Battery health?

almillar

Yep - you've had your warning - a bit slow to start on a cold morning. How long had it stood before that? Started OK next couple of times? Was it warmer? Had the car not been left for long? Next time the car sits for a couple of days, then you try to start it on a cold morning, it won't work. At least get a battery and have it in the boot. No need to worry about measuring exactly how weak your battery is, you know it is. No point in risking getting stuck.

Cap2019

almillar said:

Yep - you've had your warning - a bit slow to start on a cold morning. How long had it stood before that? Started OK next couple of times? Was it warmer? Had the car not been left for long? Next time the car sits for a couple of days, then you try to start it on a cold morning, it won't work. At least get a battery and have it in the boot. No need to worry about measuring exactly how weak your battery is, you know it is. No point in risking getting stuck.

Replace just like that? what about a trickle charger first? As I said, it has only happened once and has been totally fine since. I will check the battery age and estimated expiry date too before giving up on it!

Cap2019

Battery was produced in the 25th week of 2015 according to the manufacturer, so coming up on 5 years. Perhaps it will need replacing after all. 

Stubod

..auto battery charger in Aldi Specials this week for 12 notes. Although as per the above, if the battery is 5 years old and had a bit of abuse it's probably on its last legs. These days batteries seem to fail quite quickly, working OK one day and dead the next. If it was me I think I would probably just get a new battery, most come with at least 3 years warranty...

Cap2019

Stubod said:

..auto battery charger in Aldi Specials this week for 12 notes. Although as per the above, if the battery is 5 years old and had a bit of abuse it's probably on its last legs. These days batteries seem to fail quite quickly, working OK one day and dead the next. If it was me I think I would probably just get a new battery, most come with at least 3 years warranty...

I think I’ll end up going for both to be fair, a new battery for the Swift and a charger for future issues/ my car! I want to replace the battery myself, hopefully it won’t be a pig of a job. 

almillar

Cap2019 said:

Replace just like that? what about a trickle charger first?

Your car is charging it every time you drive it. Unless you know you've been doing short journeys and not letting it get charged properly, you've had a strong sign that it's on the way out. Do you want to be stuck? Can you change the battery yourself, or will it cost you money to call someone out? If you can answer why the battery was weak, you know better, but it sounds like it needs changed.

As long as access is OK, you just need a spanner. And not to electrocute yourself!

Cap2019

For anyone that has made it this far .. 

Out of curiosity I had a look at the resting voltage of my car (63 plate Hyundai i30) and it was 12.10!! It starts quickly and convincingly every morning without fail (touch wood) and has given no indication that it is on the way out. My girlfriend and I both drive appox 20 mins to work and back each day and only occasionally further, could this be why the lower resting numbers? insufficient time for the alternator to charge the batteries? Would it be worth charging the batteries with a smart charger to restore them to full charge every once in a while or am I going to have to pick up two new batteries this month? I can replace the battery in my girlfriends Swift myself (will have to use a memory saver tool) but my car has stop/ start technology so i'd rather leave that to the professionals to program correctly. I was of the impression that battery chargers are only useful when batteries are flat but could I benefit or is that just putting off the inevitable?

daveyjp

Voltage means very little, current is key.  A tiny AAAA electronics battery has the same voltage as a much larger D battery.  This does not mean the AAAA is suitable in a product needing D batteries.

You need a proper test which checks CCA (cold cranking amps) and current output.  You cannot do this with a £15 tester.  

almillar

Cap2019 said:

 and has given no indication that it is on the way out. My girlfriend and I both drive appox 20 mins to work and back each day and only occasionally further, could this be why the lower resting numbers? insufficient time for the alternator to charge the batteries? Would it be worth charging the batteries with a smart charger to restore them to full charge every once in a while or am I going to have to pick up two new batteries this month? I can replace the battery in my girlfriends Swift myself (will have to use a memory saver tool) but my car has stop/ start technology so i'd rather leave that to the professionals to program correctly. I was of the impression that battery chargers are only useful when batteries are flat but could I benefit or is that just putting off the inevitable?

Err, yes, it has given an indication that it's on the way out - it only just about started the other week, and set off a couple of lights on the dashboard, that's why you started the thread, remember?!

Your battery needs changed. Your girlfriend's one might have its life extended if you do the trickle charge thing every month or so, and you might consider the same for your NEW battery.

Whilst a good looking voltage doesn't guarantee a good battery, 12.10V, on a car that hasn't been sat for ages, doesn't sound good.

Cap2019

almillar said:

Cap2019 said:

 and has given no indication that it is on the way out. My girlfriend and I both drive appox 20 mins to work and back each day and only occasionally further, could this be why the lower resting numbers? insufficient time for the alternator to charge the batteries? Would it be worth charging the batteries with a smart charger to restore them to full charge every once in a while or am I going to have to pick up two new batteries this month? I can replace the battery in my girlfriends Swift myself (will have to use a memory saver tool) but my car has stop/ start technology so i'd rather leave that to the professionals to program correctly. I was of the impression that battery chargers are only useful when batteries are flat but could I benefit or is that just putting off the inevitable?

Err, yes, it has given an indication that it's on the way out - it only just about started the other week, and set off a couple of lights on the dashboard, that's why you started the thread, remember?!

Your battery needs changed. Your girlfriend's one might have its life extended if you do the trickle charge thing every month or so, and you might consider the same for your NEW battery.

Whilst a good looking voltage doesn't guarantee a good battery, 12.10V, on a car that hasn't been sat for ages, doesn't sound good.

If you read this properly you would know that I am referring to MY car, not my girlfriends Swift which the thread was about. Why so miserable? I'm only asking for a little advice.

Current POA is to get ourselves a smart charger and give the cars a good charge. I am fully prepared to accept that both cars might well need new batteries very soon and if that is the case then so be it! It can't hurt to try