Has lockdown killed your car's battery?

[marioat1]

Wife's car stood for 3 weeks during lock down, battery died.
Jump started and it took immidiately, drove it for 15minutes on N1, thought all good. Next day it was dead again.
Opened the battery and noticed cells were low, topped up with R19 Battery water from PNP, jumped it and its been running fine, every 4th day.
So before buying a replacement battery, check if there's fluid in it.

 

[supersunbird]

That's not charging it.

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

I see he has corrected you, but don't assume stuff lol

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

i voted Other
my cars 8 year old battery lives in the kitchen on a charger on a timer
i put it in the car once every 10 months, start the car and let it idle for 15 minutes
switch it off and put battery back in kitchen
been doing this for 3 years now

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

i voted Other
my cars 8 year old battery lives in the kitchen on a charger on a timer
i put it in the car once every 10 months, start the car and let it idle for 15 minutes
switch it off and put battery back in kitchen
been doing this for 3 years now

Wait...what?

So you drive your car once every 10 months?

 

[bwana]

I see he has corrected you, but don't assume stuff lol

Are you referring to the warranty claim? I corrected myself three posts later about that.

EDIT: Sorry - five posts later.

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

Wait...what?

So you drive your car once every 10 months?

i start it every 10 months
i did drive it about a year and a half ago down to the PnP bottle store to return my 12 empty cases of beer (cant fit more in the small car)
about 400m away

also an old Raylite battery

 

[Compton_effect]

My car was pulled out and checked at least once a week and then driven round the block.
Same with my wife's car.

 

[Johnatan56]

Well, one car I'm driving every 3 days about and it starts fine, the other died right at the beginning of lockdown but think that's due to battery age (should be hitting 6 years now). Will replace the battery once everyone needs to start going to work again, so in a month or two probably.

 

[blowdart18]

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.

VW currently have a backlog of about 110 containers that have been sitting at port, coupled with the lockdown they were not able to receive any of this stock into their warehouse.

Since the start of the week they were finally allowed to operate at 100% staff capacity and should clear this backlog quicker than we think, so you should see your battery in stock quite soon.

 

[Moto Guzzi]

Probably older age, but it was working I used the vehicle for short trips in town. I decided to smart charge it(5Amp charger), but forget to take charger off on 1st day. The 3rd day I got to the vehicle, and battery "charged" but died when tried to crank over engine, new battery, so now I am carefull with the charger on other vehicles.

 

[RedViking]

I think mine might be dying.

I turn they key. Then it sounds like it wants to start, then a second pause, and then it starts.

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

I think mine might be dying.

I turn they key. Then it sounds like it wants to start, then a second pause, and then it starts.

yup, gonna die
but also remember older batteries always die in winter, never in summer
so its not uncommon for car batteries to start dying now
however, not in the case of OPs post, a car battery should get you minimum 5 years use

 

[RedViking]

yup, gonna die
but also remember older batteries always die in winter, never in summer
so its not uncommon for car batteries to start dying now
however, not in the case of OPs post, a car battery should get you minimum 5 years use

I need to check the date. Im sure mine I installed 2 or 3 years ago. But anything is possible. Time flies.

 

[blowdart18]

Also for interest sakes for those replacing their batteries, always remember to do a check on the battery manufacturing date.
On VW / Audi batteries you have a date stamped on the terminal, calendar week // year.

Always make sure that this is not older than a year when purchasing your battery otherwise your "new" battery will not last very long.

 

[Herr der Verboten]

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.

[X] Other (please share in comments)

Apply logic and drive at least once a week

 

[Craig_]

My battery is still fine, after 2 weeks of standing the wife's car didn't want to start though, running start and never had the problem again. We tried to use each car at least once a week though. Since level 4 no issues.

Her battery is still the original that came with the car though, 5 years old. Mine was replaced in December when it died.

 

[Hemi300c]

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

Just note that your policy will state the tracking system must be active at all times so if your car was stolen you'd have issues.

 

[bwana]

Just note that your policy will state the tracking system must be active at all times so if your car was stolen you'd have issues.

That might be an issue if I had a tracking system.

 

[Stuey74]

Other - been rotating the Benton BX-2 between all the vehicles, kept everything in nice condition.

 

[nomadmp]

Wife's car battery died 2nd week into lockdown. Tracking device might have assisted. I had to wait until shops open to get a battery. Midas was affordable, R900 for the 646.