Why do Stop/Start vehicles require battery configuration?

With the introduction of C0₂ production control systems including Idle Stop Start, it is essential that vehicles have a battery of the correct type and specification installed. More importantly, several automotive manufacturers have introduced active energy management systems that require the replacement battery to be correctly configured to the vehicle following installation.

This configuration is required because a brand-new replacement battery requires a very different charging strategy compared to the battery which has reached the end of its serviceable life. Applying the old charging strategy to a new battery could result in a loss of Stop Start system functionality, loss of vehicle system functionality, plus increased fuel usage and C0₂ emissions.

Luckily, the configuration of these vehicle energy management systems can now be carried out simply and easily using the Yuasa Yu-Fit battery configurator tool.

The Yu-Fit tool can be used to configure the replacement battery to the vehicle’s active energy management system – informing the vehicle that a new battery of the correct type and performance has been installed. It will also inform the charging system of the new battery characteristics and ensure the correct charging strategy is applied right from the start.

In this situation, if you simply replaced the battery and started driving the car again – you’d probably see a series of warning lights appear on the dash. This is because the vehicle’s battery management system needs to be reset and reconfigured whenever a new battery is fitted. Failure to reset the BMS could result in the new battery failing prematurely, loss of Start-Stop functionality, increased emissions and fuel consumption, and the shutdown of non-critical vehicle systems.

This is where your local Yuasa Batteries retailer can help, using a specialised tool like the Yuasa Yu-Fit. The Yu-Fit connects to the vehicle, and allows the technician to properly reset the vehicle’s BMS to ensure everything is set up correctly, and that your vehicle is ready to go.

So the thing to remember here is that if your vehicle has Stop/Start functionality, the battery replacement should probably be left to the experts.