How to Distinguish Start-Stop Batteries?
3 Answers
Start-stop batteries can be identified by the following methods: 1. Appearance differentiation: Start-stop batteries have dedicated markings on their appearance, while ordinary batteries do not have such specific symbols. If the original battery is labeled with any of the following: ST, N55, Q85, S95, ISS, EFB, AGM, VRLA-BATTERY, start/stop, or idle stop system vehicle, it is a start-stop battery. 2. Weight differentiation: Start-stop batteries are heavier than ordinary batteries. When shaken, there is no sound of liquid inside. Installing ordinary lead-acid batteries in vehicles equipped with start-stop systems will shorten the battery's lifespan and introduce uncertain safety hazards during driving.
Last time I helped my neighbor check the battery on his Volkswagen Tiguan, I realized that start-stop batteries can actually be identified with the naked eye. Just squat down and look at the casing—if you see 'Start-Stop' or 'EFB/AGM' markings, you can be sure. The most typical is the blue AGM battery with a lightning bolt symbol printed on the side. Regular batteries have a smooth casing with only parameters, while start-stop batteries have labels that specifically highlight metrics like '15,000 cycle life.' My trick is to look at the terminals: start-stop batteries have thicker copper posts and an extra set of auxiliary terminals. I remember one time a repair shop tried to pass off a regular battery on me, but I called them out on the spot by pointing to the 680CCA cold cranking amps value on the sticker.
A veteran auto parts expert with 10 years of experience shares a trick: just squeeze the battery to feel its weight. AGM start-stop batteries are 2-3 kg heavier than regular ones, with over seven layers of lead plates inside. The key is to check the charging voltage with a multimeter. Regular batteries max out at 12.8V when fully charged, while start-stop batteries can reach up to 13.2V. Last week, a customer's Audi A6L had start-stop failure because they installed a regular battery. These batteries discharge three times faster than regular ones—during hard acceleration, the dashboard voltage won't drop below 14V.
