Battery needed jump started before test drive

inyouratmosphere123

Hey guys, 

Viewed a 2nd hand KIA venga 1.2 2012 54k mileage today at a reputable well known dealers in NI, it wouldnt start when when we set off for test drive so dealer had to jump start the battery.
Exprssed concern re this and he brushed it off as 'we leave the doors and windows open during summer for a lot of our cars to air them so this can run the batterys down' and said if needs be they'd replace the battery before I got it home 

Loved the car aside from this, have zero car knowledge so would appreciate any advice if ya think he was bsing me/it's a red flag

Cheers! 

Exodi

Not sure I've ever heard of leaving the doors/windows open running down the battery... usually batteries run down if a car isn't started for a long time (talking months)... or the battery just may be knackered.

I'd anticipate needing to buy a new battery (~£100) - if you're feeling bold, you could assert that they should do this before it is sold... obviously if we're talking about an older car that's only worth several hundred quid, they may not be keen on the idea...

Ebe_Scrooge

Nothing particular to worry about.  A lot of garages do tend to leave doors open, and if they don't turn off the interior lights then the battery will go flat.

Car batteries don't like being completely discharged, though.  Depending on how old the battery is, it could be well worth replacing it anyway - a rough ball-park lifespan of a battery is something like 5-7 years or so.  If they're happy to put a new battery on it for you, then I'd say no problem.  Assuming the alternator is working properly and charging the battery - though there's no particular reason to suspect it isn't.  And if you're buying from a reputable garage, presumably they're giving you at least a 3 month warranty?  If so, any alternator problems would show up within that time, so I wouldn't be particularly worried.

Grumpy_chap

inyouratmosphere123 said:

Hey guys, 

Viewed a 2nd hand KIA venga 1.2 2012 54k mileage today at a reputable well known dealers in NI, it wouldnt start when when we set off for test drive so dealer had to jump start the battery.
Exprssed concern re this and he brushed it off as 'we leave the doors and windows open during summer for a lot of our cars to air them so this can run the batterys down' and said if needs be they'd replace the battery before I got it home 

Loved the car aside from this, have zero car knowledge so would appreciate any advice if ya think he was bsing me/it's a red flag

Cheers! 

If it's just the battery, that is a consumable item and the original battery from a 2012 car will need replacing now or soon.

inyouratmosphere123

Exodi said:

Not sure I've ever heard of leaving the doors/windows open running down the battery... usually batteries run down if a car isn't started for a long time (talking months)... or the battery just may be knackered.

I'd anticipate needing to buy a new battery (~£100) - if you're feeling bold, you could assert that they should do this before it is sold... obviously if we're talking about an older car that's only worth several hundred quid, they may not be keen on the idea...

Thanks mate, so it's 4799 asking price and I'm happy to take it asking if they replace the battery, so am hoping they go for that

daveyjp

Exodi said:

Not sure I've ever heard of leaving the doors/windows open running down the battery... usually batteries run down if a car isn't started for a long time (talking months)... or the battery just may be knackered.

I'd anticipate needing to buy a new battery (~£100) - if you're feeling bold, you could assert that they should do this before it is sold... obviously if we're talking about an older car that's only worth several hundred quid, they may not be keen on the idea...

On a modern vehicle the battery can be flat enough not to have enough to start a car in a few weeks.  The alarm is energised 24/7.

inyouratmosphere123

Ebe_Scrooge said:

Nothing particular to worry about.  A lot of garages do tend to leave doors open, and if they don't turn off the interior lights then the battery will go flat.

Car batteries don't like being completely discharged, though.  Depending on how old the battery is, it could be well worth replacing it anyway - a rough ball-park lifespan of a battery is something like 5-7 years or so.  If they're happy to put a new battery on it for you, then I'd say no problem.  Assuming the alternator is working properly and charging the battery - though there's no particular reason to suspect it isn't.  And if you're buying from a reputable garage, presumably they're giving you at least a 3 month warranty?  If so, any alternator problems would show up within that time, so I wouldn't be particularly worried.

Appreciate the advice, yeh it's 6 months warranty built in from the dealers, am going to check but would assume if they didn't replace battery and it goes kapoot within that period they'd replace it, but would prefer it done from get go so I've not to worry 

Ebe_Scrooge

inyouratmosphere123 said:

Ebe_Scrooge said:

Appreciate the advice, yeh it's 6 months warranty built in from the dealers, am going to check but would assume if they didn't replace battery and it goes kapoot within that period they'd replace it, but would prefer it done from get go so I've not to worry 

Actually, a battery probably wouldn't be covered by warranty, it's pretty much classed as a consumable, but I wouldn't fret over it unnecessarily.  If you can get them to fit a new one then great.  If not, you may find that it's actually fine for a good while yet.  Yes, being totally discharged is not the best thing, but if it's reasonably new then it's probably got a fair bit of life left in it.  I'd be surprised if it's the original battery on a 2012 car anyway, odds on it may be quite new.

Very worst case is that you have to fork out for a new one at some point in the near future.  Less than £100 : https://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/car-batteries/kia/venga/

macman

These dealer-supplied, insurance-based warranties are near-worthless. Everything that is a consumable or a wear and tear item will be excluded. They are just a marketing ploy.
I'd get them to supply a new battery and a new MOT, unless the existing one is at least 9 months. 
A car that is 9 years old but with only 54K on the clock will have been subject to a lot of wear and tear: brakes, transmission, lots of short town trips when it never gets to normal temp. Don't assume that low mileage means good condition.