Car battery warranty

rubble2

I was out for a walk this morning when I overheard a conversation between an AA man and a motorist. The customer's car was on the driveway and the engine was running, the AA man said to the customer (elderly gentleman) 'I can get a new battery for you if you want, I know that this one is less than a year old but you will have invalidated the warranty because you left the car with lights on'

That didn't really seem right to me, is it true that if a battery is allowed to discharge by leaving lights on that it will invalidate the warranty? Is it even the case that having got the car going presumably with jump leads or the like that the car will require a new battery?

I know that I didn't hear the full conversation but I came away with the feeling that the customer was being strong armed into buying a new battery for no good reason.

Ganga

Sounds like bul--it to me ,if he took the less than12 month battery back to were he bought it and complained and it was found to be u/s how would they know he had left the lights on two weeks ago.

Grey_Critic

AA man trying to rip somebody off - personally I would be inclined to report him but that is me.

Many of us have done the same thing at times and the battery should charge up

Grumpy_chap

rubble2 said:

I was out for a walk this morning when I overheard a conversation between an AA man and a motorist. The customer's car was on the driveway and the engine was running, the AA man said to the customer (elderly gentleman) 'I can get a new battery for you if you want, I know that this one is less than a year old but you will have invalidated the warranty because you left the car with lights on'

That didn't really seem right to me, is it true that if a battery is allowed to discharge by leaving lights on that it will invalidate the warranty? Is it even the case that having got the car going presumably with jump leads or the like that the car will require a new battery?

I know that I didn't hear the full conversation but I came away with the feeling that the customer was being strong armed into buying a new battery for no good reason.

As this is just half of an over-heard conversation, none can comment with any value.

facade

If you completely discharge a battery, by leaving the lights on until they fade to nothing, and then let it stand discharged for a week or so, it will be damaged, and as it is customer abuse, it won't be covered by the guarantee.

However, I'd certainly try charging it before running out to buy a new one.

seatbeltnoob

those batteries sold by AA and RAC during callouts are very expensive. Some £130 for a bog standard battery with RAC branding on it.

I had to call out the RAC man and they jump started my car for me but then went on to sell me a new battery. I refused and asked them to jump jump it and I'll drive home and get a new battery. RAC man advised me to drive straight home and not use the car - oddly I drove the car for 2 more weeks on that same old battery without issues.

But RAC man warned me that if there's another callout for a dead battery because I'm using the same battery- they wont come out. So I bought an Exide battery with the highest Ampheres my car can fit just to be on the safe side.

seatbeltnoob

Car battery warranty - ECP are not as cheap as they used to be but they warranty can't be beat.

My wifes car battery just died 13 months in. I took it in for a replacement and explained that the battery just suddenly died and I can't even chanrge it. It doesn't hold a charge and when I tried to charge it with 2 of my chargers, they both just overheat without charging the battery. I wonder if the battery has been shorted internally or something.

With ECP I just walked in with my receipt, they noted my comments and just gave me a new one. Didn't even waste time "testing" the battery in situ or even making you wait.

I paid a premium and bought from ECP and not an online retailer where you can get it cheaper. You can get it a third cheaper from an online place. but if you want to do a warranty claim, you have to send your car battery via a courer (who wont take used batteries). Then wait for them to "diagnose" it and then send you a replacement if they accept the battery is faulty and is not down to driver error.