Car battery brands - suggestions?

martyp

Hi all,

My car has trouble starting and in the mornings my fanbelt squeals like mad just after starting (was replaced earlier this year and garage just suggested some WD-40). I did a battery test at home and it shows low voltage. I did consider getting it tested for free somewhere locally but would then feel awkward if I went somewhere else to buy the battery...
The current battery is a Lion branded one and no idea when it was last changed (no record of it and have had the car for 2 and a half years).
Anyway, based on how the car seems to be slow turning over now and the alternator seems to be struggling to replace lost charge in the mornings I thought best to look into a new battery. Realistically I just see a black block with a label on the side of it, I really have no idea if there is any difference between the different brands etc.

Just a rough idea of prices I have found:
Exide - 2 years warranty £50, 3 years £55 fitted
Lion - £40 (fit myself) - 3 year warranty (possible £30)
Numax - £49 - 12 month warranty (fit myself)
Hankook - £36 eBay (fit myself)
Exide -£70 fitted - 3 year warranty
Bosch - £63 - 3 year warranty
Duracell - £58 - 5 year warranty

Someone I work with suggested many batteries are the same and just rebranded, one place I called swears by Exide and sell nothing else.

Would be interested to know views of people here

facade

I generally get Yuasa, as in The Olden Days they lasted very well, the one on my 'bike managed 13 years.
However, I had to change the one on my Other Bike last month, and I wrote the date I fitted the previous Yuasa one and it was 27/02/2010.

Nothing seems to last anymore.....

I replaced it with a Powermax for less than 1/3rd the price. If it lasts 2 years I am winning.


You are right about the generic ones like Powermax, Lion, and other own brands, they come on a pallet from China, and the distributors put the sticker on.

*j*

If the alternator belt squeals on start up, it may need to be tightened a bit.

For the battery, have a look at www.batterymegastore.co.uk or www.tanya.co.uk for some of the best prices with next day delivery.

You can measure the physical dimensions of your current battery to help check fitting.

Varta and Bosch are good brands. Their silver ranges are 4 year warranty I think.

Check the amp hours and cold cranking currents; the bigger the better. Also weight; the heavier the better, in general.

bigjl

I fitted an Exide to my Jaguar and had no issues. Was the one with a three year warranty.

The length of the warranty is likely the the most important point.

If you can get a much longer warranty for only a minimal extra spend them I would go that

EuroCarParts have good prices on batteries and they have a large stock in most stores.

There is a code, Extra10, that was active last week but I don't know when it expires.

The thing I like about Euro is you can order online for local collection.

You can usually get your stuff in an hour or so.

vansboy

It is accurate to say the budget brands may well be the same item,just another label on it. Plus the longer warranty, would possibly mean no difference to actual battery...just a higher price.

Also it is easy to fit it yourself, usually. But do remember you need to have radio security code remembered, before you swap things, or if its lost, you'll have to possibly pay to re code.

If supplier fits it, they will have a tool to 'store' memory details. But worth double checking first

VB

straighttalker

I'd go with the Duracell I presume from ECP. If it's got a 5 year warranty, make sure you keep the invoice and any paperwork safe.

Marktheshark

Wd40 will make the belt slip more and cure the sound, the alternator will not charge the battery with a slipping belt.
I would change garages, this one is incompetent.

Once the belt is tightened correctly so it is not slipping, see if the issue cures itself.

salubrious

Do yourself a faour and get the charging and the battery checked - The alternator belt is going to need attention too.

You're doing things the wrong way around, hoping that a new battery is going to cure a problem that hasn't been checked out correctly.

peter12345678910

I would go with the cheapest one with no warranty. If u do use the warranty u would have no car and all they do is recondition the battery. You can buy your own warranty by buying 2 cheap eBay batteries, 1 battery spare.

richy999

salubrious wrote: »

You're doing things the wrong way around, hoping that a new battery is going to cure a problem that hasn't been checked out correctly.

This....

Get the slipping belt sorted(tightened) 1st and see if that cures your problem.

If not, you need to find out if it is the battery or alternator that is the issue.
Get a free test of both and a quote then say you need to go away and think about it. You can then decide what to do for the best.

gilbert_and_sullivan

I like Yuasa batteries, have had disappointments with Bosch in recent years.

However more important than make within reason is making sure the battery is powerful enough, i always measure the existing battery and holder and where possible put the most powerful battery available in, preferably the one for the Diesel model if it will fit.