Battery Maintenance

Terry98

A couple of years ago my car would not start and a simple job of replacing the battery cost a lot of money.
The trouble was the battery always started first time so although I did try to charge it I was not convinced that was causing the problem.

My 'new' battery has been great and has always started first time with the exception of a couple of times recently when it needed a couple more turns of the key to start. The battery has a few more months left of a three year guarantee.

Any tips to ensure I don't have the same problem again? I have found this which is quite useful
http://www.atbatt.com/car-battery/how-to-extend-your-car-battery-life

AdrianC

If the starter motor is spinning the engine, then the failure to start is not the battery.

Is it a diesel or petrol? When was it last (properly) serviced?

cb1979

With modern battery's there is not much to do in the way of maintenance, just check the terminals are clean and tight
As its now dark earlier if you are only doing short trips with lights on combined with the cooler weather that will make the battery work harder when starting than in the warmer summer months, also depends on the quality of the battery fitted and whether or not it had the correct amperage battery fitted as a replacement

reeac

Sounds like a problem with the engine, not the battery. One of my cars has a 13 year old battery and the other had a new battery when the old one was 10 years old. Neither was ever charged from an external source but both cars always start first time. That's how modern cars should behave.

Strider590

If the engine is turning over slowly, then it could be the battery on it's way out, if it turns over as normal then you have other issues.

Modern batteries, like everything else, are designed to fail a lot sooner than a battery made say 15-20 years ago and they go from "not great but ok" to not starting your car in a matter of days.

Terry98

Thanks for the replies.

AdrianC wrote: »

If the starter motor is spinning the engine, then the failure to start is not the battery.

Is it a diesel or petrol? When was it last (properly) serviced?

It's petrol and it's serviced every 1-2 years. I only do about 3000 miles a year and quite a few short journeys of about 10 miles in total each trip. I know that puts a strain on the battery but if the alternator is working properly isn't 10 miles good enough to recharge it?

cb1979 wrote: »

As its now dark earlier if you are only doing short trips with lights on combined with the cooler weather that will make the battery work harder when starting than in the warmer summer months, also depends on the quality of the battery fitted and whether or not it had the correct amperage battery fitted as a replacement

The battery was supplied by Halfords and has been good up until now. I am sure I will be able to get a comparable battery for half the price if I know the problem is the battery!

reeac wrote: »

Sounds like a problem with the engine, not the battery. One of my cars has a 13 year old battery and the other had a new battery when the old one was 10 years old. Neither was ever charged from an external source but both cars always start first time. That's how modern cars should behave.

Yes but the link I put in my first post thinks most batteries these days go in 1 to 2 years. Perhaps you get what you pay for!

Strider590 wrote: »

Modern batteries, like everything else, are designed to fail a lot sooner than a battery made say 15-20 years ago and they go from "not great but ok" to not starting your car in a matter of days.

I am sure that is what happened with my last battery

AdrianC

Terry98 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

It's petrol and it's serviced every 1-2 years. I only do about 3000 miles a year and quite a few short journeys of about 10 miles in total each trip. I know that puts a strain on the battery but if the alternator is working properly isn't 10 miles good enough to recharge it?

Is the starter spinning the engine, which is then failing to fire?
Or is the starter not spinning the engine?

prosaver

best to go for a long journey oncea week in the winter to charge the battery up full.(day time with all electrics off).
My battery konked out due to small journeys at night with heater and lights on.
could get a cover for battery as a really cold battery dosent work good.

Paradigm

Strider590 wrote: »

Modern batteries, like everything else, are designed to fail a lot sooner than a battery made say 15-20 years ago

How do they make a "designed to fail sooner" battery?

Sam_Fallow

Terry98 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.



It's petrol and it's serviced every 1-2 years. I only do about 3000 miles a year and quite a few short journeys of about 10 miles in total each trip. I know that puts a strain on the battery but if the alternator is working properly isn't 10 miles good enough to recharge it?



The battery was supplied by Halfords and has been good up until now. I am sure I will be able to get a comparable battery for half the price if I know the problem is the battery!



Yes but the link I put in my first post thinks most batteries these days go in 1 to 2 years. Perhaps you get what you pay for!



I am sure that is what happened with my last battery

You're service schedule should be annually as a minimum, regardless of mileage.

Short journeys are not enough to recharge a battery especially if you are struggling to get it started. If you removed the battery and put it on a charger for ten minutes do you think that would be enough?

Iceweasel

Terry98 wrote: »

if the alternator is working properly isn't 10 miles good enough to recharge it?

A 10 mile journey hasn't got a chance of replacing the energy/power/amp thingies that it takes to start the engine.

If that 10 miles includes lights, heater-fan, rear screen demister, heated seats, radio, etc etc then there is now way it can keep up - no matter how new/good a battery you have.

Even a brand new battery can't deal with that amount of discharge for long without a longer run or an external top up.

You need a battery charger connected overnight.

When I was doing a 5 mile each way commute to work in the Winter months the car would struggle to start on the Thursday morning.

So I started doing an overnight charge on a Wednesday - that coupled with longer journeys on the weekend was enough to keep the battery going without any hassle.