MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => How to Guides / Troubleshooting => Topic started by: numec on April 11, 2023, 03:24:28 pm

Title: Battery died after 3-4 years. Any thoughts?
Post by: numec on April 11, 2023, 03:24:28 pm

Hello all, it has been a while. I have the E44 Varta Silver Dynamic Car Battery 77Ah which I bought in 2016. It died on 2020 January, and I managed to get a replacement via warranty from Tayna. Now today I couldn't start the car due to battery again. I've searched in here but mostly the drain issues were much shorter period. Do you have any suggestions?
I've the Kenwood DNX520VBT, but I thought this unit wasn't the issue and not require any update to avoid drain?
Info: my car is the 56 GTI, stock, and it is a low annual mileage now that it has been our 2nd car since 2018. So car has not been used daily, only twice a week and short journeys too.

Title: Re: Battery died after 3-4 years. Any thoughts?
Post by: TheBALDpuma on April 11, 2023, 08:06:54 pm

I've just changed my battery because it died on me - last change was around 4.5 years ago, and I think that's fairly normal for a car battery.  But then I bought the ECP Lion Battery that was comfortably the cheapest, so don't mind buying the same again nearly 5 years later.  I understand the vatra are more expensive.

Lots of short Journeys and periods of inactivity are bad for batteries, maybe this contributed.

Title: Re: Battery died after 3-4 years. Any thoughts?
Post by: mjmallia on April 12, 2023, 08:46:41 am

3 to 5 years is about average.

Batteries vary in quality etc and driving habits too.

I have had my GTI six years and on bought two batteries in that time.

Title: Re: Battery died after 3-4 years. Any thoughts?
Post by: pudding on May 05, 2023, 08:16:28 pm

Yeah 4-5 years is average lifespan for a normal lead acid. AGMs last a bit longer, but cost more.

Maybe get a cheap meter from Amazon that has an amp clamp, and see what the parasitic draw is after all the modules have gone to sleep.  Ideally it should be in the 0.1 amp  region. If it's 1 amp or more, that will flatten the battery.

Title: Re: Battery died after 3-4 years. Any thoughts?
Post by: shail on May 06, 2023, 08:35:43 am

As others, my Varta E44 lasted just under 4 years, and my current Exide EA770 is on 3.5 years and is still going strong.

Title: Re: Battery died after 3-4 years. Any thoughts?
Post by: terrier on May 06, 2023, 02:18:28 pm

EXIDE premium from TAYNA 

Title: Re: Battery died after 3-4 years. Any thoughts?
Post by: pudding on May 12, 2023, 06:27:14 pm

I got a Yuasa Black for mine, must be 6 years ago or so now, and it was still going strong when I sold the car.  Lifetime warranty on it as well.

Pretty much the only fit and forget battery out there this side of a £300 Odyssey red.