Battery charge issues

[fletchog]

My 2013 125 tdi has stopped twice in the last 3 weeks with a flat battery.
The 1st time it was jump started by the VW Assist (racv) and i drove directly to the Geelong dealer, Rex gorrell VW (23Km) and they checked everything and sent me away, that was on the 14th of april.

Now today it has happened again and had o be transported to the dealership and yet to be collected.

I am using the auto stop/start function and lights in auto mode, and have just ticked over 40,00km since new in may last year.

Is anyone else having this issue or heard of this occuring?

Once, I can understand as batteries do die, however i doubt the original was replaced earlier this month and this is why it has happened again.

[fletchog]

Apparently all systems have been checked and reset, vehicle has been kept by dealer overnight waiting for a new battery to be delivered.

I would have thought a battery would be something a dealer would have on hand, obviously not in Geelong.

[kleung]

Once, I can understand as batteries do die, however i doubt the original was replaced earlier this month and this is why it has happened again.

The first time around the dealer may have just tested the car's charging system, found it to be OK, and sent you on your way.

How far did you drive to get from where you got the jump start to the dealership, and did you disable the stop/start function during that drive?

I would have thought a battery would be something a dealer would have on hand, obviously not in Geelong.

I think the batteries in cars with stop/start tend to be beefier than an equivalent car without stop/start, so they may be too expensive to keep in stock. Alternatively, they may just have run out of stock that day. I can't imagine that they'd keep dozens of each type of battery in stock, unless they were a huge dealership.

Good luck, hopefully it was just a dud battery.

[nermal]

TDI's are also hard on batteries (higher compression, needs more CCAs). If you're using auto stop/start, it would be accelerating the usage.

My wife's 2008 125 TDI typically needs a new battery every 2-3 years. RACQ carry the battery in their mobile units and can replace it on the spot.

1 year still seems a short (should still be under warranty at least)...

[brad]

At least a 2013 would be an FOC warranty replacement.

[fletchog]

The first time around the dealer may have just tested the car's charging system, found it to be OK, and sent you on your way.

That is exactly what happened, dealer made checks and all came up ok.

How far did you drive to get from where you got the jump start to the dealership, and did you disable the stop/start function during that drive?

Drive was approx 23km and yes start/stop was off, so would have been long enough to charge battery.




I think the batteries in cars with stop/start tend to be beefier than an equivalent car without stop/start, so they may be too expensive to keep in stock. Alternatively, they may just have run out of stock that day. I can't imagine that they'd keep dozens of each type of battery in stock, unless they were a huge dealership.

Good luck, hopefully it was just a dud battery.

Dealer had car for 2 days, new battery and other parts/components replaced. Fingers crossed all will be fine from now on.