VCDS Battery Coding

How to do it right!

In this guide, we’ll show you step by step how to code a new car battery using the VCDS software. The example vehicle is a 2017 Skoda Kodiaq, but this guide is applicable to all modern VAG car models, including Skoda, VW, and Audi.

Contents
  1. Why Does a Car Battery Need Coding?
  2. The VCDS program
  3. Step 1: Establishing a Connection with the Car
  4. Step 2: Setting the Battery Capacity
  5. Step 3: Specify Battery Manufacturer
  6. Step 4: Adjusting the Battery Serial Number
  7. Step 5: Reading Error Code Memory
  8. Steering Angle Sensor Calibration
  9. Conclusion
  10. More Articles

Why Does a Car Battery Need Coding?

Modern vehicles rely on advanced electronics that depend on a consistent power supply. When replacing a battery, the car’s control unit needs to know the new battery’s capacity to optimize its performance.

Coding ensures precise battery regulation, which is crucial for the longevity and proper functioning of the car’s electrical components. If you’re planning to replace the battery yourself, we recommend first reading our “How to Replace a Skoda Battery” guide before proceeding with the coding process.

The VCDS program

VCDS, also known as VAG-COM, is a powerful diagnostic tool for Volkswagen Group vehicles. It allows not only reading fault codes but also adjusting various control unit parameters.

For instance, VCDS can initiate diesel particulate filter regeneration or, as in this case, code a new battery.

The VCDS software is available in different versions. When searching for the software on the Internet, you will come across many different versions and offers. In principle, there is only one original version from the manufacturer itself, namely from Ross-Tech.

Start, VCDS menu, VAG program
The main menu of the VCDS program

However, you will find countless copies on the Internet, which also fulfill their purpose, but are not up to date and therefore also pose a small risk. For coding the battery as in this example, however, it does not matter which VCDS you have.

The newer the car is, the newer the version of VCDS should be. It's up to you how you get to the software. We naturally recommend the original version.

For this tutorial, we’re using Version 21.9.0 to code a battery for a 2017 Skoda Kodiaq.

Step 1: Establishing a Connection with the Car

To get started, connect your laptop to the car using a HEX-V2 cable, which is widely available. Here’s a compatible diagnostic cable:

OBD2 Scanner HEX-V2 cable *

USB interface unlimited ATMEGA162, auto diagnostic tool

View on Ebay
HEX-V2 cable

Now use the cable to connect the OBD interface of your car with the USB connection of your laptop. The OBD socket is located in the footwell on the driver's side of all vehicles.

OBD2 interface footwell, HEX V2 adapter
OBD2 interface in the footwell

Next, start the program and click on "Control unit selection". Once in the menu, select the item "19-Diagnostic interface" .

Teaching the battery: "Control unit selection"
Click on "Control unit selection"
Teaching the battery: "19- Diagnostic interface"
Select "19- Diagnostic interface"

The control unit is now identified there and an attempt is made to find a Connection with the control unit to produce. If you have successfully connected to the car, it will look something like this:

Control unit identification, VCDS
Identification of the control unit in the car

Step 2: Setting the Battery Capacity

After successfully connecting, navigate to “Adaptation-10” and select the “Battery Adjustment – Battery Capacity” channel.

Click on Adjustment-10 in the VCDS program
Select "Customization - 10"
Select battery capacity in the drop-down menu
Select "Battery adjustment - nominal battery capacity" in the list

Here, you’ll input the ampere-hour (Ah) rating of the new battery. Ensure the new battery’s Ah value doesn’t differ significantly from the old one. You can find out more about this in the article "Changing the Car Battery".

Since in this example the new battery has 70Ah, we change the value from 68Ah to 70Ah.

Enter 70Ah in the "New value" field, battery capacity
Enter the battery capacity of the new battery

Step 3: Specify Battery Manufacturer

Next, select the customization channel "Battery adaptation - battery manufacturer" .

Battery manufacturer adjustment in VCDS
Select "Battery customization - Battery manufacturer" in the list

Once in the menu, enter the manufacturer name of the battery here. The control unit uses Abbreviation and not the complete Manufacturer names. You can see which abbreviation you need from the following list.

JCB or VA0 = VARTA
MLA = minor
TU3 = Exide
5DO = JFF/Boarding
UM5 = Akuma
AF or BA2 = Banner

In our case, we have installed the "Banner" Battery in the Skoda Kodiaq. Therefore we enter the Acronym "AF".

Teach battery: Specify battery manufacturer, (shortened)
Teaching the battery: Enter the manufacturer code

Step 4: Adjusting the Battery Serial Number

In this step, you change the serial number of the battery under the customization channel "Battery customization-battery serial number".

Select channel for adjusting the battery serial number
Select "Battery customization-battery serial number" in the list

In most cases, the serial number consists of a series of "Ones". However, it is sufficient if you only change the last digit of the serial number so that the control unit can recognize the new battery. In this example, we have changed the serial number "1111111111" to "1111111112" and confirmed it with the button "Take over" (Übernehmen).

Enter "1111111112" as the new serial number
Enter the serial number of the new battery

Step 5: Reading Error Code Memory

Once you have made the changes, read out the error memory to make sure that everything is working properly.
To do this, navigate in the diagnostics interface to the menu item "Fault memory - 02".

Read out fault memory after coding the battery
Select "Fault memory - 02"

If no error codes are present, the coding process of the new battery is completed..

No error codes found in VCDS
No error messages stored in the error memory

Steering Angle Sensor Calibration

Some newer VAG models, like the Skoda Kodiaq, may require steering angle sensor calibration after a battery replacement.

No software is needed for this step. Simply turn the steering wheel fully to the right and then fully to the left. This should reset the sensor, clearing any error codes.

Turn the steering wheel fully to the left and right to calibrate the steering angle sensor
Teaching the steering angle sensor - turning the steering wheel to the left and right

Conclusion

With this detailed guide, you can now code a new battery in your car using VCDS. Checking for error codes and calibrating the steering angle sensor completes the process, potentially saving you significant costs.

While this process is straightforward and low-risk, remember that you are responsible for any work on your vehicle. This guide is provided for informational purposes, and we cannot assume liability for any damages.


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