Told I need a stop and start battery for my car?

Posted 18th Aug 2023

I went and got my car battery checked for free in town today and was told that the previous owner had put in the wrong type of battery - a standard one. The man said that I need an AGM 096 battery instead and that they could fit one for £227. I did ask if they could fit a standard one (which is currently in the car) and he said, no.

My car is a Citroen C4 Picasso diesel (2011) and the BOSCH BAT-131 EMEA battery test result came back as the following and going on the information, was wondering how much longer that battery will hold out for?

REPLACE BATTERY
Voltage: 12.44V
Measured: 423 EN(A)
Rating: 640 EN(A)

When I went to a few online shops/sellers of batteries, after putting in my car registration, only a few of them mentioned an AGM 096 battery - even the company where I got my car battery checked today, came up with 6 suitable batteries and none of them were AGM ones (just standard).

Does anybody know if my car make, etc, does need an AGM 096 battery (like I was told)? Also, it says online that for many AGM car batteries, the car has to be configured to the onboard computer as otherwise it could cause alternator issues?

I've messaged my son about this, but I am still waiting for him to get back to me. However, in the meantime does anybody have any advice about this (especially if they have the same type of car that I do)? Thank you.

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bigwheels
19th Aug
If all conditions are right, enough charge and low draw.
Air con off, lights off etc stop start should just work without touching any buttons.
The eco on off, is for stopping it working until you turn the car off.
When restarted it automatically turn on again.
On all websites for batteries there are glitches, for certain vehicles.
Due to cross over years etc, My friend’s Prius needs an AGM battery but not one site tells you that.

My stop start has only worked maybe 10 times in the first 3 years.
For the last 4 years the milage tracker, black box for insurance stops it functioning.
Not an issue as don’t drive much.
Willy_Wonka
19th Aug
Oh come on. They have the right battery
Willy_Wonka
18th Aug
If it aint broke don't fix it.
paul123edwards
18th Aug
tanya.co.uk are good for batteries. Always a discount code as well on the internet somewhere.
Sophiasky Author
18th Aug
Thank you, I will take a look.
JHD007
18th Aug
Stop/start batteries have a voltage sensor connected to the battery terminal - if there’s none there and no lead visible that has been intentionally removed from the battery then a normal battery should be okay.

But if there’s an additional sensor fitted or if it’s nearby in the engine compartment then your car has stop/start function in which case you’ll need the AGM battery as has been suggested.

Failure to install the correct battery can cause electronic problems - I know because I fitted a standard battery to my VW a couple of years back and the car suddenly became like Christine (a Stephen king film) I had no end of problems and ending up fitting the correct AGM battery which cost me more money
Sophiasky Author
18th Aug
When the man was talking to me about it, I think his exact words were that there was an AGM monitor on the earth lead, so, that sounds like it does need an AGM battery. My daughter sent me a photo of her stop/start button/switch on her car, but I can't see one on my Citroen C4 Picasso (2011). Thank you.
SILLYCLINT
18th Aug
I replaced my stop start battery on a Renault captur last week, only needed the radio code.. Do you have that? Check out Tayna... They're usually cheapest
Sophiasky Author
18th Aug
The original radio was taken out of the car and replaced with a different one before I purchased it. The one in my car does not seem to be connected up to the features around the steering wheel (so, can't use any of the features located there, ie volume, etc). I don't have a code for the radio that is currently in my car either. I will check the batteries out at Tanya.... , but that site seems to think that I need the 027 battery and not the 096 one, so I need to definitely find out the correct one.
bigwheels
18th Aug
Does your vehicle have stop start.
If it does you need an AGM battery.
Without your reg or very exact specs it’s hard to tell.
I was looking at a Bosch, but after fitting a main dealer fitted genuine replacement is £10 more.
My current battery is 7 and No issues yet.

I found that dealers charge different amounts. My Peugeot 5008 agm battery fitted
At the main dealer goes from £199 to £269 for the same battery.
I would search Google for, Citroen fixed price repairs.
citroen.co.uk/mai…tml
stellantisandyou.co.uk/cit…irs
charterscitroen.com/off…cs/
donnellygroup.co.uk/cit…rs/
Sophiasky Author
18th Aug
I don't know if it does have stop start - there is no button in the car for it. I bought the car a couple of years ago and the battery which is currently in it came with it. Surely if I've been driving around with a non-stop start battery, that feature hasn't been working, ie, at traffic lights, etc? I've had a look at the links that you sent - thank you.
IAmATeaf
18th Aug
Can’t you just call your local dealer and ask their parts dept what battery it needs?
Willy_Wonka
18th Aug
Or put in your reg number at eurocarparts or halfords.

But like I said before. It has worked fine for 2 years. It doesn't need changing. (edited)
Attic45
18th Aug
If you have Stop/Start there will be a button in the dash between your steering wheel and the driver door which says ECO off. If that is set then stop/start wont operate.

Do you have said button? (edited)
Sophiasky Author
18th Aug
Yes, I think I do have that button - I didn't realise it was for the stop/start function though. Isn't that short for economy mode - that does light up on the dashboard when I switch on the car, but when I start driving it turns off. If an AGM 096 battery is fitted (replacing the standard battery in my car), when I am at traffic lights, for example, am I supposed to press that ECO off button then to activate/deactivate it each time I stop temporarily, or will it work automatically? Sorry, there are still a lot of features on my car that I'm not sure about - I need to find a manual, possibly online, for it.
Renoir64
18th Aug
As far as where the button to turn it on and off is.
Its called ECO and if you have a display screen type set up its in the settings somewhere in there.
I base this on a 2013 model so it may be different of course.
sussexroyal
18th Aug
Assuming your vehicle requires the AGM battery, you still paid a lot. An Exide 096AGM battery is £125 on Amazon
Sophiasky Author
18th Aug
I never actually went ahead to buy it as I thought it sounded too expensive and wasn't 100% sure if what I was told was correct. I am currently looking online and yes, you can get the AGM096 batteries a lot cheaper - the cheapest that I have seen so far is £105 (after a 5% discount). Thank you for telling me about the one on Amazon though - I will still take a look at that one.
TristanDeCoonha
19th Aug
If your car has worked without using the stop start system, one can assume you weren't bothered. If the system is turned off then it becomes a normal car, and as long as you only stop the engine as normal then no special battery would be required.
Some cars require a secondary battery that keeps the s/s system alive. About the same size as a motorcycle battery. If that dies then the s/s won't work.
zzzz
19th Aug
Any symptoms of a weak battery ?
I'd just charge it up and keep using it.
Diogenes007
19th Aug
Take a look at Tayna website here... tayna.co.uk/ pop your reg number in and it will tell you what types are available. Tayna is very reliable and has very keen online prices.
Canary0500
20th Aug
At 12.44 volts the battery is nowhere near needing replacing. New batteries are 12.6v, it's only when it drops below 12 volts you should consider replacing.
(edited)
gravy_davey
20th Aug
I think the TLDR here is if you want stop/start feature to work on your car then upgrade the battery. If you’re not too bothered then don’t worry about it.
ifixit
20th Aug
Tanya eBay site has a discount atm.
ebay.co.uk/itm…OPY

Will come in at £82.19
Sophiasky Author
20th Aug
Thank you.
Sprograt
3 m ago
The Battery Group sell a 096 AGM battery for just over £105 including free next day delivery if ordered before 15.00 that's the best deal I found when I had to replace my battery about 2 weeks ago.