Register battery?

[enobiko]

My OE battery died suddenly yesterday, after 5 years. But, I see that Autozone or Advance Auto won't replace it, they say "Free In-Store Installation not available for this vehicle, requires professional install".

All the "how-to's" that I see say just to plop in a new battery. But... I finally found something saying "If you are replacing with the same battery, no need, but if you change from an H5 to an H6 or to an AGM battery, you need to have the battery registered." Indeed, I have been contemplating an AGM battery, as I hear they last longer, and are more resistant to shock (I autocross my car, so I'm hoping I don't have any great shock, but I also live in NE Ohio, where the roads are rough and there is the occasional chuckhole...)
Would I need to have the battery "Registered" if I upgraded to AGM? I expect to have this car for several more years, it might work out well if I had a longer-lasting battery. I don't think I need the extra oomph of the H6 battery, nor the extra weight, but the AGM battery is either $20 or zero extra above the regular Platinum (depending on which store).

 

[jimlloyd40]

A new battery should have the battery adaptation done. If you get the battery from the dealer they'll do it for free.

 

[AceHammer]

It depends on if your car has a battery monitor, J367 on the power terminal.

My A3 just has a regular terminal and I've had no issues just slapping a new battery in.

 

[bentin]

It depends on if your car has a battery monitor, J367 on the power terminal.

View attachment 224783

My A3 just has a regular terminal and I've had no issues just slapping a new battery in.

Same, no issues changing from the stock to an AGM, I'll update it when I get my OBD11 back from a friend, but doesn't seem like a big deal if you don't have the monitor. Or my car's about to explode, could go either way.

 

[enobiko]

No battery monitor on the power terminal. I've never heard anyone who reported problems just swapping batteries, but then again... this might be a "you will never have known you'd have gotten an extra year and a half out of your battery..." kinda thing. Who would know, unless you do a real world comparison with a fleet of identical vehicles? Anyhow, I think the cost of the service is over half of what a new battery costs...

However, I went with a Die Hard Platinum (non-AGM). I weighed them in the store with my bathroom scale (!), the Platinum was over 6 lbs. lighter vs. the Platinum AGM. Since I autocross, I don't need the extra weight up high on the front end, and while I saved $20, the AGM came with a 3-year warranty instead of my 4-year. Odd, as I've heard AGMs last longer. If it wasn't for the weight, I would have gone with the AGM (since I figure warranties are sales devices, and not closely related to real-world performance). I would have paid the extra $20.
The heaviest H6 AGM battery is 10 lbs over what I put in! (The Die Hard Gold is 1 lb lighter than the Platinum, but the Platinum is said to have 30% longer life... I figured it's worth the extra $20 and 1 lb.)

 

[realcyberbob]

I just replaced my dead OEM battery for a new OEM battery a few weeks ago and had no idea there was such a thing as battery adaptation coding. What's the purpose and when would you need to do it? I haven't had any issues with the new battery, which I installed myself.

 

[jimlloyd40]

I just replaced my dead OEM battery for a new OEM battery a few weeks ago and had no idea there was such a thing as battery adaptation coding. What's the purpose and when would you need to do it? I haven't had any issues with the new battery, which I installed myself.

If you installed an identical battery then it shouldn't need adaptation. If you installed a different size those do need adapting to account for any size differences.
Below is the explanation.

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Battery_Replacement

 

[realcyberbob]

If you installed an identical battery then it shouldn't need adaptation. If you installed a different size those do need adapting to account for any size differences.
Below is the explanation.

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Battery_Replacement

Same battery although the specs are below, do the bold specs make a difference? I feel like they wouldn't but not sure:

Old: 12v 69Ah 360A DIN 680A EN/SAE/GS
New: 12v 68Ah 380A DIN 680A EN/SAE/GS

 

[jimlloyd40]

Same battery although the specs are below, do the bold specs make a difference? I feel like they wouldn't but not sure:

Old: 12v 69Ah 360A DIN 680A EN/SAE/GS
New: 12v 68Ah 380A DIN 680A EN/SAE/GS

The 380 amps could but if you're not having any problems I would say you don't need the adaptation. Some dealers will do the adaptation for free also.

 

[HelloNewman]

If you installed an identical battery then it shouldn't need adaptation. If you installed a different size those do need adapting to account for any size differences.
Below is the explanation.

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Battery_Replacement

Oops, I didn't know this. It's been 2+ years now though and no problems so far though so...

 

[haste]

lol, battery adaptation. what a crock of german sh*t. battery voltage is battery voltage. alternator output is alternator output...

 

[golfdave]

lol, battery adaptation. what a crock of german sh*t. battery voltage is battery voltage. alternator output is alternator output...

Here are three pages from two of the VAG ERWIN guides specifically on the battery to alternator interactions & also the "Bluemotion" regeneration function, which is part of the engine "stop/start" auto function (not Kessy keyless entry). (There are quite a few more pages, I have only included the "headlines")

J519 Onboard supply control unit, controls quite a bit & is fitted to all German built MK7 Golfs from 2013... Fitted to all later MK7.5 Mexico built Golfs..let alone all the higher spec models eg Touaregs, Audis etc.

This is why the control unit needs to know the Ah capacity & battery type/construction as these factors will affect the best way for the control module to charge the battery.