VCDS Battery Coding

How to do it right!

In this guide, we will show you how to program a new car battery using the VCDS software. The car in the instructions is a Skoda Kodiaq from 2017. However, this guide can be used for all newer VAG car models such as Skoda, VW or Audi.

Why does the car battery need to be recalibrated?

Modern cars rely on sophisticated electronics that are controlled by a constant power supply is dependent. When the battery is changed, the control unit in the car must know which Current capacity it can now work.

The coding ensures precise Battery controlwhich is particularly important for the service life and smooth functioning of all electrical components in the car. If you are planning to change your battery yourself, we recommend that you first read our instructions "Change Skoda battery" before you start coding.

The VCDS program

VCDSalso as VAG-COM known, offers an in-depth Diagnostics for vehicles of the Volkswagen Group. It not only enables error codes to be read out, but also various parameters in the car's control units to be adjusted.

For example, the program can Start diesel particulate filter regeneration or, as in our example here, a Teach in 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 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 more current should be the version be. It's up to you how you get to the software. We naturally recommend the original version.

These instructions describe the Version 21.9.0 is used to Skoda Kodiaq year of construction 2017 to code the battery.

Step 1: Connect to the car

Before you can start, you must have your Connecting the laptop to the car. This is done with a HEX-V2 cable for this car model, which you can purchase almost anywhere. Here you will find a diagnostic cable that is compatible with the requirements.

OBD2 Scanner HEX-V2 cable *

USB interface unlimited ATMEGA162, auto diagnostic tool

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" from.

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: Set current capacity

After the successful connection, click on the menu item "Customization-10" and first select the customization channel "Battery adjustment - nominal battery capacity" from.

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

In this function, the Ampere hours of the new battery entered. Please note that the ampere hours (Ah) of the new battery must not differ greatly from the old battery. You can find out more about this in the article "Change 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" from.

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 this example, we have developed a new design for the Skoda Kodiaq. "Banner" battery we enter in the field "AF" in.

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

Step 4: Adjust 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" on "1111111112" and changed with the button "Take over" confirmed.

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

Step 5: Read out the fault memory

Once you have made the changes, read out the fault 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 Teaching the battery completed.

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

Teaching the steering angle sensor

Some new VAG cars, such as this Skoda Kodiaq, also require the battery to be replaced. Teaching the steering angle sensor. However, you do not need a program here, as the calibration of the steering angle sensor with the Steering itself.

Simply steer once completely to the right and once completely to the left. The steering angle sensor should now be adjusted and the error code should have disappeared.

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 these detailed instructions, you are now able to code your new battery using VCDS. A look at the fault memory and the teach-in of the steering angle sensor complete the process and save you a lot of money.

Even though coding is easy and involves few risks, you are of course responsible for the work on your car. We cannot accept any liability for any damage as we only provide the instructions.


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