Upgrading Starter Battery - how to guide

Not that AGM is the be all and end all but typical eBay BS when they state in the advert "EFB more power than AGM" they both bung out the same power but the fibreglass reinforcing mat in the lead plates stops them sagging with age like in an EFB.
I bought the Bosch S5A13 from Tayna on 12th March so last month for £153.84 off eBay with free delivery, there was a discount code for that price.
 
Well that was fun fitting that beast if a battery! Now are there any free programs i can use to code the battery? I have carista but im not paying £20 just to change one code!! Cheers
 
SamD said:
Well that was fun fitting that beast if a battery! Now are there any free programs i can use to code the battery? I have carista but im not paying £20 just to change one code!! Cheers
Click to expand...

I thought it was surprisingly easy compared to what I'd read on here!

Not for free that I know of... Carista or OBD11 are the best ways to go excluding VCDS
 
ben5560 said:
I thought it was surprisingly easy compared to what I'd read on here!

Not for free that I know of... Carista or OBD11 are the best ways to go excluding VCDS
Click to expand...
My hookup point is right in front of the battery so thats why it was a pain!

I've got vcds but its at my mates garage so im gonna have to go and get it! As im not paying £20 to carrista for a 1 month trial just to code the battery lol
 
All sorted, got my vcds back and made the change, i read i needed to change the final number of the serial number so did that as well
IMG_0345.webp
 
mmi said:
The battery can be replaced with a new one with different capacity and even different type. Just let the van know by using the VCDS.

VCDS - Module 61 - (Long) Adaptations - Channel 04. Hover the mouse over data fields to get the instructions what to type in (screenshot below).​

View attachment 45348

Battery Type is defined in the Codings - Byte 02:​

View attachment 45349
Click to expand...
Many thanks. The moll I replaced was EFB so I assume the coding is already right. But will check in the morning.
 
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I've just ordered a new battery - an Exide EK820. T6 with stop start. Changing from an EFB to AGM battery as advised. I've got a paid up Carista Evo, thought easy to code.

Just looked in the Carista app and can see that I can change the Amps, Brand and Serial number, but not the battery type. Do I have a problem?

Thanks!
 
FWIW I fitted an 80 Ah Varta 110 AGM into mine - I didn't go up to 95Ah as I was worried that my leisure electrics would make things a bit tight (and I was right!).
 
Hello everyone, sorry to bother you, but I need your help. I changed the battery in preparation for the holidays, and following the advice in this thread, I decided to get the Exide 960. After charging it, I struggled to insert it, and I initially coded it with Carista. The van started, but the voltage with the engine running seems low, as it reads 12.8V or 13V. Shouldn't it be higher? Maybe it depends on the larger battery size? I also tried using VCDS to try to specify that it is an AGM and no longer an EFB, but I couldn't clearly understand the steps, and to avoid the risk of making a mistake, I gave up. It could be a problem while on holiday abroad, with the battery not working. Can someone help me understand, please. Thanks.
 
My understanding is the alt only charges to 80% to leave capacity for regen braking. Therefore the alt probably wasn't charging as the battery was above 80% so 12.8 would be expected.
 
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Mala23 said:
Hello everyone, sorry to bother you, but I need your help. I changed the battery in preparation for the holidays, and following the advice in this thread, I decided to get the Exide 960. After charging it, I struggled to insert it, and I initially coded it with Carista. The van started, but the voltage with the engine running seems low, as it reads 12.8V or 13V. Shouldn't it be higher? Maybe it depends on the larger battery size? I also tried using VCDS to try to specify that it is an AGM and no longer an EFB, but I couldn't clearly understand the steps, and to avoid the risk of making a mistake, I gave up. It could be a problem while on holiday abroad, with the battery not working. Can someone help me understand, please. Thanks.
Click to expand...
You should fully charge it with a stand alone battery charger as Bluemotion alternator will not fully charge the battery as mentioned in the post above.
It’s also good practice to routinely do this according to my local battery specialists to prolong the life of the battery, new batteries are supplied charged and ready to use but nowhere near fully charged in my experience.
 
Howzat said:
My understanding is the alt only charges to 80% to leave capacity for regen braking. Therefore the alt probably wasn't charging as the battery was above 80% so 12.8 would be expected.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for the quick reply, so everything should be fine. I'll check in the next few days. Luckily, I still have a month before leaving.
 
DXX said:
You should fully charge it with a stand alone battery charger as Bluemotion alternator will not fully charge the battery as mentioned in the post above.
It’s also good practice to routinely do this according to my local battery specialists to prolong the life of the battery, new batteries are supplied charged and ready to use but nowhere near fully charged in my experience.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice, I actually charged the battery with a separate charger before installing it because in my case too it had arrived not fully charged, I just had the suspicion that there was some problem because I remembered that the previous one with the engine running gave higher charging values but it was a 75 efb varta at the end of its life.
 
Mala23 said:
I also tried using VCDS to try to specify that it is an AGM and no longer an EFB, but I couldn't clearly understand the steps, and to avoid the risk of making a mistake, I gave up.
Click to expand...
Personally I’d try again with this as EFB apparently takes a slightly lower charge voltage than AGM.
I know alternators these days, and the ecu that tie in with them, are meant to be smart - so one might assume that means they can learn, but me being me I’d still want to somehow make sure the change was logged in the system.

I’m no expert on this stuff at all though so hopefully someone that is can confirm either way.
 
Lubrown said:
Personally I’d try again with this as EFB apparently takes a slightly lower charge voltage than AGM.
I know alternators these days, and the ecu that tie in with them, are meant to be smart - so one might assume that means they can learn, but me being me I’d still want to somehow make sure the change was logged in the system.

I’m no expert on this stuff at all though so hopefully someone that is can confirm either way.
Click to expand...
I understand your point of view perfectly, because I think we are similar, I also don't like things done halfway😁 I actually tried using vcds again and I (I think) found where to put the agm specification but I don't know if it's enough to select it from the menu (usually you use a do it button to confirm and it's not present here) or if you have to enter some code on the previous page, I'm attaching the photos.

IMG_3485.webp

IMG_3484.webp
 
Mala23 said:
I (I think) found where to put the agm specification but I don't know if it's enough to select it from the menu
Click to expand...
then close the window (long coding helper) which takes you back to previous screen - now "Do it!"
 
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