SKODA FABIA
Q I have a 2016 Skoda Fabia AMB MP55/1.0 M5F with an engine code of CHYB. The short version; do I need to adapt the battery monitoring control unit -J367 if I replace the current battery with an equivalent specification battery? The long version: I bought the Fabia when it was 2.5-years-old, so it still had a bit of warranty to run. The Start-Stop function hardly ever worked – it would sometimes work after 30 minutes of out-of-town driving, but not always. The car is used for short journeys three days a week, and a 30-minute A-road commute two days a week.
During the remaining warranty period, the main dealer looked at the reluctant Start-Stop function and reported that nothing was wrong, they said that they had ‘recoded the battery’ and that this might help. This did not help. A further visit to the dealer, again in the warranty period, had them insisting that the battery was not the problem, it was the way I drove it that was the issue. They made it clear that the battery was not the issue and that no replacement under warranty would be considered.
The car is getting on for six-years-old now, the Start-Stop function is still reluctant to non-existent – the car also nags about ‘12V battery almost empty’ after it’s been sat idle for a few days. My feeling is that battery is end of life and it’s time for a new one.
The current battery is Moll brand 59Ah EFB. I think it’s got a 640A CCA spec. I can find a similar battery for example Varta 027 EFB (60Ah/640A CCA). Can I do a straight swap without needing to adapt the battery monitoring control unit -J367?
A The short version yes. The longer version, when replacing or even disconnecting the battery on any vehicle with a battery condition sensor, it is important to disconnect the sensor multiplug from the battery lead before proceeding. Even a battery of the same capacity will need the power management system to be recoded using diagnostic equipment.
The monitoring system checks the state of the battery and adjusts the charging rate and senses the ability of the battery to perform the Stop-Start function.
As the old battery ages the plates will calcify and the ability to
