Engine Battery Change and Coding.

[WelshGas]

Ok, my California is almost 6 yrs old and just shy of 100,000 miles. A daily driver.

Twice over the past 2 weeks, after not being used for 24+ hrs, it was very sluggish turning over but did start.
Charging the engine battery was fine, no warning lights when driving, alternator output to both engine and leisure batteries fine on the move. But, switching the radio on when engine off and the voltage drops quit quickly from 12.5 v to below 11.8 when my voltmeter alarm sounds.
The vehicle was built July/August 2014 arrived at Dealers early September but not picked up until 1st December so more than likely sat in Dealers storage compound for some weeks/months with a flat/low voltage.
Anyway, I know others have older vehicles on the original battery, I’m not concerned mine has failed after 6 years. Happy to change it as I use it a lot.
But, if changing Like for Like do you have to recode the new battery?
If yes, is there a simple OBD tool on the market that can do this?
I have Carista and the app doesn’t seem to do it. Does anyone know of another App to work with the Carista dongle or a stand-alone system that’s would do the job that is more cost effective than visiting a Dealership who would insist on supplying a new battery at VW prices?

 

[Vagophile]

Excuse my naivety, but why does a battery need to be "recoded"?
What is coded when it is installed?
Why can't it just be a straight replacement?
I know that this is the question that you are asking; I too will be interested to hear what the answer is.

 

[WelshGas]

Excuse my naivety, but why does a battery need to be "recoded"?
What is coded when it is installed?
Why can't it just be a straight replacement?
I know that this is the question that you are asking; I too will be interested to hear what the answer is.

It’s all to do with the BlueMotion charging strategy. The system monitors the battery status so when putting in a new battery the recoding sets the system up for the new battery. A special number has to be entered that tells the system about battery type and charging strategy to be used.

 

[KGCali]

Hi @WelshGas this may be useful... Battery coding only on T6 not T5 stop start...

[Guide] Upgrading Starter Battery - how to

My van (April 2017 T28) is fitted with a Moll battery. I am experiencing some issues with it not starting after a few days sitting on the drive. Now this could be due to the tracker I have fitted draining it but I doubt it, I'll do some drain current tests before taking the plunge. If I were to...

www.t6forum.com

 

[KGCali]

If you do need to recode this will help...

 

[WelshGas]

If you do need to recode this will help...

I don’t have VCDS so buying just for coding doesn’t appear very cost effective, but thanks.
Also I only have Apple computing products.

 

[KGCali]

I'm sure someone near you on the forum will have Vcds to help you out. Apparently you can also do it with obdeleven pro...

Coding new battery | OBDeleven

Did you buy the same type of battery?

forum.obdeleven.com

 

[WelshGas]

I'm sure someone near you on the forum will have Vcds to help you out. Apparently you can also do it with obdeleven pro...

Coding new battery | OBDeleven

Did you buy the same type of battery?

forum.obdeleven.com

Going to check with my local garage tomorrow. They are pretty clued up with Diagnostics etc although not VW specialists.

 

[Loz]

I don’t have VCDS so buying just for coding doesn’t appear very cost effective, but thanks.
Also I only have Apple computing products.

You could pop over and use mine?

 

[WelshGas]

You could pop over and use mine?

Thanks for the offer Loz. I’ll see what the garage says tomorrow.

 

[WelshGas]

You could pop over and use mine?

Loz, is there any effect on the radio system disconnecting the engine battery without a bypass?

 

[Loz]

If you leave the current ones off for more than 18hours they go into component protection, but you just turn on the ignition and it sort itself out.

 

[Alan Andrews]

I don’t have VCDS so buying just for coding doesn’t appear very cost effective, but thanks.
Also I only have Apple computing products.

The club shop did rent out the vcds for a week for only £20. I do not know if this is still the case.

Whilst it will allow you to code the battery, it will also allow you to check for any error codes, and perhaps reconfigure existing features e.g. teardrop wipe, mileage display, lighting etc.

I have a vcds and found it invaluable.

Like Loz, I would be happy to help out when I'm next in your area.

 

[WelshGas]

The club shop did rent out the vcds for a week for only £20. I do not know if this is still the case.

Whilst it will allow you to code the battery, it will also allow you to check for any error codes, and perhaps reconfigure existing features e.g. teardrop wipe, mileage display, lighting etc.


I have a vcds and found it invaluable.

Like Loz, I would be happy to help out when I'm next in your area.

Thanks for the offer. My local garage have said they can code the new battery and supply the Varta F21 so all sorted.
I've got Carista but it doesn't do Battery Coding and I believe you need Microsoft Windows for VCDS and I'm all Apple.

 

[Calimili]

Thanks for the offer. My local garage have said they can code the new battery and supply the Varta F21 so all sorted.
I've got Carista but it doesn't do Battery Coding and I believe you need Microsoft Windows for VCDS and I'm all Apple.

May i ask you how much you saved vs the VW dealership?
Just to be clear, this is NOT a sarcastic question, just interested to know, I am well aware Vw would have overcharged you. New battery+Coding. Thx.

 

[WelshGas]

May i ask you how much you saved vs the VW dealership?
Just to be clear, this is NOT a sarcastic question, just interested to know, I am well aware Vw would have overcharged you. New battery+Coding. Thx.

No idea. The Dealership is 1 1/2 hrs away. Local garage 5 minutes.

 

[Perfectos]

Not quite the same but the OH VW car needed a new battery, VW were Iro £350 vs local guy who could supply and code the new OEM battery £188 !
)Both dispose of old battery if required)

Glad you got it sorted WG, I was going to post that a local guy did my OH but that’s no use unless your local guy can do the same !

 

[Calimili]

that's what I was expecting, way cheaper

 

[pete&gill]

that's what I was expecting, way cheaper

Just a note - my local scrap metal guys will give you a tenner for your dead battery

 

[briwy]

I'm in the same situation as WG. 2014 SE 4Motion and the starter battery isn't holdig a charge any more. The van has hardly been used this year and has spent most of it's time on hook up as the the other half has been using it as an office working from home.
Has anyone actually used VCDS to recode a new battery? I have just connected VCDS and gone through the stages shown in the video. Into 61, 07 Coding and the drop down menu is greyed out showing option 0. So, I can't use the drop down to get option 1. Currently I assume the exisiting battery is coded in OK as everything works on the van but according to the video I should be able to check the existing coding which I can't do.
So as my question, has anyone successfully coded in a new battery or even checked the existing code?
VW quoted £268 inc VAT for supply and fit new 95AH battery but don't seem to know the make. I can get a similar battery Varta F21 80AH at £150 or Varta G14 95AH which is slightly larger but will fit at £180 so there is a considerable saving if VCDS will work OK.

Edit.
Had the battery on charge yesterday for about six hours and it got up to around 13v. Checked just now and it was 12.8v. Started OK and but voltage with it running is only 12.6v. I thought it should show more if it's charging OK. Now wondering if I have an alternator fault.

 

[WelshGas]

I'm in the same situation as WG. 2014 SE 4Motion and the starter battery isn't holdig a charge any more. The van has hardly been used this year and has spent most of it's time on hook up as the the other half has been using it as an office working from home.
Has anyone actually used VCDS to recode a new battery? I have just connected VCDS and gone through the stages shown in the video. Into 61, 07 Coding and the drop down menu is greyed out showing option 0. So, I can't use the drop down to get option 1. Currently I assume the exisiting battery is coded in OK as everything works on the van but according to the video I should be able to check the existing coding which I can't do.
So as my question, has anyone successfully coded in a new battery or even checked the existing code?
VW quoted £268 inc VAT for supply and fit new 95AH battery but don't seem to know the make. I can get a similar battery Varta F21 80AH at £150 or Varta G14 95AH which is slightly larger but will fit at £180 so there is a considerable saving if VCDS will work OK.

Edit.
Had the battery on charge yesterday for about six hours and it got up to around 13v. Checked just now and it was 12.8v. Started OK and but voltage with it running is only 12.6v. I thought it should show more if it's charging OK. Now wondering if I have an alternator fault.

Same as mine. Bluemotion effect. Won't charge on idle if battery at 80% or more. On idle, switch on a heated seat. Voltage will then increase to 14.4+ volts.
I went for the Varta F21.

 

[briwy]

Same as mine. Bluemotion effect. Won't charge on idle if battery at 80% or more. On idle, switch on a heated seat. Voltage will then increase to 14.4+ volts.
I went for the Varta F21.

Ok thanks WG. Yes the F21 seems to be the closest to the original.

 

[Drpps]

Thread resurrection here.
The battery on my T5.1 EU5 bluemotion with stop start, is probably now almost 7 years old and has started to fail. Van has done 95,000 miles. I have only had it 2 1/2 years and can't see a receipt for a replacement battery in the extensive file.
I am not sure if the battery regulator module is the same as the T6 but suspect the EU6 is different as mine has the simpler coding screen under module 61 battery regulator : long adaptation, which doesn't require a part number and serial number just the Ah and manufacturer plus a random serial number which you just need to change to something else to fool the control module into relearning. You also need to make sure under 'coding' that it is set for an AGM battery in byte 02 which it should already be (you can check with the long coding helper). Currently has a Varta 68Ah 680a (096) battery with a BEM code although as you can see the VCDS coding is for a JCI battery, so now not sure if this is the original battery. rating is correct and set as an AGM so probably doesn't make any difference. Stop-start has been working fine.



My other question is the dimensions for the Varta AGM F21 at 80Ah and 800cca seem a good fit albeit slightly bigger output and modest increase in dimensions, but the Varta and Tayna site also lists the G14 (019) (95Ah and 850CCA)which looks as if it will fit but is much tighter (35.3cm vs 31.5). The insulation jacket definitely won't fit round the larger one but does anyone have the G14 or equivalent and does it fit? I think it is probably over kill. Did they fit the G14 (019) as standard to the T6 which seems to be what Tayna suggest?

Also if anyone near Bucks/Oxon needs VCDS let me know when times allow.

 

[Vagophile]

I have only had it 2 1/2 years and can't see a receipt for a replacement battery in the extensive file.

Original battery should have the date of production stamped on the negative terminal post. There are photos somewhere (but I can't find them).

 

[Alied]

Thread resurrection here.
The battery on my T5.1 EU5 bluemotion with stop start, is probably now almost 7 years old and has started to fail. Van has done 95,000 miles. I have only had it 2 1/2 years and can't see a receipt for a replacement battery in the extensive file.
I am not sure if the battery regulator module is the same as the T6 but suspect the EU6 is different as mine has the simpler coding screen under module 61 battery regulator : long adaptation, which doesn't require a part number and serial number just the Ah and manufacturer plus a random serial number which you just need to change to something else to fool the control module into relearning. You also need to make sure under 'coding' that it is set for an AGM battery in byte 02 which it should already be (you can check with the long coding helper). Currently has a Varta 68Ah 680a (096) battery with a BEM code although as you can see the VCDS coding is for a JCI battery, so now not sure if this is the original battery. rating is correct and set as an AGM so probably doesn't make any difference. Stop-start has been working fine.

View attachment 71612View attachment 71611

My other question is the dimensions for the Varta AGM F21 at 80Ah and 800cca seem a good fit albeit slightly bigger output and modest increase in dimensions, but the Varta and Tayna site also lists the G14 (019) (95Ah and 850CCA)which looks as if it will fit but is much tighter (35.3cm vs 31.5). The insulation jacket definitely won't fit round the larger one but does anyone have the G14 or equivalent and does it fit? I think it is probably over kill. Did they fit the G14 (019) as standard to the T6 which seems to be what Tayna suggest?

Also if anyone near Bucks/Oxon needs VCDS let me know when times allow.

Varta was sold to Johnson Controls Inc/Batteries (JCI/JCB) in 2002.