Best Battery For My Tdi And Why?

Does your TDI have a VW Battery or not?


  • Total voters
    423

HoneyBeetle

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2009
Location
Massachusetts
TDI
2001 VW NB TDI
T_D_I_POWER said:
It should since warm Diesel engine starts better, quicker, and it'll use less battery power than to start a cold Diesel engine. A zerostart batt. warmer blanket will further increase batt. life during cold winter months.
Question: Does the zerostart battery warmer blanket simply cover the battery (like a heating pad), or does it cover something else. Do you plug it in an outlet?

I read about how cold it gets in GA. I know that moist cold is bone chilling, even when temps appear to be not so cold, it's fridgid down south.
 

ruking

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 27, 2003
Location
San Jose area, CA
TDI
2003 VW Jetta, 5 M, Reflex Silver: 09 Jetta, 6 Sp DSG, Candy White: 12 VW Touareg, 8 Sp A/T, Flint Gray
HoneyBeetle said:
Is the Battery Tender a simple trickle charger. If so, I have a small 12-volt trickle charger.
Yes and no. If your small 12V trickle charger has the same features as the Battery Tender Plus, then yes. If your trickle charger does not have the same technology then no.
 

aja8888

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Location
Texas..RETIRED 12/31/17
TDI
Out of TDI's
Diode

HB: a "diode" is an electrical component that only allows electrical current to flow through it in one direction. Alternators have a "rectifier" that has diodes in it to convert alternating current (developed by the rotation of the alternator) into direct current (DC) which your car uses for starting, etc. Batteries are DC devices. The alternator charges the battery through the use of a voltage regulator that puts out ~14.5 volts (DC) to charge the 12 volt battery.

If a diode blows out (part of the rectifier) then the alternator cannot "make" DC voltage.

Hope this helps,

Tony
 
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Dimitri16V

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Location
DE
TDI
01 Golf, 04 Golf
aja8888 said:
HB: a "diode" is an electrical component that only allows DC electrical current to flow through it in one direction. Alternators have a "rectifier" that has diodes in it to convert alternating current (developed by the rotation of the alternator) into direct current (DC) which your car uses for starting, etc. Batteries are DC devices. The alternator charges the battery through the use of a voltage regulator that puts out ~14.5 volts (DC) to charge the 12 volt battery.

If a diode blows out (part of the rectifier) then the alternator cannot "make" DC voltage.

Hope this helps,

Tony
there fixed it for you
technically , if one diode burns out , the alternator will undercharge the battery

BTW,I just picked up a 94R battery for my PD fromwalmart , $ 75
 
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NB_TDi

Vendor
Joined
Mar 16, 2008
Location
NB, Canada █♣█
TDI
2014 Jetta SE
Dimitri16V said:
there fixed it for you
technically , if one diode burns out , the alternator will undercharge the battery

BTW,I just picked up a 94R battery for my PD fromwalmart , $ 75
A diode will work with AC. It just removes part of the sine wave.
 

HoneyBeetle

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2009
Location
Massachusetts
TDI
2001 VW NB TDI
Dimitri16V said:
there fixed it for you
technically , if one diode burns out , the alternator will undercharge the battery

BTW,I just picked up a 94R battery for my PD fromwalmart , $ 75
If one diode burns out.....my father explained to me that my alternator will undercharge the battery!!!! Since I tend to believe my daddy, my vote is cast for Dimityri...cause he said it like my daddy did!!! The alternator may work, it simply doesn't work well, or as good as it should, correct?
:D

Anyhoo......would any testing place (e.g., Advance Auto Parts) be able to tell if a diode is making the alternator underperform? Or do they simply tell you whether your alternator is working or not.

PS: I don't understand: If diodes convert alternating current (developed by the rotation of the alternator) into battery current (DC power). And I need DC power to start my car, etc. Wouldn't under-conversion of power due to any diode malfunction result in loss of DC current or battery power?
 

TornadoRed

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Joined
Aug 3, 2003
Location
West Des Moines (formerly St Paul)
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI wagon, silver; 2003 Jetta TDI wagon, indigo blue; 2003 Golf GL 5-spd, red (PARTED); 2003 Golf GLS 5-spd, indigo blue (SOLD); 2003 Jetta TDI wagon, Candy White (SOLD)
Dimitri16V said:
BTW,I just picked up a 94R battery for my PD fromwalmart , $ 75
Aren't you afraid you might catch at least a slight case of capitalist flu, by shopping there? :cool:

Good battery, good warranty, good price. I almost feel sorry for other retailers who cannot match that deal.
 

Dimitri16V

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Location
DE
TDI
01 Golf, 04 Golf
TornadoRed said:
Aren't you afraid you might catch at least a slight case of capitalist flu, by shopping there? :cool:

Good battery, good warranty, good price. I almost feel sorry for other retailers who cannot match that deal.
I have no problem paying more for the dealer battery but I have a problem with giving this particular dealer my money.

Capitalist flu ? we common peagents live in capitalism , bankers live in socialistic "paradise" :D
 

aja8888

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Location
Texas..RETIRED 12/31/17
TDI
Out of TDI's
Honey Beetle: AutoZone can tell you if you have a diode problem with your alternator, although their tester is portable and works with the alternator in the car and the engine running. Most plain vanilla parts stores do not have the software in their bench tester to test a Varta or Bosch alternator that is out of the car.

Dimitri16V: Thanks, I had a long day...
 

raybo

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2002
Location
St. Petersburg, FL
TDI
2010 JSW DSG White Gold
bigwoode said:
What does the congregation think of Optima Red Top Batteries?
Red Top is great here in Florida - mine has now lasted as long as the original and still going strong - but I would definitely go OEM up north!!

Ray
 

T_D_I_POWER

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 7, 2007
Location
Savannah. GA. USA - Toronto. ON. CANADA
TDI
'04 VW PASSAT GLS TDI '06 Audi A4 q Avant 6-Spd Sport Pkg
HoneyBeetle said:
Question: Does the zerostart battery warmer blanket simply cover the battery (like a heating pad), or does it cover something else. Do you plug it in an outlet?

I read about how cold it gets in GA. I know that moist cold is bone chilling, even when temps appear to be not so cold, it's fridgid down south.
Here is what a battery blanket looks like Fig.1

Yes, you have to plug it in to the 120V outlet. If you have an engine pre-heater, then you would need a dual receptacle xtension cord, Fig.2. So both engine pre-heater and batt. blanket heater can be plugged in to one cord to the wall plug timer. The timer then will turn on both the engine pre-heater and the batt. blanket heater simultaneously at the scheduled time.

Fig.1


Fig.2


Yes, the morning temp. can get very nasty here.
 

HoneyBeetle

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2009
Location
Massachusetts
TDI
2001 VW NB TDI
T_D_I_POWER said:
Here is what a battery blanket looks like Fig.1

Yes, you have to plug it in to the 120V outlet. If you have an engine pre-heater, then you would need a dual receptacle xtension cord, Fig.2. So both engine pre-heater and batt. blanket heater can be plugged in to one cord to the wall plug timer. The timer then will turn on both the engine pre-heater and the batt. blanket heater simultaneously at the scheduled time.

Fig.1


Fig.2


Yes, the morning temp. can get very nasty here.
Thanks, TDI........WOW, this looks wicked easy. I like "easy." Anyhow...now, which type of heater is best and why?

Fuel heater?
Battery heater?
Oil heater?
Coolant heater?

Why heat certian parts, not others?
 

T_D_I_POWER

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 7, 2007
Location
Savannah. GA. USA - Toronto. ON. CANADA
TDI
'04 VW PASSAT GLS TDI '06 Audi A4 q Avant 6-Spd Sport Pkg
I would go with Zerostart. Why, because they're a reputable co. and have the know how when comes to cold starting aid products. There others, i.e. Pyroil, Wesbastos, but aren't readily available.
 

Victor Huge

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2009
Location
Alberta
TDI
Mk7 Golf TDI
In regards to battery choice, I just switched mine yesterday, it was the original from when the car was built, so that goes to show how good they are... I wouldn't have switched it if I lived in a warmer area, but it dipped to 9 volts (if not less) when cranking so I figured better get a new one than be stranded.
 

JB05

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 20, 2005
Location
Il.USA
TDI
Golf,2005,anthracite blue
Bluesmoker, which Exide did you buy, how is the fit(battery cover) and where did you buy from?
 

JB05

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 20, 2005
Location
Il.USA
TDI
Golf,2005,anthracite blue
HB, bear in mind that heat is more destructive to a battery than the cold. If distilled water is not added periodically, your battery life will be shortened even further. Are you aware of the fact that our OEM Varta's are not maintenance free. Pull back the plastic tape atop your battery and you will see the cell caps. Add enough distilled water to reach the bottom of the cell cavities. DBW has a pretty good write-up in regards to our TDI batteries if you care to do some further research.
 

HoneyBeetle

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2009
Location
Massachusetts
TDI
2001 VW NB TDI
aja8888 said:
Honey Beetle: AutoZone can tell you if you have a diode problem with your alternator, although their tester is portable and works with the alternator in the car and the engine running. Most plain vanilla parts stores do not have the software in their bench tester to test a Varta or Bosch alternator that is out of the car.

Dimitri16V: Thanks, I had a long day...
I figured I'd let you know I went to NAPA and had my alternator checked (not benched checked, although the will do this too). My alternator read 14.20 volts with the engine cranked. So, I guess it's ok. Just wondering how I could tell if a "diod" isn't working or the alternator is under-performing. That's all!
 
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aja8888

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Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Location
Texas..RETIRED 12/31/17
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Out of TDI's
HoneyBeetle said:
I figured I'd let you know I went to NAPA and had my alternator checked (not benched checked, altough the will do this too). My alternator read 14.20 volts with the engine cranked. So, I guess it's ok. Just wondering how I could tell if a "diod" isn't working or the alternator is under-performing. That's all!
HB: Thanks for letting me know NAPA can bench test these foreign alternators. I didn't try them when mine was on the fritz. If a diode is "out", the alternator will either put out reduced DC voltage or none at all. My diodes were fine, it was the windings that went bad (must have shorted out). My alternator did not put out any measureable voltage so the battery was not charging.

Cheers!

Tony
 

Curious Chris

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 11, 2001
Location
Pineview GA
TDI
Jetta Wagon 2003 RIP Rockford IL
I think the main issue with buying a battery at the dealer is getting the right one for you car.

Of course I doubt that VW manufactures batteries, so yes if you are know the right battery, you can buy a battery elsewhere. East Penn Deka make a lot of batteries and that is what is in my car now.
 

HoneyBeetle

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2009
Location
Massachusetts
TDI
2001 VW NB TDI
aja8888 said:
HB: Thanks for letting me know NAPA can bench test these foreign alternators. I didn't try them when mine was on the fritz. If a diode is "out", the alternator will either put out reduced DC voltage or none at all. My diodes were fine, it was the windings that went bad (must have shorted out). My alternator did not put out any measureable voltage so the battery was not charging.

Cheers!

Tony
Your welcome, Tony. This was a good experience for me, and my car.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
Wow, that's a lot of posts on a battery question. So many opinions. Maybe it's good I don't sell them.

My vote was for OE replacement, from the dealer (that's what I mean by OE). The NB battery is a bit smaller and less powerful than the Golf/Jetta because of space considerations, but it still seems to work fine for people. If you have the OE battery in the car make sure they match the number, including any suffix.

I've had tremendous luck with OE batterys. In fact the original battery is still in IBW, 8 years and 220K later. What's not to like?
 

T_D_I_POWER

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 7, 2007
Location
Savannah. GA. USA - Toronto. ON. CANADA
TDI
'04 VW PASSAT GLS TDI '06 Audi A4 q Avant 6-Spd Sport Pkg
When you buy a battery from the stealership, you pay an arm and a leg for a plain vanilla battery. Even the most powerful one with 80 Ah, it only puts out 380A DIN = 640A SAE CA. CCA = CA X .8 = 512 A SAE. This is a very meagre battery, when compares to the OEM Energizer E48, and others, that puts out more Amps, and it costs peanuts to buy.

The beauty to buy an OEM battery is the challenge trying to buy a battery with the highest CCA that fits w/i the given battery compartment. Now, I call that fun.

Yes, I drive a German car but it doesn't need to have a German made battery. Made in USA battery is a much better.
 
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MOGolf

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Joined
Jun 27, 2001
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underneath something
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2001 Golf GLS TDI Reflex silver, rough road suspension and steel skid plate, 2004 Passat Variant, Candy White, rough road suspension and geared balanced shaft module, and much, much more. 2016 LR RR HSE TD6, 2019 Jaguar I-PACE
80Ah is not the most powerful battery. There's the AK suffix that goes in a Touareg. 110Ah, 520A DIN.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
Pay an arm and a leg? When my daughter's MKII needed a battery the dealer was one of the more reasonable options. I got a cheap one from Autozone because she plans to have the car for as short a period of time as possible. But the dealer battery wasn't that much more expensive. And the last battery I bought for a TDI was for my MKIII and I think it was about $110.
 
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