Has lockdown killed your car's battery?

[Foxhound5366]

So today my brand new little Polo had to get a new battery installed, after it died during lockdown (wouldn't hold charge for more than two days).

Volkswagen told me they had four Polos in on the same day as mine for the same thing, and my specific dealership has dealt with over 160 battery replacements since lockdown began.

It's so bad they are now ordering the batteries in from Germany because they've exhausted even the factory's stock in Uitenhague. The battery they put in my car is a loaner until the German batteries arrive (in July!).

Firstly, what the heck? I remember in the old days car batteries would die every time you left your lights on, and you'd get a jumpstart and go on your way happily. Now it seems even a single extended period of standing (ten days or more) is enough to kill them en-masse???

Is this just Volkswagen blessed with dodgy batteries in their supply chain, or are all car OEMs experiencing the same thing now? VW sells the most cars so it stands to reason that even a small percentage of failures ends up significant on a national scale.

 

[bwana]

So today my brand new little Polo had to get a new battery installed, after it died during lockdown (wouldn't hold charge for more than two days).

Hold old was it? What charger did you use?

Our tiny spark battery needed a charge but the other two cars were fine.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Hold old was it? What charger did you use?

Our tiny spark battery needed a charge but the other two cars were fine.

My car is six months old. I got two jumpstarts from VW roadside assist before finally calling it quits and taking it into the workshop.

I was doing my best to drive it at least 10km every two days, and a good long drive (50km) every weekend, but apparently not good enough once the damage was done.

 

[bwana]

My car is six months old. I got two jumpstarts from VW roadside assist before finally calling it quits and taking it into the workshop.

That's not charging it.

Can't fathom either why you're spending a premium on a battery from VW.

 

[joker08]

if you have a tracker your car battery would die more often when left standing.

 

[bwana]

if you have a tracker your car battery would die more often when left standing.

Yeah - I used to disconnect the battery before going on holiday for that very reason.

 

[Foxhound5366]

if you have a tracker your car battery would die more often when left standing.

Yeah but VW tested the car and determined the battery needed to be replaced. I presume they would also have tested the electrical draw from the car to determine if there was another fault or a thirsty tracker.

 

[Steamy Tom]

a 6 month old battery should not have called it quits after this...

 

[bwana]

Yeah but VW tested the car and determined the battery needed to be replaced. I presume they would also have tested the electrical draw from the car to determine if there was another fault or a thirsty tracker.

Of course they did. How much did they charge (NPI) you for the German replacement?

EDIT: NMD - it would have been under warranty. They will claim directly from VW.

 

[joker08]

My car battery went dead yesterday. Jumped/pushed started it and left it on for like 30 mins. Today I tried to use it, dead. I dont have tracker but I do have an amp.
I had left this same car standing for a month and it started without any problem, this was last year. I got the amp just before lockdown, now battery just dies when left alone. Possible reasons I can think of -
- the amp is killing the battery
- its just old, after all I got the car second hand when it was already 5 years old and I used it for another 3. I am assuming it battery was never replaced, will open up the battery if I can see any dates on it.
I will try to charge it and see how it goes. But dont have a charger. Buying a charger is expensive, I might just buy a new battery for 1200 instead.

 

[Foxhound5366]

a 6 month old battery should not have called it quits after this...

Exactly my point. And the fact that VW said that four Polos were in in the same day makes me wonder whether that's just coz Polos are the most popular cars in SA, or if it's a bigger issue.

 

[Steamy Tom]

Exactly my point. And the fact that VW said that four Polos were in in the same day makes me wonder whether that's just coz Polos are the most popular cars in SA, or if it's a bigger issue.

more like the stealership being the issue...

 

[Foxhound5366]

Of course they did. How much did they charge (NPI) you for the German replacement?

EDIT: NMD - it would have been under warranty. They will claim directly from VW.

Luckily it's under warranty yeah. So maybe they do get some money from that. Probably doesn't hurt me getting a brand new battery anyway, hopefully the original German stock is better than whatever they were fitting in the factory locally.

 

[Foxhound5366]

My car battery went dead yesterday. Jumped/pushed started it and left it on for like 30 mins. Today I tried to use it, dead. I dont have tracker but I do have an amp.
I had left this same car standing for a month and it started without any problem, this was last year. I got the amp just before lockdown, now battery just dies when left alone. Possible reasons I can think of -
- the amp is killing the battery
- its just old, after all I got it second hand when it was already 5 years old and I used it for another 3. I am assuming it battery was never replaced, will open up the battery if I can see any dates on it.
I will try to charge it and see how it goes. But dont have a charger. Buying a charger is expensive, I might just buy a new battery for 1200 instead.

That sounds like old age combined with winter. I do know that most battery failures happen in winter, got some fancy chemical reason no doubt.

 

[genetic]

A modern car's battery should at least last a month of no driving, unless you parasitic power drain - like a tracker.

 

[joker08]

That sounds like old age combined with winter. I do know that most battery failures happen in winter, got some fancy chemical reason no doubt.

I thought so too, I hope the dealer sells me a fully charged battery.

 

[genetic]

It's so bad they are now ordering the batteries in from Germany because they've exhausted even the factory's stock in Uitenhague. The battery they put in my car is a loaner until the German batteries arrive (in July!).

Rubbish. Just get any old 646 battery from any reputable battery centre. They're as common as engine oil is a necessity.

It's a Polo FFS, not a Bugatti.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Battery should at least last a month of no driving unless you have a tracker installed.

I have a tracker installed. I don't even mind the battery running flat after ten days of standing. What I find weird is that after that, the battery wouldn't hold charge for more than two days. I literally had to keep driving it or else...

Why should one run-flat incident toast a modern battery?

Rubbish. Just get any old 646 battery from any reputable battery centre.

Rofl, I guess Volkswagen can't do that for batteries they need to replace under warranty, can they? Although personally I wouldn't mind. They were most insistent about this point though, that they had a big order in with Germany.

 

[Sinbad]

All our batteries are 100 percent

Ctek <3

 

[superskully]

My car battery went dead yesterday. Jumped/pushed started it and left it on for like 30 mins. Today I tried to use it, dead. I dont have tracker but I do have an amp.
I had left this same car standing for a month and it started without any problem, this was last year. I got the amp just before lockdown, now battery just dies when left alone. Possible reasons I can think of -
- the amp is killing the battery
- its just old, after all I got the car second hand when it was already 5 years old and I used it for another 3. I am assuming it battery was never replaced, will open up the battery if I can see any dates on it.
I will try to charge it and see how it goes. But dont have a charger. Buying a charger is expensive, I might just buy a new battery for 1200 instead.

Leaving the car on idle for 30 mins does not charge the battery, in fact you making it worse. You charge the battery by driving