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Where to get a cheap car battery?

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ArsenalFC
ArsenalFC Posts: 1,095 Forumite
I need a cheap one for a nissan micra, dont want to pay halfords prices - which is about £40 - £47. Any link would be appreciated.

ps: Will buying a battery charger to recharge the battery work? Noting that the car battery is virtually dead and I have to jump start it if it's left for a hour after driving.

Comments

  • JimArnold
    JimArnold Posts: 519 Forumite
    How old is the battery - if less than 5 years then you probably have some other fault eg alternator not charging properly

    A charger is unlikely to solve your problem unless you do lots of very short journeys (esp in the dark and or rain) Modern car alternators are pretty good at charging the battery

    It probably is the battery but hundreds of people every year buy new batteries when the problem lies elsewhere
    TANSTAAFL !
  • ManAtHome
    ManAtHome Posts: 8,512 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    A few here http://www.batmanuk.com/ but no great savings (cheapest is £35.50). Not that surprising though, courier costs will lose a fair bit of any savings.

    I've had a couple of Halfords batteries in the past (got one in my current car) and have been happy with them. Would second Jim's post - batteries seem to last 5-7 years depending on how you use the car (mileage, short/long runs, daylight or darkness).
  • skiddy2k
    skiddy2k Posts: 1,627 Forumite
    wouldnt suggest buying a battery charger in this instance. saying that, it would probobly cost you near £20+.

    you can put this money into another battery.
    if you dont want to keep the car for long, and therefore want a battery just to keep you going for a little while, i would suggest a breakers yard/car scrap yard and just pinch one off another sunny.

    wont cost much at all, but its pot luck if its a healthy battery or not!

    IF you do buy a new battery and the battery goes flat, then i can only assume that your altenator is at fault. in a nutshell, this is the unit that sends charge to the battery through the engine running, and therefore isnt doing the job properly, hence the battery going flat!

    but, hope it is only the battery otherwise were talking more ££!

    Skiddy
  • ArsenalFC
    ArsenalFC Posts: 1,095 Forumite
    Thanks to all replies. Got the car in March this year, the car is year 2000 so i guess the battery is 5 years old. Yeah I hope it's just the battery too, not the alternator. Guess I have to bite the bullet and get a halfraud battery :( , dont want to risk the scrap yard as i need the car to be a reliable starter
  • chrisw
    chrisw Posts: 3,787 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Do you have an electrical test meter? If you check the faulty battery it will probably read about 10-12 volts. If you then jump start it and check across the battery again, it should read about 14 volts or so if the alternator's ok.
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