Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Any Car People About? Car Battery

10 replies

WickedGoodDoge · 13/11/2019 17:37

This is a really niche question, but does anyone know if a Polo battery could be used in a Tiguan for nearly three years without a problem?

I bought an 8 month old Tiguan from Volkswagen Dealership A just under two years ago. All fine until last week when it was intermittently struggling to start. Took it to Volkswagen Dealership B because it’s much closer (has been serviced, new tyres etc at A, but this involved dropping it for the day and difficult to then get to/fro).

B said there were two battery errors so they recharged it and said it was fine, but if any further problems, they would replace the battery. Yesterday, it would not start at all, so B sent a recovery vehicle to collect it. This afternoon I got a phone call to say when they removed the battery and ran the code, it came up as a Polo battery. They now won’t touch it under warranty (and want £80 for the recovery charge as it’s now not a warranty issue).

I phoned A to complain and tell them they needed to sort it. A think it is a factory error? They are going to collect the car tomorrow (after I pay the recovery charge, but they say they will reimburse me) and look at it themselves.

So, my question is- can a car run on the completely wrong battery for nearly three years (I know nothing about these things) or is it more likely to be an admin/typo when B input the code into whatever system, or the wrong code on the battery?

OP posts:
KnifeAngel · 13/11/2019 17:43

Not an expert but as far as I know batteries are standard. They don't make them for specific cars.

Boobiliboobiliboo · 13/11/2019 17:45

My heavily specialised 400bhp+ sports car uses the same battery as a nissan micro, so.........

slipperywhensparticus · 13/11/2019 17:47

They recharged the battery last week? Did they have a polo inst the same time? You have a case here for I had the correct battery till you guys messed with it

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

WickedGoodDoge · 13/11/2019 17:52

OK, so battery doesn’t matter by model (didn’t know that!) but maybe they mixed it up with another car’s when they recharged it. (Or maybe factory error) Thanks, that’s useful

OP posts:
BoneyBackJefferson · 13/11/2019 18:03

The short answer is yes a battery for a polo battery could run a tiguan.

Depending on the model of each it could exactly the same battery.

ConFusion360 · 13/11/2019 18:14

The Polo battery will probably have a lower capacity to store electricity than that specified for Tiguan. The amount of electricity that is drawn from the battery is likely to be higher on a Tiguan because it is (usually) equipped with more electrical devices and the bigger engine may need more energy to start.

So, while a Polo battery will run a Tiguan, it will also have less of a reserve of power so more likely to fail in autumn/winter when the lights, heated rear window, heated seats etc. are used more frequently and for longer periods. Its lifespan is also likely to be reduced because it will be discharged to a lower state more frequently.

Greatnorthwoods · 13/11/2019 18:19

Battery doesn’t matter at all,

WickedGoodDoge · 13/11/2019 18:29

Of course they are assuming the problem is the battery. If a new battery doesn’t work, car dies on me again and the problem is actually the alternator, I will scream!

OP posts:
ConFusion360 · 13/11/2019 19:00

There are are all sorts of things it could be other than the alternator and the battery

Battery doesn’t matter at all

It really does. If it didn't, all cars would use the same battery.

WickedGoodDoge · 14/11/2019 09:17

Anyone want a batshit crazy update? I’m going to stop with A and B and just name them because it is truly getting mental.

So. I bought the car at Volkswagen Newbridge and it is currently being fixed (under warranty) by Arnold Clark in Bathgate.

This morning I went along to Bathgate to pay the £80 recovery charge as agreed (I have in writing that Newbridge will refund me) to be told that yesterday evening it was agreed that Newbridge would drive through with a new battery and Bathgate would install it. Bathgate don’t think I should have to pay for the recovery charge so they were going to discuss it with Newbridge (and then if needed, I would pay it when collecting my car and claim it back from Newbridge). So I didn’t pay it.

I then got home to an email from Newbridge (8:30) saying that once I paid the recovery charge, they would pick up the car, get it back to Newbridge and install a new battery.

I phoned Newbridge and left a message expressing my displeasure at the utter confusion.

I then phoned Bathgate who are going to phone Newbridge and ask why they can’t just fit the new battery that they have sitting there!

How convoluted can this get!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page