April 2020

Right: The Varta portal has a wealth of information 36 AFTERMARKET APRIL 2020 TOP TECHNICIAN-TOP GARAGE 2020 www.toptechnicianonline.co.uk WORKSHOP BATTERY TRAINING Top Technician and Top Garage 2020 sponsors VARTA look at the importance of training around the topic of batteries O ver the last decade, vehicles have become increasingly complex, with more electronics and computer systems on board. Almost all areas of the car, such as automatic braking, emissions control and DSG gearboxes have become smarter. This poses challenges for repairers and technicians, and it is proving difficult to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. Battery replacement is not exempt from this list, and the simple five-minute battery change is rapidly becoming a thing of the past as a result. Battery fitment is getting more complex for workshops and installing a replacement battery on a new vehicle can now take well over an hour. This is due to batteries being increasingly installed in difficult-to- reach places, such as under seats or behind panels inside the cabin rather than beneath the bonnet. The number of steps to change a battery is therefore increasing, as removing seats and panels takes time and often diagnostic equipment is required for re-programming the battery to the battery management system (BMS). An example of a complex battery changeover is a Volkswagen Touareg, which has 28 steps to remove the old battery and install the new replacement battery, and takes 72 minutes. Knowledge and understanding For a technician to have the knowledge and understanding to work on these types of jobs, it is recommended that training is undertaken on a regular basis. Statistics show many independent workshops are not training as regularly as workshops in the franchised dealer network, and there is widening skills gap when it comes to working on vehicles with a Stop/Start system. The ability to comprehend where a fault comes from, understanding how a system works and then applying that knowledge to the event that is displayed by the diagnostic equipment, is fundamentally important. The most efficient way to acquire this, is by attending training courses. Good vehicle systems education will provide underpinning knowledge, and then allow the technician to move onto the more complex subject of how to diagnose if a component has failed or if there is an outside influence. Support VARTA can offer training on subjects ranging from battery basics, to testing and diagnosing charging systems, Stop/Start and the latest information on the complexities of modern battery replacements, all delivered by our Master Technician level Technical Training team. VARTA were the first-ever AGM batteries fitted by OE manufacturers in 2003. In Europe today, eight out of 10 newly manufactured vehicles with a Stop/Start system powered by an AGM, come with a VARTA. Workshops can directly benefit from the expertise of the world’s largest manufacturer of automotive batteries by accessing the free-to-use VARTA Partner Portal. This includes fitting instructions, battery location on the vehicle, and fitting times per vehicle make and model. Access to the VARTA Partner Portal is available via all internet-enabled devices: each workshop employee has free and unlimited access, so you can ensure the correct battery is installed in the quickest time possible. visit www.varta-automotive.com This comes in addition to the VARTA Battery World, a free online how-to library of tips and best practice for battery testing and replacement. With easy-to-access step-by-step guides and videos, the VARTA Battery World is essential for any workshop carrying out battery replacements. Get Stop/Start ready and become a battery expert by visiting the VARTA Battery World: batteryworld.varta- automotive.com