live long & prosper

Post by **jtd.75** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:28 pm

Hi have just read in this months Magazine in the Tech Tips page about a battery restorer! how ever I have searched the inter net for this product and I have been unable to locate it and the nearest thing to it which I assume is the same is a battery equaliser fluid in the USA. does anyone know where either of the above liquids can be obtained as my local garages have never heard of any such stuff!!!

Post by **MoggyTech** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:09 pm

Not sure if they still do them, but Halfords and other motor factors used to sell this chemical in tablet form. You just dropped one tablet in each cell. Might be discontinued due to most batteries being sealed now.

Post by **LouiseM** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:36 pm

I found this link which might be useful. The company sells EDTA to treat one battery for only £3.00 including postage:

http://www.courtiestown.co.uk/batteries/shop.htm

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:11 pm

My advice - don't waste yer money!
If the battery is knackered - it's time for a new one.

Post by **MoggyTech** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:14 pm

bmcecosse wrote:My advice - don't waste yer money!
If the battery is knackered - it's time for a new one.

I have to agree with this. Once a battery starts to fail it is best to replace it. Or you risk it packing in completely, usually at the most inconvenient time possible (Murphys Law).

Post by **dunketh** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:24 pm

Batterys can be had for around £30. Don't pay £50-60 halfords prices for them.
Tyre and exhaust places are often cheap for batterys.

Post by **jtd.75** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:34 pm

Thanks all for your replies, my battery is only a few months old new for my last mot. and the battery befor that only lasted just over 2 years, my milage over the last 4 years has been just under 300 miles and since my last mot it was 63 miles. I have 4 cars ( 2 mine & 2 of the wifes) and I dont think that the total mileage last year was 1500 miles in all 4 and allI seem to be doing lately is paying £40 odd quid a time for batteries so you see my interest in the article. I now know the local tyre depot quite well

O and before any one mentions anything about the charging system they are ok

Post by **dunketh** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:41 pm

Not a lot I can suggest bar driving the thing more.

At least your battery should still be under warranty.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 4:45 pm

Hmm - something wrong there - my current (!) Minor battery is now 7 years old and still going strong. The car doesn't do many miles - only summer use - but in winter is started up regularly - at least twice per week and run out the garage. The battery hammers the engine round just fine every time. Costco do excellent batteries for a reasonable price - worth thinking about if you do have to buy any more!

Post by **Orkney** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:02 pm

Well thats a no brainer jtd - batteries mostly are guaranteed

mind you 300 miles in 4 years says drop the dosh and go to halfords and a buy a 5 yr guarantee jobbie

Halfords & a lot of autoshops used to sell a tube of tablets called 'bataid' course it was before bob geldoff so you didn't associate it with less than well off bats.
All i heard was it was a bit of a snake oil jobby, mind you you could make a tidy sum selling aspirin as battery revivers, that actually will work in the right dosage - slight downside that it'll get you started but the battery is goosed thereafter.

Post by **jtd.75** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:54 pm

Hi bmc yep I know about 2year warranties but could I find the receipt could I hell as like, and due to one reason or an other I seem to go for months on end without starting a car, the wife uses one of her cars the most I tend to use my bus pass a lot. Driving here on Anglesey with the Mad Mullah of the North Wales Talivan speed Tribe, and him wanting to legalise drugs driving here is no joy anymore. Her indoors keeps telling me to get rid of the cars. I have even come to a stop in my restro job (only the seats to go in and then see if she will start up

Post by **simmitc** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:59 pm

I seem to go for months on end without starting a car,

Thereby lies your problem. All batteries self-discharge and need to be charged regularly. If you look at new batteries you will see a sticker that says something to the effect "recharge YY/MM if not fitted". Your answer might be to purchase one of the "battery saver" chargers. These are small devices that provide a trickle charge to the battery at all times. Can be left connected to the car indefinitely. They run off the mains via a small transformer, so if needed you can run low voltage outside to a car on the drive. Available from various places. Frost do one. Alternatively, as mentioned before, run the car more often. Good luck.

Post by **jtd.75** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:01 am

Hi Simmitc would you believe when I say that I do have two of those but I am affraid I have no answer other than just laziness to look for them and use them, I know they are in my garage somewhere but as my wife says its like steptoe's back yard. I use to use have one of them connected to my LD Ambulance, I have a double garage and I cannot get into it for stuff. I keep promising both my wife and children that I would sort it out before I go to the big car park up stairs

every time i make a start i end up with more what might come in handy than what i throw away.

Post by **steve4063** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:00 am

drop an asprin into your battery that helps recharge it
its the same as the proper things you're trying to find and a lot cheaper.

doesn't anyone watch tv it tells you on there advertising that book about 1001 usefull things to use in your home or something like that.

i've never tried it but have been told that it does work
no sueing me if it doesn't lol

Post by **Orkney** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:10 am

Aspirin is a one off emergency fix and only to be used with the understanding its just that - it will get you going in most cases but you will have to replace the battery pretty quick after using this trick as it's downhill and worse from there on.

And if your wondering it cost me £100 + VAT to find that out after using on a tractor battery and only then doing the approriate reading about it on the web to find i'd killed the battery long term.

Post by **ColinP** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:30 am

drop an asprin into your battery that helps recharge it
its the same as the proper things you're trying to find and a lot cheaper.

Not quite the same chemicals!

EDTA is a complexing agent and may help dissolve metals - salicylic acid will react with iron (certainly) but probably not give the same result!

Colin