Changing the battery

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johnparker
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Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 3:35 pm

Changing the battery

Post by johnparker »

Hi all
Just wondered if anyone has changed/disconnected their battery on a mk9 polo?
My Dad has been told by 2 non VW garages that his 4 year old battery is duff. He is also being told that there could be issues with codes and the stop start system when the battery is disconnected and specialised equipment is required. He therefore feels inclined to go to the VW main dealer who are quoting over £300!
He can get the same battery delivered next day for £75 but worried about getting into deep trouble changing it himself.
We would be very grateful for any advice.
RUM4MO
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Drives: B8 S4 & 6R/6C1 1.2TSI 110
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Re: Changing the battery

Post by RUM4MO »

This sounds more like lack of proper information that anything else.

Disconnecting the battery, I'd expect only a few things to need resetting, the first being electric window memories, and the second the engine management settings - but the engine management settings will get relearned quickly over a normal cold start and varied driving run of a few miles, after that it will always keep learning or adapting slowly. The window memories will get relearned by the window switches being held for a few seconds at the top and bottom positions for all electric windows.

Battery needing recoding, this is true but it has been claimed that if you replace with exactly the same brand and model of battery then the battery management system will relearn the improved battery values over time, though the formal way to sort this out requires the new battery to "coupled" to the car's battery management system.

Lots of small workshops are missing out it seems, why can't they get up to speed as most modern cars use some form of battery management system that requires a specific action to "couple" the new battery to a car. You would need something like VCDS to sort out the new battery code thing.

Beware that your father might be getting mugged into buying a "suitable" basic lead acid battery that the seller's guide says is "same as" when in fact that car, if it has stop/start fitted would need an EFB.

Edit:- as your dad's car has a 4 years old battery, the car is only 4 years old so probably has an EFB battery fitted right now.

Another Edit:- should be EFB and not ELB!
Last edited by RUM4MO on Tue Nov 12, 2019 12:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
RUM4MO
Bling Bling Diamond Member
Posts: 5859
Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:12 pm
Drives: B8 S4 & 6R/6C1 1.2TSI 110
Location: Mid Lothian

Re: Changing the battery

Post by RUM4MO »

Remember that there are devices you can buy to support the car's systems while you are swopping batteries over.

Edit:- if buying one get the one that connects to the OBD2 port as the "cig socket" get switched off with the ignition, also buy a Gunsons etc one as they have built in protection.
Brian422
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Drives: 2013 Polo 1.2 Match Edition
Location: Bristol

Re: Changing the battery

Post by Brian422 »

Just changed battery in my 2013 polo 6R, and like you wondering what to do.

First thing to do is establish whether your car is fitted with Battery Energy Management System.

I posted a VCDS scan on RossTech Forum and was told that my car did not have a Battery Energy Management System do replacement would not be particularly difficult.

If it has B.E.M.S you'll need to install new battery and have to code the battery have VCDS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJAScg6JrYI

Luckily mine did not so I made a memory saver that plugs into the OBD2 connector. Loads of memory savers, just Google.

Then just need 13 mm socket for clamp and 10 mm socket/spanner for battery terminals.

Ross Tech advise performing Throttle Body Adaption following battery replacement.

Hope this helps.
RUM4MO
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Posts: 5859
Joined: Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:12 pm
Drives: B8 S4 & 6R/6C1 1.2TSI 110
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Re: Changing the battery

Post by RUM4MO »

I corrected my first posting as I had written ELB when I meant to write EFB, now if the battery currently fitted is an EFB that will be written on it, these batteries are only needed when the car has Stop/Start fitted and will also have a dongle connected between the battery earth and chassis (as mentioned by Veteran on another thread).

If the car has not have a dongle or EFB battery fitted it will not have Stop/Start and so things will be a lot simpler, what year is that Polo?
johnparker
Getting There!
Posts: 52
Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 3:35 pm

Re: Changing the battery

Post by johnparker »

It is a Feb 2015 built car with 15000miles.
Many thanks for your help on this guys. Dad has since had a quote from the other VW dealer in the area for £186 and has decided to go with it. Surprising how different 2 VW dealers can be on price!
Do you know if it's ok to use a Smart charger on this model with the battery still in the car?
joe6
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Drives: Golf Mk6 GTI (Scirocco gone) Polo 6c GTI
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Re: Changing the battery

Post by joe6 »

If the charger is suitable for EFB battery it usually says in the instructions. You need to connect to the positive in the normal way but negative needs to be connected to a body earth point and not the battery.
RUM4MO
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Re: Changing the battery

Post by RUM4MO »

joe6 wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2019 9:04 am If the charger is suitable for EFB battery it usually says in the instructions. You need to connect to the positive in the normal way but negative needs to be connected to a body earth point and not the battery.
Even if it does not say it is suitable for use with EFB batteries it will be okay for this use, EFB batteries "like" a slightly higher charging voltage - but as you are only doing this short term it will not be an issue - as long as that charger is a smart charger.

Edit:- for a period in time, Skoda Fabia owners were finding that their EFB batteries were failing in early life, I have a CTEK battery tester and I check my wife's August 2015 VW Polo 1.2TSI 110PS battery at service time, so far it is still looking good enough, most if not all our use of that car is for journeys of over 5 miles and mainly with the Auto stop/start inhibited to promote better battery state and possibly battery life.
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