Aftermarket September 2022

MONTH 2017 AFTERMARKET 3 www.aftermarketonline.net depends on many factors, including the area of use. During urban use, the automatic Stop/Start system causes the engine to switch off at standstill. Naturally, it is less effective on long motorway journeys. High demands The reliable supply of electrical consumers while the engine is switched off, is very demanding. That is why an advanced lead acid battery is the heart of every well-functioning Stop/Start system. The only battery technologies which can withstand the challenges of automatic Stop/Start systems are AGM and EFB. EFB batteries; for entry - level Stop/Start systems The enhanced flooded battery (EFB) is for the power supply of cars with entry-level automatic Stop/Start systems. The design of EFB batteries is a further development of conventional lead acid batteries. Several enhancements on component level help to extend the life of the battery. The low internal resistance of EFB batteries guarantee a strong cycle durability and improve the stability in challenging applications such as Stop/Start; They can withstand two times more charging cycles compared to conventional starter batteries. AGM batteries; For advanced Stop/Start systems When it comes to vehicles with automatic Stop/Start systems with braking energy recovery (recuperation), or cars with premium equipment and sophisticated accessories, absorbent glass mat (AGM) offer a higher capability to withstand these high-power demands compared to regular starter batteries. AGM batteries have excellent cold- start characteristics. They enable a powerful engine start which supports a reduced operation time of the starter. Thanks to their good recharge capability and high power in lower states of charge, a warm engine can be switched off and started again several times at short intervals, without the risk of difficulties when restarting. Regarding their service life, AGM batteries also have significant advantages over traditional starter batteries. They can withstand three times more charging cycles than conventional starter batteries. Because the electrolyte in an AGM battery is bound in an absorbent glass fleece, it makes them resilient to hard conditions, leak-proof and maintenance-free. Checking your customer’s Stop/Start is working? If you service a car with an automatic Stop/Start System, there are a few things you need to be aware of. When replacing the car’s battery, the new battery must be able to be recognized by the battery sensor (IBS) of the Stop/Start system, so that the vehicle can track the battery status accurately, therefore programming/registering of the new battery is necessary. This allows the vehicle’s energy management to closely monitor the battery parameters in order to leverage the highest fuel savings. If an incorrect battery is installed in the vehicle or it is not correctly registered, this can result in some on-board functionality (e.g. electric windows) ceasing to work or even premature battery deterioration and another breakdown. If an AGM battery is already installed in the vehicle, it must always be replaced with another AGM battery. An upgrade from an EFB to an AGM battery is possible though and can increase the efficiency of the automatic Stop/Start system resulting in more efficient fuel consumption. VARTA highly recommend not to downgrade the battery or try to fit a traditional flooded battery to a vehicle with Stop/Start; they simply were not designed to deal with the recurring stop and then start again type journeys. On the other hand, an ageing battery is susceptible to reduce the number of Stop/Start events taking place. Therefore, it is recommended to check the battery on a regular basis as part of the service and replace before it fails to ensure maximum fuel economy. So, to guarantee your customer’s vehicle gets the most out of its fuel saving measures, VARTA encourage technicians to test every car’s battery entering the workshop, and if in a weak state, suggesting to the customer it is replaced, using the fuel saving benefits as rationale. To ensure you keep your customers satisfied, recommend VARTA the battery brand trusted by the trade, the world’s leading original equipment battery. Depending on the style of driving, Stop/Start technology can achieve fuel savings of up to 15% ” SEPTE BER 20 2 AFTERMARKET 25 Follow the competition on facebook: facebook.com/ aftermarketmagazine