New Battery - Ouch - CAN Gateway issue? Firmware on RNS510?

[Deako]

Had to get a new battery this morning, as mine was flat as a pancake. Hopefully not an alternator or serpentine belt issue, will soon know if the issue recurs. However, i nearly had a heart attack when i found out the price at the dealership (after i got jump started).

£130  

Said i wasnt prepared to pay that, and they knocked it down to trade price at £97.75. Asked them to leave it (i thought it was still too expensive) and drove down to Halfords, expecting it to be cheaper.

Nope, halfords were £99.99.  

Drove back to the dealership to get the OEM part then skinned my arms removing the battery clamp when i fitted the battery!!! Look like ive been on the receiving end of a Freddy Kruger attack.

[Rich]

I feel for you bro  

Though every cloud has a silver lining

[bacillus]

Was the battery identical in spec to the old one?

I'm simply asking as skimming through VCDS and there seems to be a section of different settings for different spec  batteries

[Deako]

Was the battery identical in spec to the old one?

I'm simply asking as skimming through VCDS and there seems to be a section of different settings for different spec  batteries

The old battery was a 70amp, new battery had been revised and was a 72amp.

[WhiteHartMart]

Ouch!!

Just one though - you've just fitted a RNS510 haven't you??  Wasn't there an issue with these draining the battery depending on the   year of car it was fitted too??

[Deako]

I have no idea, would be grateful if someone could shed some light though. Dont want it to happen again.

[WhiteHartMart]

Have a read here - it should help (although the start of the thread is about the Passatt I think the topic is till pretty valid

http://vwnavi.com/forums/showthread.php?p=43687

[Deako]

Just found this on VW Navi.   Looks like i might need to update my canbus, or it could be an issue with the latest firmware 26xx

http://vwnavi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11388

[182_blue]

how old is your car ?, and how old is the battery ?

[Deako]

Car 56, battery, no idea i only bought the car in June.

Started another thread in the Technical Workshop section. Just dont have a clue what to do or what will fix it. Its probably canbus related.

Just extremely confused and dont know what to do. I hate elecrtrics, especially new car electrics. Its a dark art of Satan himself. Good old Mk2 Golfs.

Id rather just not have a stereo. This RNS510 has ended up costing me nearly £700 if i need to get a canbus update as well as the new battery i had to buy this morning. Was meant to be cheap when i bought it.

[Tarmac_Terrorist]

In my experience new car batteries are usually good for 5-6 years. I would have suspected an electrical fault initially.
Aren't the Golf batteries some sort of new type 'gel' battery? Sure I read something about it a couple of years ago in Auto Express.

I only tend to use my car weekends so often use a battery conditioner to ensure longevity . glad I do now I know the price of them! 

[TomB]

My low voltage code was actually solved by topping up the fluids and charging the battery.

At work I've seen batteries lasting less and less as the years have gone on.  These days some cars are lucky to get 2 years out of one, my mum's MX5 needed charging every 3 days if the car wasn't used, and that was a common issue with them.  I suspect the quality of materials is vastly reduced compared to the good old days.

I hope you get your draining issues sorted Luke!