Battery question

[ani]

Had to charge up the battery a couple of days ago and car started perfectly. However just a few days later it seems to have lost some of it's charge and I couldn't start this morning. Not completely dead but does this indicate that the battery is ready for the scrap-yard.

[PSL184]

The cold weather will always sort out the bad batteries, so yes, it is possible you need a new one. However, check first that there isn't any lights, radio etc left on to drain the battery and also check that the battery is getting charged properly. Visually, you can check the fan belt is tight and the charge light on the speedo goes out OK?

[StaffsMoggie]

How old is the battery? They dont seem to last much longer than a couple of years nowadays. Presumably your dynamo is working ok? It was always quite normal to have to charge a Minor battery up every so often in the winter as the dynamo couldnt keep up with having the lights and wipers on all the time.

[ani]

Thanks - looks like a couple of things to check before I buy a new one. Don't know how old it is as it was in the vehicle when we bought it earlier this year. Should have mentioned that this one is the trav not the red one. Alternator not dynamo.

[StaffsMoggie]

Could well be the battery is on its way out then, alternators charge much better than dynamos, they are well worth fitting.

[bmcecosse]

If it started ok for a couple of days after 'charging' - then it's likely to be a problem with the alternator - or loose fan belt - rather than a battery problem. With engine at fast idle - what's the voltage on the battery terminals? If charging - it will be ~ 14 volts. Not charging = 12 volts.

[Geraldine]

I have the same problem, couldn't start a couple of days ago and charged the battery. Yesterday it was dead again & wouldn't start. Like ani my battery was in the car when I bought it in April, and looks fairly new. I have been doing short runs lately with lights/wipers/heater going and have a dynamo, so this may be the problem I suppose.
My husband says just get a new battery, but don't want to obviously unless I have to.
If I do get a new one, is the standard Halfords one OK - I know they're not popular on this forum!

[aupickup]

i use halfords batteries without any problems

could welll be the battery, if it was fully charged and then goes flat

obviously check fan belt and if the battery is charging in the car

could also be a power drain some where

maybe time for a new battery

[andrew.searston]

ive found my battery went flat last year but now i have a battery cut off switch it cuts of the battery and hasnt gone flat this year.

[aupickup]

well you must have had some battery drain some where then

[bmcecosse]

COSTCO do very good quality batteries for a fair price. But -I would certainly check all the simple things first before rushing into a new battery. Fan belt tightness being the obvious first one!

[andrew.searston]

aupickup
i cant see what would drain the battery as theirs only the heater. no clock or anything
all the standard electrics as it left the factory

[aupickup]

did not know yours was standard

but if it ws ok with a battery cut off switch then it should be ok without,

[andrew.searston]

yep standard. no overriders,no leather, one sunvisor ect
maybe the battery is on its way out.

[dalebrignall]

halford batteries are fine i have them on all our saabs and come with 4 year guarentee

[fsk658]

I have had the same trouble with my battery not holding its charge on my pick up. I dont use it much in the winter when the salt is on the road. I do keep it charged up regulary. I wanted to find the reason as the battery is only 3 years old so I disconnected the positive lead on the battery and connected an amp meter from the lead to the pos terminal on the battery. To my surprise there was a dishcharge of 98 milliamps with everything switched off, Which means approx loosing 33amps in 2 weeks not much left to start the engine on a cold morning. The problem was the CD player taking most of the disharge (75ma) not swiched on, even with the front removed of the CD removed.

[rayofleamington]

When the battery is charged again, ask a decent garage / alternator specialist to do a high load test on it. this will give a clear answer if the battery is ok or not.
Batteries will die of old age eventually but if kept in a goood charge state they live longer. If the alternator regulator has failed it will overcharge and that rapidly kills a battery. You should get a stable 14 to 14.5 volts at the battery with the engine running - if it increases (e.g. 16+ volts) at high revs then the cause of failure is the alternator.
Testing the charge cuircuit with a dynamo is not so simple as the regulator is not as advanced (and the output at tickover is negligible) but the same rule applies that if you see high voltage at high revs, things are not ok.

[Geraldine]

Bought a new battery today, and she started no problem - hope it's the same tomorrow!! Luckily had some Halfords gift tokens so didn't cost me too much.

[moggyadventurer]

I use unipart batteries, good price and good value - available from kwik fit or partco (best for price)

[PSL184]

Keep the old battery and put it on charge then when the new one goes flat you'll have a spare to pop on ;-)
Sorry, but even a new battery won't last for long if you are only doing short runs in this weather with a dynamo - you will need to keep it charged by a separate charger or learn to use the starting handle....