VW Caddy 2.0 SDI 2010 - Battery replacement | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

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Sun 22 Jan 2023 18:50

VW Caddy 2.0 SDI 2010 - Battery replacement - badbusdriver

My Caddy has been reluctant to start for a while now and I am looking to replace the battery with something more heavy duty. So far I have looked at Halfords (as there is a branch in town) and Ebay, but am struggling to find a battery with higher figures than the one in the van (these are 78Ah and 740A).

So the first question, are those figures higher or lower than the more learned collective would expect?.

Second, is there anything other than the physical size and terminal size/position that I need to consider?.

I'm asking both questions because when I have looked specifically for batteries compatible with my van, I can't find ones with higher Ah or A figures. I can find batteries of around the same physical size and with higher Ah and A figures, but when I check the compatibility, it says no for my van. Is this likely to just be due to the terminals, or are there other factors?

I also have a split charge relay system (which I fitted myself) running to a leisure battery in the back which powers my pump (I'm a window cleaner BTW). I guess this may be a contributing factor?. I'd also like to point out that I did have the van battery and alternator checked by an auto electrician who said both are fine, but not sure what else the problem might be?. I'm not in the position of being able to put it into a garage for a more thorough investigation at the moment, so was hoping a new battery might keep me working for the time being!.

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Sun 22 Jan 2023 18:59

VW Caddy 2.0 SDI 2010 - Battery replacement - gordonbennet

Halfords battery will probably be a Yuasa, but with a 4 year warranty where you can silver Yuasa's with a 5 year warranty.

Tayna Battery is the online source many use, you can search for your specific vehicle or input dimensions and polarity position.

Ratings wise, i have similar on the Landcruiser but thats on each of the twin batteries, which i incidentally replaced last year from Tayna...note if you buy online it should come with the travel plugs in place, remember to remove these before use, it'll be labelled well to inform you to do that.

If you have a friend/neighbour with a set of jump leads or a proper jump pack, it might be worth connecting up to yours and see if that extra oomph improves cold starting to any degree before scrapping what might be a perfectly serviceable battery, you've obviously already cleaned and checked all battery and earth connections already?

edit...i know on the Landcruiser forums some of the lads have fitted the batteries from the next model range up which weren't actually any more expensive save a couple of quid, generally they are the same height and width but about 2" longer, a useful extra 200CCA is lurking in that extra 2" (schoolboy humour possibilities here eh?), might the same be possible for you if there's extra room in the battery bay?

Edited by gordonbennet on 22/01/2023 at 19:06

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Sun 22 Jan 2023 19:10

VW Caddy 2.0 SDI 2010 - Battery replacement - elekie&a/c doctor

The preferred battery for this is a 096 . The fact you have a split charge system makes no difference. Next size up would be a 110 , but you would need to check the dimensions.

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Sun 22 Jan 2023 20:43

VW Caddy 2.0 SDI 2010 - Battery replacement - badbusdriver

you've obviously already cleaned and checked all battery and earth connections already?

Afraid not GB, my maintenance skills are rather lacking!. Not an excuse, but access to the battery is tricky. Positive terminal not too bad, but I think I'd have to remove the battery to clean the negative as that end of the battery is tucked under the scuttle. Not that easy getting jump leads on the negative terminal either, but I started parking the car face to face with the van for that reason. It is a Suzuki Ignis 1.2 petrol, and though the battery on it is pretty small, its plenty to fire up the Caddy.

The battery is never flat, there is always enough power to turn over the engine. But I think there is something else going on with the van because it shouldn't, under normal circumstances, need as much turning as it does before firing (when I first got the van, it fired up pretty much as soon as the key was turned). But the combination of whatever that is, along with wherever the juice from the battery is going, and the cold temperatures are coming together in a perfect storm of hassle for me!.

The fact you have a split charge system makes no difference.

I just wondered if the wiring for this might be draining the power out of the battery somehow.

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Sun 22 Jan 2023 21:47

VW Caddy 2.0 SDI 2010 - Battery replacement - elekie&a/c doctor

Not necessary to use the negative terminal for a jump start . Find a suitable metal bracket on the engine block . This is not a common rail Diesel engine , so it’s important that the glow plugs are working for cold start . If the split charge system has been wired correctly, then there should be no issues.

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Sun 22 Jan 2023 22:26

VW Caddy 2.0 SDI 2010 - Battery replacement - Adampr

Yes, sounds like glow plugs. Wait a bit longer with the ignition on before you try to start it, or just buy new plugs.

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Sun 22 Jan 2023 22:28

VW Caddy 2.0 SDI 2010 - Battery replacement - Mr Mc

Are all the glow plugs working ok ?

I had this issue on a diesel Golf, OK in warmer weather, problems when cold. It was running on three glow plugs only (which also plays up the DPF regeneration, but that’s another story !!}

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Mon 23 Jan 2023 06:15

VW Caddy 2.0 SDI 2010 - Battery replacement - paul 1963

Another vote for duff glow plugs from me.

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Tue 24 Jan 2023 06:01

VW Caddy 2.0 SDI 2010 - Battery replacement - paul 1963

Any luck with this BBD?

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Tue 24 Jan 2023 06:30

VW Caddy 2.0 SDI 2010 - Battery replacement - badbusdriver

Any luck with this BBD?

Well I am going to have the glow plugs changed as soon as is practical. In the mean time, the milder weather in Scotland means I now haven't had to jump start the van for a few days!. I have also ordered a new battery, no more powerful but assuming the low plugs are indeed the problem, that should be fine.

I do also find myself now wondering about the competence of my indy though. Given how quickly forum members flagged up the glow plugs, surely he should have also thought of the same thing?. As glow plugs are not expensive, changing them would seem to have been an obvious first step.

But thanks all for the words of wisdom!

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Tue 24 Jan 2023 09:43

VW Caddy 2.0 SDI 2010 - Battery replacement - Andrew-T

<< Given how quickly forum members flagged up the glow plugs, surely he should have also thought of the same thing? >>

Maybe your indy has lost that habit. Since HDi engines took over, one no longer needs a few seconds wait before start-up. My 2008 car has never called for anything to do with glow-plugs - in fact I'm not sure if it has any, I suppose it must have something similar ?

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Tue 24 Jan 2023 09:56

VW Caddy 2.0 SDI 2010 - Battery replacement - elekie&a/c doctor

All common rail diesels have glow plugs, but are more likely to be used for dpf regeneration than cold starting . On some models , these glow plugs have become really expensive as they incorporate a pressure sensor also .

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Tue 24 Jan 2023 20:20

VW Caddy 2.0 SDI 2010 - Battery replacement - paul 1963

All common rail diesels have glow plugs, but are more likely to be used for dpf regeneration than cold starting . On some models , these glow plugs have become really expensive as they incorporate a pressure sensor also .

....Another handy tip, always go for Bosch or NTK ( parent company of NGK) glow plugs, there are a couple of other brands around but frankly the quality is somewhat lacking.

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