Has lockdown killed your car's battery?

[SHL]

My BMW was fine, the Atos I usually only start to move it away from behind the BMW died after driving the 3km to the shops and back.
The longest my BMW has stood was 6 weeks, and it started without any hassles, even though it has a tracker installed. The battery finally had to be replaced this year after almost 12 years of not missing a beat.

I'd like to know which company manufactured that battery?

 

[Barbarian Conan]

I'd like to know which company manufactured that battery?

BMW branded, so whoever did their batteries in 2008.

 

[Smugs]

Car batteries are a money making scheme. There is no reason for the battery to be dead just after a week or two. They taking us for a ride.

100% correct, as are shock absorbers. I have never needed to replace the shocks on any of my motorbikes because the "wore out"....

 

[Mekon]

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 have heard from battery specialists that with age a batteries plates become calcified and eventually when given a load like starting it on a cold morning the lead plates warp and touch. Then the battery just won't hold a proper charge anymore.

 

[sgs]

Car batteries are not meant to be fully discharged. Also, they should never be stored in a discharged state, as this causes sulfation if not immediately recharged. Sulfation causes physical damage to the electrodes inside - damage that cannot be un-done by just a recharge. Therefore, running a battery into death by having a tracker drain in constantly, is a sure-fire way of killing it very quickly. (And if you then try and pull a lot of current from it by trying to start the car, you can physically warp the electrodes, completely killing the battery.)

However, generally they are built to outlast a few of these events during their lifetime, so in OP's case I would hazard that it was a dud battery to start with. (Or maybe his "new" car stood in a yard for a year before he purchased it, and the battery may be a lot older than he thinks?)

 

[Mekon]

In 2010 when lead calcium batteries were fairly new I had one in my car. I went away for 7 weeks and left the car at my parents place. When i came back the car started without a issue. I was surprised.
My 2006 Corsa Gamma had it's factory fitted Willard battery replaced after 9 year. Replaced with an identical Willard this time round only lasted 2 years and 3 months. Currently have a cheapie Okasa battery and it is now 3 years old.

 

[Neuk_]

I made sure our daily cars each had a few sessions on the battery maintainer that I mainly use for my MkI VW Golf so we haven't had any battery issues.

 

[Sinbad]

I made sure our daily cars each had a few sessions on the battery maintainer that I mainly use for my MkI VW Golf so we haven't had any battery issues.

Pics of the 17s or gtfo

 

["D"]

I just started the cars every 3 days and let them idle for 15 mins or so. No batteries died on me.

You super-polluter, you!

 

[Neuk_]

Pics of the 17s or gtfo

 

[maumau]

If the battery is low enough not to start the car it will need to be put on a charger, driving around for 30 minutes won't be enough. The car's alternator is just good enough to top the battery up, not charge a flat battery.

Thanks @thechamp

 

[Nemus]

Mine didn't die, but i noticed some things not working as expected.. Auto stop/start, auto wipers, aircon in eco mode since that happens due to weak battery, it probably is expected. Took it on a 50kms charge and some things returned to normal. Taking another drive this weekend to see if more improvements are noticeable, but cant wait to run it daily again.

 

[Jola]

BMW branded, so whoever did their batteries in 2008.

Those are usually Varta's, I have had two of those last for longer than 9 years.

Have a 9 year old one in my BMW diesel at the moment, waiting to see of it will survive the cold.

 

[Jola]

This is crap. Our fleet at work got trackers a few years ago, immediately we started having battery issues.


New cars manage that actually, anything you leave on switches of after some time. That's if it doesn't switch off when taking the key out.

Yep, similar experience, the trackers cause a lot of trouble.

 

[Jchan11hk]

I do have a Ctek trickle charger, so all three cars are fine

 

[pinball wizard]

Who buys a battery from the dealership?

 

[Craig_]

Who buys a battery from the dealership?

You do when they give it to you for free. Vw changed my cars battery on 60k km as well for free, varta. No questions asked.

 

[Stokstert]

No, I know how to maintain my car and it's components.

 

[RedViking]

You do when they give it to you for free. Vw changed my cars battery on 60k km as well for free, varta. No questions asked.

"Free"

 

[Craig_]

"Free"

I bought my car second hand, first owner paid for the maintenance plan, so it was effectively free for me. But I get what you're saying.