Slight starting issue

[Fintious maximus]

Hi all, only had my van a week and not done any long journeys yet. I’ve done a couple of short trips today and noticed that it was hesitating to start - one occasion it did a slowish turnover but fired up fairly quickly and then the next couple of starts it fired and then died and then started on the second try. On the Sargent controller in the back I pressed the v battery button and the top green light was out - could it just need a good run to get a decent charge in it. When I went to view the van the battery was dead so they had to charge it as it had been stood on the forecourt for a couple of months…

 

[StratosFearXX]

Age of van and battery? They don't like being left dead for a couple of months ...

 

[Fintious maximus]

It’s a 2017 - not sure if it’s the original battery. It’s started fine in the week up to today

 

[Sasquatch]

Battery. Could be original, weather is getting cooler...fits the pattern. Check the date code, and in any case get it tested before it leaves you stranded at the roadside in werewolf country.

 

[Fintious maximus]

Silly question - I assume the battery is in the engine bay

 

[Sasquatch]

Aye, rights hand side as you look at the engine bay. Some hide under a large plastic trim panel.

 

[Fintious maximus]

Another question - does these batteries need a smart charger or am I alright to use a trickle charger overnight. Will take it to Halfords in the morning to have the battery checked

 

[Fintious maximus]

Just out now to pick my son up from work and started straight away. Booked in to Halfords at 8.30 tomorrow. Checked there battery price and nearly £250 fitted

 

[DXX]

Just out now to pick my son up from work and started straight away. Booked in to Halfords at 8.30 tomorrow. Checked there battery price and nearly £250 fitted

Don’t go to Halfords, find a local battery specialist or go to Tanya Batteries online and fit yourself.
£250 is ridiculous.

 

[DaveD]

When I went to view the van the battery was dead so they had to charge it as it had been stood on the forecourt for a couple of months…

Oh, a real professional outfit then?

 

[DXX]

Hi all, only had my van a week and not done any long journeys yet. I’ve done a couple of short trips today and noticed that it was hesitating to start - one occasion it did a slowish turnover but fired up fairly quickly and then the next couple of starts it fired and then died and then started on the second try. On the Sargent controller in the back I pressed the v battery button and the top green light was out - could it just need a good run to get a decent charge in it. When I went to view the van the battery was dead so they had to charge it as it had been stood on the forecourt for a couple of months…

That should have been the cue to walk away

 

[Stay Frosty]

A 2017 van would probably have had a Moll make starter battery and most of these died within warranty and were replaced free of charge by VW Assistance if you were lucky.
There are a few signs for the starter battery being on the way out, on mine, also a 2017 model, it showed as the stop/start not working.

 

[DaveD]

That should have been the cue to walk away

It's a sellers market when they have a booked viewing yet can't be bothered to check if it starts until the potential buyer turns up and it doesn't!

 

[Fintious maximus]

A 2017 van would probably have had a Moll make starter battery and most of these died within warranty and were replaced free of charge by VW Assistance if you were lucky.
There are a few signs for the starter battery being on the way out, on mine, also a 2017 model, it showed as the stop/start not working.

Ah, that’s interesting as the stop/start doesn’t work and says it in the driver alerts bit on the MFD. I seen a couple of vids on you tube which say the new battery needs coding - fad have a decent priced battery so can change it myself instead of getting fleeced at Halfords but I can’t code it

 

[DXX]

Carista is a cheap option for coding the battery and you will inevitably need it in the future to identify and reset fault codes.

 

[Stay Frosty]

Must admit I would be in the same position regarding the coding but realistically the worst that would happen is the the stop start possibly displaying a fault still until the ECU learns the new battery state from the van smart shunt.
Many on here upgrade their battery for a bit more Ah so it's a normal enough situation.

 

[Fintious maximus]

So I can put a new battery on and maybe code later or let it sort itself out. Got in the van this morning and was dead on the first turn of the key and then turned slowly on the second try. At Halfords now for the battery health check and if they confirm battery fault I’m going to go to the dealer where I got the van and see if they’ll sort a new battery. If not the next stop is GSF with me spanners

 

[Stay Frosty]

Check on here to see what battery make and capacity people buy although generally you'll probably get a better deal online rather than buying locally.

 

[Fintious maximus]

Update. Halfords said battery was at 88% and alternator was charging properly so they say the battery is okay but said maybe glow plugs! (stop/start warning on MFD still?). Took it back to the converters and explained this to them and their battery test gadget said the battery was reading 115% but agreed that the stop/start warning would likely be related to battery. They didn’t think it was glow plugs as the engine is slow cranking so pointing at battery. They called their mechanic (local Transporter wizard - knows his stuff, I’ve spoken to him before) and he said it’s likely the battery regardless of what the machine is saying. Anyway, they are ordering a battery and fitting later today (if delivered in time) or Monday morning. If that doesn’t sort it then it’s going to the mechanic to figure out what the issue is. Annoying thing is it was very slow to crank first thing this morning and has behaved since

 

[DXX]

Update. Halfords said battery was at 88% and alternator was charging properly so they say the battery is okay but said maybe glow plugs! (stop/start warning on MFD still?). Took it back to the converters and explained this to them and their battery test gadget said the battery was reading 115% but agreed that the stop/start warning would likely be related to battery. They didn’t think it was glow plugs as the engine is slow cranking so pointing at battery. They called their mechanic (local Transporter wizard - knows his stuff, I’ve spoken to him before) and he said it’s likely the battery regardless of what the machine is saying. Anyway, they are ordering a battery and fitting later today (if delivered in time) or Monday morning. If that doesn’t sort it then it’s going to the mechanic to figure out what the issue is. Annoying thing is it was very slow to crank first thing this morning and has behaved since

But you had just driven to Halfords from home. If the battery is 5 years + old it will be seriously degraded.
My OEM 6 year old battery tested fine but was being constantly trickle charged from solar so probably masked the internal short circuit.