Replacement battery info and advice

[DieselDavid]

The correct battery size for the 2005.5 Jetta TDI with engine code BRM is 48H6, same as the 2006 Jetta TDI.

A few online databases incorrectly show the battery size for the 2005.5 Jetta TDI with engine code BRM as 94R. This one is about 1.5 inches longer than the 48H6 battery and does not fit inside the battery box nor inside the insulation jacket.

This last weekend I replaced the original battery in my 2005.5 Jetta TDI, first using the incorrect size (94R) and then using the correct size (48H6). Beside the size difference, here is what else I learned - most from the Bentley manual:

- When the battery power is disconnected the clock time, trip odometer, and other MFI data will be lost.

- The front section of the battery box is removed by releasing two retaining tabs on the lower front area.

- The battery mounting bolt is on the passenger side. To access it, disconnect the air intake tubing behind the MAF by squeezing the band clamp, moving the band clamp toward the "elbow" of the air intake tubing, and pulling the air intake tubing off. We only need to move it out of the way.

- The battery cables are secured with little 10mm bolts. After loosening these I could not remove them from the battery posts (always remove negative cable first and always install negative cable last) until after I sprayed a little bit of Liquid Wrench in the area. When tightening these little bolts, the torque spec is 80 inch pounds or 9 Nm.

- The battery is very heavy - about 50 pounds. It has two handles that fold upward from the center area on top. Be careful.

- The battery mounting bolt is 13mm. It holds a small plate that goes into the groove along the bottom edges of the battery. When tightening this bolt, the torque spec is 15 foot pounds or 20 Nm. We can squeeze our hand under the air intake tube to make sure the bolt and small plate don't get lost.

- After reconnecting the battery we need to reset the time on the clock, reinitialize the steering angle sensor, and reinitialize the pinch protection for the windows and sunroof. Here is what to do:

1) Switch the ignition on, then off.

2) Reset the clock to local time.

3) Start the engine. The instrument panel warning lights for power steering and anti-skidding will be lit. Don't panic.

4) Completely open and close all the power windows and sunroof.

5) Drive the car straight at 9 MPH to 13 MPH. The instrument panel warning lights will stop being lit.

 

[narongc73]

um yeah thanks. What I did:

1) Go to dealer, buy battery.
2) Remove old battery.
3) Install NEW battery.
4) Take old battery back for core return of 10 dollars.

No hassles at all. Actually their computer was broke so I couldn't get my core return. So I lost 10 bucks on the deal.

 

[DieselDavid]

In my post I forgot to write the VW part number for my original battery on my 2005.5 Jetta TDI with engine code BRM:

1J0 915 105 AF

I hope at least one person finds my information in this thread useful.

 

[Tarbe]

Someone will David. Don't sweat the grumps!

 

[milesstandish]

Thanks

How much is the OEM battery?

For a 2009, AutoZone shows H6-DLG. But they don't show a price online.

 

[DieselDavid]

The MSRP for the 2005.5 - 2010 Jetta 72 amp hour battery is $108.00.

MSRP means Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price. This is their suggested price. Each dealership can and does set their own prices. My closest Volkswagen dealership typically sells parts at 1.5 times to 3 times the MSRP so for me a $100 battery could be anywhere between $150 and $300 depending on coupons and "sales."

There are also dealerships and vendors (including some sponsors here at TDIClub.com) that sell OEM parts over the Internet at prices close to invoice prices. Usually even with shipping fees the prices end up being less than most dealership prices.

 

[nutdriver]

DieselDavid - I think this is a helpful "battery post." (sorry for the pun) Most of the battery discussions do not clearly document the differences in which batteries go in which cars and it would be very easy to purchase the 94R. I researched this a bit last fall just in case my battery decided to fail. I have a 2006.5 Jetta and confirmed the same numbers.

I do have a question that I have asked but never had anybody who could answer. Could you have gotten the 94R to fit if you were willing to completely remove the battery enclosure? You have the recent benefit of apparently starting with a 94R then discovering you had the wrong battery. Basically, could you have made it fit? The main benefit of the 94R is the higher amp hour rating.

 

[DieselDavid]

Actually I did use the larger 94R battery for about 24 hours! Then I got annoyed that the battery box pieces and insulated jacket couldn't be used, and for the price of the battery it seemed like a bad compromise. Plus there is the safety aspect of things. So I put in the smaller 48H6 battery which made me happier. My opinion is we should use the battery size recommended by the vehicle engineers so it works well with the starter, alternator, plastic protective box, etc.

Based on the data I saw, the 94R battery does seem to be better than the 48H6 battery. It has more power, weighs less, and costs less.

94R: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Battery,-Group-Size-94R,-730-CCA-AutoCraft-Gold_2130011-P_2916_R|GRPBATTAM2_1729495679____#fragment-2

48H6: http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Battery,-Group-Size-48H6,-600-CCA-AutoCraft-Gold_2130015-P_2916_R|GRPBATTAM2_1729478832____#fragment-2

The Advance Auto Parts prices are not always competitive but they frequency have generous discount codes, some as high as 40% off or $50 off.

Yes, the larger 94R battery did fit on the battery tray. The mounting plate and bolt did hold the larger 94R battery in place. There was room in the back of the battery for the negative cable and room in the front of the battery for the positive cable(s). It could have been used. However...

However, with the larger 94R battery the front section of the battery box and the cover did not fit so those pieces would need to be stored elsewhere - and the positive battery post, the connection for the positive cable, and the uninsulated end of the positive cable would all be exposed. Doing this would be risky because if something that conducts electricity well were to touch this area and contact a metal part of the car that leads to the negative battery post (or contact the negative battery post itself), we'd short circuit the battery. For example a wrench, a metal flashlight, or if in a collision maybe a metallic part of the engine or car. I'd guess with all the acids and gases and possibility of an explosion this would not be pretty.

So I'd only go with the larger 94R battery if it could be protected somehow in the engine area. Maybe a battery box from another model could be used that encloses the battery? Maybe something could be fabricated using plastic or the like which does not conduct electricity well, and has vent holes?

 

[TDIJetta99]

I wouldn't worry about the positive terminal being exposed as most cars out there have completely exposed battery terminals.. The Euro cars seem to be the exception.. for whatever reason..

 

[nutdriver]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Good to know that a 94R can fit if the enclosure box is removed. When the time comes that I need a new battery I will find it tempting to use the bigger battery to get the extra capacity in the batter examples above 730 CCA vs 600 CCA. That is a pretty big gain in capacity.

 

[ZiggyTheHamster]

I have to say that I bought a NAPA battery that looked like the OEM battery (except with better CCA and warranty) and it was very cheap. So do that if your dealer charges too much

 

[farfrumsanity]

When I changed my battery in my 2005-5 BRM, I made up a cable with a male cigarette lighter plug connected to a spare battery and plugged it into the trunk socket. When I removed the positive battery cable, I put it in a piece of old bicycle inner tube and taped it so it would not fall off. It requires a little more care, but nothing needs to be reset. The current drain is too much for the available plugs sold that use a 9v radio battery to keep the computer info. Interstate recently came out with a higher capacity battery to fit the TDI.

 

[ssamalin]

I've been lugging around a battery in my trunk I bought from Harvieux about a year ago. My original battery is 5 yrs and 120K miles old. How nuts am I? and what should I do now? My original is still 100%.

 

[nutdriver]

I've been lugging around a battery in my trunk I bought from Harvieux about a year ago. My original battery is 5 yrs and 120K miles old. How nuts am I? and what should I do now? My original is still 100%.

My original battery is about the same age as your describing. Basically 5 years old and 105,000 miles.

Doing a load test is probably the only way to have any feel for its current condition. You can get that done at most chain auto stores for free. I do a load test every fall and tend to replace as I see the results becoming more borderline. In reality the original battery could have lots of life left or it could die tomorrow. If it is 5 years old it is not 100%.

What have you done to keep the new battery charged up since you bought it? Since you already have the spare my inclination would be to put the new battery in after the summer but to keep it on a conditioner between now and then in the garage ie not the trunk. Partial discharge is hard on batteries as is heat from sitting in a trunk.

You can keep your original battery as another emergency in the event your new battery has an early death or recycle it.

 

[esteeze]

Good info. I may be needing a replacement for my original battery soon.

4 plus years and counting. This brutal heat we're having in Birmingham is probably gonna impact the longevity.

 

[esteeze]

4 months later, and it looks like I'll be replacing the battery this week. Getting some sluggish starts in the morning as the cooler weather is exposing the limited starting capacity. I'll probably go with the OEM battery.

 

[Matt65]

Picked up my new battery today. The original lasted 6 years. It never failed to start, but had been starting slower as the summer went along. Now that it's getting cooler I decided to replace it.

I was not able to get the part number listed in this thread. The below part number is what was available. Hopefully this will work and give me at least 6 more years of service.

000 915 105 DG
12V 72Ah 380A
DIN 640A EN/SAE
$146.00

 

[psd1]

Picked up my new battery today. The original lasted 6 years. It never failed to start, but had been starting slower as the summer went along. Now that it's getting cooler I decided to replace it.

I was not able to get the part number listed in this thread. The below part number is what was available. Hopefully this will work and give me at least 6 more years of service.

000 915 105 DG
12V 72Ah 380A
DIN 640A EN/SAE
$146.00

Dang, thats spendy...got gold in it?

 

[ajskier]

Just got my new one today. Picked it up from Wally World. It was 96.98 and a 3 year warranty.

 

[dieselpony]

I put a new Deka in mine today, and it cost 151 plus tax and core. The original was 5 years and a few months old and still worked ok, but I thought it was best to replace before the weather started getting much cooler. The Deka is 700 CCA, 875 CA.

It's made about 1 hour away from where I live, so that's a bonus. Fewer dealers across the country when traveling, but I anticipate 6+ trouble free years.

I've had good luck with Deka batteries before and would recommend them.

 

[D-Cell_Mekanick]

Picked up my new battery today. The original lasted 6 years. It never failed to start, but had been starting slower as the summer went along. Now that it's getting cooler I decided to replace it.

I was not able to get the part number listed in this thread. The below part number is what was available. Hopefully this will work and give me at least 6 more years of service.

000 915 105 DG
12V 72Ah 380A
DIN 640A EN/SAE
$146.00

I just purchased the same battery from my dealership. I pulled out the old battery to see its part number was 1J0 915 105 AF, and the new one that I just verified from the dealer has been superceeded to 000 915 105 DG. And I payed $108 for it.

 

[Jamos]

I just replaced the battery in my '06.

Dealership wanted about $150 for the OEM battery.
Sears just had a sale on their batteries, and I got a Die Hard Gold for about $100. It's a 48H6 size, 730 CCA, and has 3-year free replacement/80 month pro-rated replacement.

My original battery was about 6 years old and had 1110k on it.

Not bad.

 

[1998993C2S]

Battery Replacement details..

In my post I forgot to write the VW part number for my original battery on my 2005.5 Jetta TDI with engine code BRM:

1J0 915 105 AF

I hope at least one person finds my information in this thread useful.

Thanks for the post. Edit/Correction: (I did not go with a AGM type) I did purchase a triditional type, DEKA brand, 48 sized battery this go round.

 

[BMac]

Is the reset of the steering necessary?

Will likely change mine thuis weekend.

 

[turdlecharge]

be careful with the 10mm bolts i replaced my battery and PO had stripped one out and it had bound up causing loose terminal even though the bolt felt tight. I was struggling an intermittent injector problem and that loose terminal solved the problem (never would have found out if i wouldnt have given the poor ol lady a jump! DO A GOOD DEED!)

 

[meerschm]

I just replaced the battery in my '06.

Dealership wanted about $150 for the OEM battery.
Sears just had a sale on their batteries, and I got a Die Hard Gold for about $100. It's a 48H6 size, 730 CCA, and has 3-year free replacement/80 month pro-rated replacement.

My original battery was about 6 years old and had 1110k on it.

Not bad.

That is a lot of miles.

 

[MacBuckeye]

Autozone battery....
Duralast Platinum
H6-AGM Item#319460
730 CCA
3 yr free replacement warranty
Paid $140

My OEM battery started dying at 65K miles

 

[2footbraker]

I bought a new-style Walmart Everstart Johnson-made battery. The new ones have a grey plastic handle on top. I really didn't want to buy the Walmart battery, but it was only $107 and the dealer wanted $179 for the OEM. Plus the Walmart has a 3 year replacement warranty. It I get 4 years out of it, it will have paid off. I'll report how it works out.

 

[Jamos]

I've used the Walmart batteries (all Johnson Controls made) in several other vehicles, and have never ever had a problem that was the battery's fault. Once we had one die because it kept getting drained down to near nothing.

Auto batteries and motor oil are just about the only things I'll buy at Walmart.

I bought a new-style Walmart Everstart Johnson-made battery. The new ones have a grey plastic handle on top. I really didn't want to buy the Walmart battery, but it was only $107 and the dealer wanted $179 for the OEM. Plus the Walmart has a 3 year replacement warranty. It I get 4 years out of it, it will have paid off. I'll report how it works out.

 

[CARTMATT]

Just replaced mine yesturday. Cost at VW and interstate was the same. VW was only 1 yr warrenty and Interstate was 36 free replacement and 6 year pro rated. $130. Car was fine all summer and now in garage. But if parked outside, it wouldnt crank in the cold! I only run factory or Interstate batteries in anything. Gave up replacing cheapos yearly.