewire though, and batteries don't like sitting around.

[Kiltox]

Can the noise/vibration from a roof rack be dampened?

 

My van has a Rhino modular rack fitted and I’m thinking about sacking it off because it’s so awfully loud on the motorway

[DeeJay]

Don't some have little spoiler/deflectors things on them?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/351163404950?chn=ps&dispctrl=0&adgroupid=49522826281&rlsatarget=pla-434453974527&abcId=1128966&adtype=pla&merchantid=101727004&poi=&googleloc=90465

 

There are cheaper versions out there.

[Kiltox]

[sal]

I fitted a Yuasa battery in my daily 5 series over a year ago when original Bosch gave up and it’s never been a problem. Fitted another new one to my 3 series last week when the original Bosch one died in that. So far so good when moving it around albeit it’s a summer use car.

[DeeJay]

Bugger me, that's a big one.

Ignore that post.