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Battery Dead?

26K views 21 replies 12 participants last post by  hsr147  
#1 ·
Hi sorry to ask for a bit of help

Last few weeks the Kodiaq has seemed reluctant to start, and eventually refused altogether and I worked out the battery was flat. Now I only really do short journeys so I thought it might just need a run, but that wasn't it. I borrowed a charger and it was fine again but then started going a few days later.

I phoned my nearest dealer (and hour away from me) and got the Skoda service I'm now used to recently. Not only do they not have any batteries, but they can only place them on back order as they aren't available to order.

Anyway does anyone know a) should the battery be covered under warranty - if not ill kust get one at quick fit and b) is there any way of proving it's the battery rather than more worrying things like the alternator?

Cheers
 
#22 ·
Hi Skoda’s policy is that if battery goes certain level down then they don’t cover it. I had tested mine yesterday. So i the guy who came to check it from skoda itself recommends me that buu a charger and get it fully charged everytime (depends on drive) if very short journeys then every week need to topup these batteries. And when battery losses power it creates a log fine in system so we can’t lie that we never let battery died
 
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#21 ·
As someone who works in the technology sector it always seems remarkable to me how there is so much technology done not very well. I spend half my working day finding workarounds to someones new bright idea done badly that solved a problem which did not really exist. Thus for example I dislike the Skoda stop/start but the Mazda version on the CX-3 I drove works very well. Thus I habitually turn stop/start off. For me, that off switch is a technology solution to a poorly designed stop/start. Power points in a car are a wonderfully useful bit of kit and there is clearly a case for them working while the vehicle is not running but there is also a case for them not working when the vehicle is off. Going back to stop/start the vehicle switches itself back on if the battery charge gets too low, the alternative being unable to start the vehicle in a traffic jam. Perhaps it is just me but surely the best power sockets should follow a similar logic and allow themselves to be on when there is sufficient charge in the battery and turn themselves off when the charge gets too low ensuring the car has a fighting chance at starting the next time. I'll bet some cars do this. Technology is great when it solves a real problem well.
 
#19 ·
Also be aware thet the 'cigarette' socket is 12volts and most dash cams are FIVE volts. Your camera will burn out in about 2 months if it is a 5 volt one (in my experience of wrecking 2 cameras before I realised !)If you want FIVE volts, ignition controled, use the USB socket in the centre console. Check you camera requirements NOW!
 
#17 ·
Just to check (as I had the exact same issue, I was 5 days before battery was dead) is it suggested then that the cigarette lighter socket is permanently on?

My dash cam was also plugged in there, but I had assumed that this would be powered off when the car is switched off (Pretty sure the dash cam stops charging as such) ?

Cheers
 
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#16 ·
old man said:
A VW Golf I had some years ago drained its battery over a 2 week period (on holiday) because I'd left on the interior motion sensor alarm.
I'm assuming that the Kodiaq works in the same fashion, so I've taken to switching it during this Covid period.
For the uninitiated, pressing the lock function on the key fob twice in quick succession will disable the sensor. It's handy if you ever leave a dog in the car as well.
Be aware pressing the lock button twice also disables the door deadlocks.
 
#15 ·
Before Covid, I'd left my dashcam on for several days without it depleting the battery enough to prevent starting. That was after driving a substantial distance, thus ensuring the battery had reasonable charge in it before parking the car.

A VW Golf I had some years ago drained its battery over a 2 week period (on holiday) because I'd left on the interior motion sensor alarm.
I'm assuming that the Kodiaq works in the same fashion, so I've taken to switching it during this Covid period.
For the uninitiated, pressing the lock function on the key fob twice in quick succession will disable the sensor. It's handy if you ever leave a dog in the car as well.
 
#13 ·
Second that, I had mine left for too long and the battery went flat and couldn't even start the car anymore. Was used to my other car where the sockets turned off when locking the car :?
 
#11 ·
Kenny R said:
Kiltedpict said:
Hi.

Thing is the car has been sitting for only 6 days since coming home from my last shift... That seems a bit short to me if Im honest...

I do have a factory fitted towbar and the only other thing plugged in would be the dash cam but struggling to see how that would drain the battery so quick... Certainly wasnt an issue with my xtrail before getting the Kodiaq in Feb.

Is the 2019 version also at risk of the battery/module issue?

Cheers in advance for your thoughs.
A dash cam plugged in and running 24/7 for 6 days would certainly drain a battery, keeping in mind that a stop/ start battery is never fully charged by the system to leave capacity for the regenerative charging to use.
I can confirm that my dashcam, (Nextbase Duo running from 12 volt cigar lighter socket), left plugged in for a week with no engine running certainly drained the battery and resulted in a "Low Battery" warning. I charged the battery by driving and remembered to unplug the dashcam whenever parked overnight and no problem experienced since.
 
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#10 ·
Kiltedpict said:
Hi.

Thing is the car has been sitting for only 6 days since coming home from my last shift... That seems a bit short to me if Im honest...

I do have a factory fitted towbar and the only other thing plugged in would be the dash cam but struggling to see how that would drain the battery so quick... Certainly wasnt an issue with my xtrail before getting the Kodiaq in Feb.

Is the 2019 version also at risk of the battery/module issue?

Cheers in advance for your thoughs.
A dash cam plugged in and running 24/7 for 6 days would certainly drain a battery, keeping in mind that a stop/ start battery is never fully charged by the system to leave capacity for the regenerative charging to use.
 
#9 ·
Hi.

So, ive just moved cars in the driveway before the wife starts a video conference and I head to the Hospital for a delightful covid swab test (no symptoms but exposed at work last week when a patient thought to be negative turned out to be positive!) and the Kodiaq warned that battery level low and I should charge it by driving for a bit.

Thing is the car has been sitting for only 6 days since coming home from my last shift... That seems a bit short to me if Im honest...

I do have a factory fitted towbar and the only other thing plugged in would be the dash cam but struggling to see how that would drain the battery so quick... Certainly wasnt an issue with my xtrail before getting the Kodiaq in Feb.

Is the 2019 version also at risk of the battery/module issue?

Cheers in advance for your thoughs.
 
#7 ·
Thanks for the replies, hadn't seen that other thread seems like a bit of a common problem then. I'll give the dealer a few days and if they don't get back to me I'll let it run flat and call Skoda assist. I guess I've paid for it so might as well use it! I'm having to charge it up every few days now.
 
#6 ·
My wife has a Rapid which also suffered with a dead battery whilst in warranty, we called Skoda assist who provided a hire car whilst the battery arrive at the dealer which took 5 days!. The batteries on all new VAG vehicles are programmed to the car so gone are the days of just swapping a battery.
With any battery issues use Skoda assist then you get a hire car & warranty cover!
 
#5 ·
There is a problem with the battery, don't buy one, get Skoda to replace under warranty. Management module is also faulty. Claim on both.
 
#4 ·
Read this thread, there are a few others that cover it. It's a known problem on the battery and the management module, I had both replaced under warranty and it's been sorted. Other people seem to be fighting for theirs. Good luck, take no BS from Skoda.

https://www.kodiaqforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=21437#p21437
 
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#3 ·
Next time it won't start phone Skoda Assist, they will diagnose if new battery required and might actually have one in the van. If it's true and battery has to be back ordered, but I wouldn't think so, they will provide a courtesy car till your car is ready.
 
#2 ·
It's certainly possible to test the output of the alternator, the condition of the battery, and the current being used when everything is supposedly "off". That's what the dealer should be doing.

There's no point in rushing to buy a battery if the problem lies in some draining current, or a weak alternator.