changing a start stop car battery

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

I'm slightly bemused by the fact that my 2018 Golf has a lithium ion battery under the passenger seat. Apparently this is to run the auxiliary systems such as Infotainment etc when the engine is stopped, which the clever EMS does for example when going downhill or stopped at a junction of in a jam. I haven't had to replace the main battery so I don't know if the aux one means that there isn't any "reset" issue. As far as I'm concerned engine auto stop/start is a boon and I wouldn't be without it.

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

and as for ‘things were simpler in the old days’ batteries last a darned sight longer sometimes as long as the car. I would certainly not go back to the days of having to change the exhaust system every 2 or 3 years. My last Fiesta had the same system its entire life right to the scrap yard. As for, admittedly before my time, regrinding valves and de-coking heads enough said. Engines pretty much run for the life of the vehicle so long as you change the filters and oil. It’s the running gear that goes in the end these days , especially with the pot holes.

regards Martin

[VicParticipant @vic]

Due to covid my car battery got upset and needed replacement a while back. As an ex car mechanic I was going to change it myself but when I checked the price it was only £20 more to get a genuine battery from the dealer including fitting. Having had previous issues with radio codes etc I decided to save myself some grief.

[Dave TParticipant @davet19446]

My 2016 Octavia VRS was a straight swap, no fiddling needed at all (according to a VAG specialist) – no problems

[John Doe 2Participant @johndoe2]

Posted by Martin Kyte on 19/03/2023 12:11:36:

Posted by John Doe 2 on 09/03/2023 10:28:23:

Things like that are immoral and just asking to be hacked.

At least in times gone by, manufacturers had the decency to not populate the circuit boards with the extra components. But now; to charge for a fully populated board or machine but lock out part of its functionality is just fraud and cheating.

Why is that then?

regards Martin

If for example you bought a new car which had full air conditioning – the compressor, the condenser, the dryer, all the pipework and the full HVAC system and controls installed in the car – how would you feel if after, say, a year the system stopped working one day – not because it was broken but because the dealer wanted more money to "enable" it ?

Or the DAB radio stopped receiving DAB transmissions and reverted to FM or AM only for similar reasons.

I would feel pretty miffed, but that's where this might be going.

[VicParticipant @vic]

Posted by John Doe 2 on 20/03/2023 10:55:38:

Posted by Martin Kyte on 19/03/2023 12:11:36:

Posted by John Doe 2 on 09/03/2023 10:28:23:

Things like that are immoral and just asking to be hacked.

At least in times gone by, manufacturers had the decency to not populate the circuit boards with the extra components. But now; to charge for a fully populated board or machine but lock out part of its functionality is just fraud and cheating.

Why is that then?

regards Martin

If for example you bought a new car which had full air conditioning – the compressor, the condenser, the dryer, all the pipework and the full HVAC system and controls installed in the car – how would you feel if after, say, a year the system stopped working one day – not because it was broken but because the dealer wanted more money to "enable" it ?

Or the DAB radio stopped receiving DAB transmissions and reverted to FM or AM only for similar reasons.

I would feel pretty miffed, but that's where this might be going.

It’s already here.

**LINK**

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

You could take a perverse pleasure from knowing that the manufacturer has fitted optional components hoping you will be tempted to pay for them and then not paying for them. I expect you have actually paid for the hardware when you buy the vehicle and then you have to pay to use them. I am sure hacks will emerge to switch on the options but as cars seem to be connected to the manufacturer these days it may need that feature disabling so it doesn’t snitch on your tampering.

Mike

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