I'm new to this forum and a complete car novice so go easy on me. Sorry in advance for my ramblings
I've had a bit of a nightmare with my car. I had an epileptic seizure in May 2022 so had to hand my licence in.
My car also didn't get used much during the lockdowns. So it got a long spell of little to no use due to these reasons. I did start it up twice but if anything that probably helped to drain the battery as I didn't take it for a spin.
Anyway to cut a long story short, my car has gone to absolute ruin. It's absolutely filthy due to being parked on a drive near trees/shrubs. Mould growth on the seats, carpets, doors, seatbelts due to stagnant trapped-in moisture. Green moss on all the window seals. Crud caked on all over the bodywork.
To top it all off the battery is now toast too. I tried to charge it up but it won't take a charge even after leaving it on for 2 days trickle charging.
It got up to 10V at it's highest then drained back down to 7 on it's own when I took the charger off.
The car does nothing with it in.
So I need a new battery.
My car is a 17 plate VW Polo mk5 6R Match Edition 1.2TSI 90PS
I've seen some compatible batteries on Tayna...
HOWEVER I have just learned about the nightmare that is the coding of new batteries to the Energy Management System.
My car does have Start-Stop. The existing battery is an EFB.
I have read that VW does recoding of batteries using their ODIS system (Offboard Diagnosis Information System) and that my particular car (mk5 polo) may do battery management via the CAN-Gateway. Not sure what significance this has but thought I'd mention it since I read it somewhere.
Does this mean that battery coding can ONLY be performed by VW ODIS system?
Or could I take it to Joe Bloggs garage and get a new battery coded. Providing he has the software/tech?
Also apparently after a battery replacement the car needs a throttle body adaptation performed too so I'll need that doing as well.
After reading about the numerous nightmare errors and electrical issues after battery replacement, plus the throttle body adaptation thing, I just feel like getting a VW dealership to do it.
What do you guys think? Obviously I will end up paying a bit more but if my throttle response is perfect, I don't get any dash errors, and my stop start etc works then maybe it's worth it?
The only problem I have is that the car is stuck on a driveway behind a wall. It's a driveway with space for two cars, but only one side of the driveway is accessible. Then there is a wall. So the car is boxed in good and proper behind a wall. So if I were to get a dealership to do it I'm pretty sure they would charge a hefty amount to truck it off to the dealership.
On top of all that, the MOT, TAX, and insurance has all expired and it was well overdue for a service before lockdown happened.
I can't TAX it because DVLA website won't let me. I think this is either due to the fact that I have changed addresses, so address doesn't match the V5C/logbook, or because I have had a new 1 year medical licence.
Any advice in this area too will be appreciated.
I'm confused as to which order I should do things? Obviously I need to get the battery issue sorted asap. But it also needs MOT TAX and insurance.
Someone hold my hand for me please
- TLDR:
Car needs new battery but don't know if coding using VW's ODIS system is required for the energy management system and for the throttle body adaptation/realignment. Or could any old car garage with a coding program do both once I have fitted the new battery myself?
17plate VW Polo mk5 6R Match Edition 1.2TSI 90PS FWD Petrol
Thanks for reading,
Alex