[Sarakina]

As posted elsewhere quite recently, it's battery time. VW UK have advised I need,

Type 19 520A 110 Ah

Here on a Greek island choices are never broad. For a recognisable brand, the only offer I can generate is an Exide, that's fair enough, it is 520A I'm advised but only 100Ah. It's also a cool 180€

Now I wouldn't know if that's a viable compromise or not? Would the more knowledgeable care to advise please?

This all said, inputting the original UK reg into the Tayna search facility there is nothing offered as low as 520A, most options are considerably higher. So is this a case of poor aftersales info from VW UK or am I missing something obvious?

 

[calumski]

The capacity of a battery will determine it's ability to start the car on a cold day or supply power if the demand for voltage is greater than what the alternator pushes out. I would think with where you live and the ambient temperatures the capacity will be OK. What to check for however is physical size and start/stop compatibility if appropriate. That will put additional load on the battery if you're doing a lot of city driving without the revs building enough to recharge the battery properly.

I knew mine was knackered in November when the frost bit hard one night and the engine was lazy to turn over when starting the next day.

 

[NoobyT]

520A versus 100A?

Doesn't sound right at all.

 

[Peter.Holloway]

I believe that's 110Ah versus 100Ah

 

[NoobyT]

Got it now!

 

[Sarakina]

Having now gone into dark and awkward places I have seen the battery. It's 800/100.

It was also showing me green is good on the integral indicator. So I've put it on a reconditioning charge before I commit the better part of 200euros to something I may not need. What the car needs is literally more use!

 

[NoobyT]

Have you got a solar powered battery maintainer you can connect to the two under bonnet +/- points?

 

[Sarakina]

I use a CTEK frequently, probably too frequently.

In simple summary i think the car just needs to be driven (and enjoyed) more. A frequent 8 kilometre round trip is unsurprisingly not ideal for it.

Once i am covid free ill do a full round trip of the Island for fun 👍

 

[NoobyT]

Post some pix of your trip!

 

[Sarakina]

Posting pictures is proving to be a problem when living here."postimages.org" refuses to upload anything . It reaches around 60% then stalls and ultimately rejects.

I was going to put up some pics of the Altitude rear spoiler i have added, and a pic or two of the Ultinons at night, but i havent been able.

 

[Sarakina]

As a footnote on the original subject, having given me a battery spec of 520A 110Ah, VW UK from my third email querying this has yet to respond again. The fitted battery is 800A and all new offerings here have been circa 800A. One wonder's where 520A came from?

 

[rgh0]

There are a number of different specifications / test methods for battery Amps. The dealer quoting 520A without the test method is meaningless, the same for the battery suppliers. They may actually be the same

 

[Black Grouse]

The original build codes will include the original battery specification - mine is JOP Battery 580A (105 Ah) - but 520A sounds way too small when checking suppliers' websites such as Tayna who recommend 019 and 096 fitments for 2003-2010 Touareg 2.5 which are 840A/700A - they must be using a different test method as we'd expect them to use EN

There is a slight difference between CCA and EN measurements News – CCA and EN Ratings on Car Batteries Explained

 

[rgh0]

Nice to see you quoted the Grow Energy website - its my small local battery supplier just down the road. I got a quality Korean made AGM battery for my Treg from them at a a very good price ..... about 2/3rds the big retail chains and half the VW dealer. Plus he is a very helpful small business who knows a lot about batteries

cheers
Rohan

 

[Black Grouse]

Nice to see you quoted the Grow Energy website - its my small local battery supplier just down the road. I got a quality Korean made AGM battery for my Treg from them at a a very good price ..... about 2/3rds the big retail chains and half the VW dealer. Plus he is a very helpful small business who knows a lot about batteries

cheers
Rohan

It came up as the first hit when I Googled CCA (EN) - the world's a very small space since the advent of the internet

 

[rgh0]

He has clearly got his google marketing nailed

 

[rgh0]

I think the 520A is a Din measure and equivalent to 850A EN/SAE/GS. This is my original Varta battery from my treg that i replaced a couple of years ago

 

[Sarakina]

Ah that would explain it. Solutions always worth having. VW never responded to my last email seeking clarification