Has lockdown killed your car's battery?

[Splinter]

This was something I worried about. But in my car things have been fine. I don't know if it is different for other makes, but most charging of the battery seems to come from decelerating without applying massive braking. I can see on the dashboard when it is charging the battery.

 

["D"]

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.

View attachment 850743

I would like to personally congratulate forumite @blowdart18 whose car battery turns FOURTEEN years young in October 2020! We hereby collectively acknowledge that we are not worthy, and hereby award you the Driving Miss Daisy award for excellence in care.

Godspeed ever more onwards, Battery Soldier!

 

["D"]

I can see on the dashboard when it is charging the battery.

Thanks for the hearty laugh! You should know that, if you see the battery status indicator lamp lighting up (intermittently) on the dashboard display console, this does NOT indicate that the battery is charging ... but it does indicate that the alternator is no longer charging the battery properly. This could be due to the state of the battery, or the alternator, or both. Hopefully you can get it checked out before you get stranded?

 

[Splinter]

Thanks for the hearty laugh! You should know that, if you see the battery status indicator lamp lighting up (intermittently) on the dashboard display console, this does NOT indicate that the battery is charging ... but it does indicate that the alternator is no longer charging the battery properly. This could be due to the state of the battery, or the alternator, or both. Hopefully you can get it checked out before you get stranded?

Perhaps you should have asked why I said this, before your "hearty laugh".

My car indicates battery charging (BMW M235i). It's got nothing to do with the battery being in trouble.

 

["D"]

Well then, thanks for the unintentional hearty laugh. Much appreciated! PS: Cool tech in that cool car of yours!

 

[Splinter]

Well then, thanks for the unintentional hearty laugh. Much appreciated! PS: Cool tech in that cool car of yours!

I don't think it's that unusual in BMW's.

 

[ChrisThomas]

F30 320D - 2013 model is still on it's original battery.

I have genuinely no idea how my battery is still going, it was half dead before lock down and my stop start system hasn't kicked in since December (indicating the battery doesn't have the juice to facilitate it).

It's now at the point that when I start my car, the instrument cluster needles all start shaking for a few seconds before they settle down. (This doesn't happen if I drive for a while and then switch off and switch back on).

Will probably replace it soon.

My mom's E87 1 series, 2009 which she drives maybe 3 times a week did need a new battery though, was also on the original battery.

 

[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.

I am just going to leave the battery in there for now. Charging it is not helping. Wi just use my wife's car for the weekly shopping trip to the supermarket

 

[joker08]

I am just going to leave the battery in there for now. Charging it is not helping. Wi just use my wife's car for the weekly shopping trip to the supermarket

I caved. I was scared that the car will be standing for way too long and create more issues. Exchanged the battery for a new one, cost me 960

 

[WesleyDB]

Mine did give up, but it was 5 years old already so was expecting it to go anytime.

 

[Splinter]

I caved. I was scared that the car will be standing for way too long and create more issues. Exchanged the battery for a new one, cost me 960

R960? No offence, but how do you get a battery that cheap? Last time I bought a battery, which was many years ago, a decent one was at least R1500. Then again, I may be behind the times.

 

[GMAN03]

No. I have a trickle charger that I alternate between the cars. Had an interesting time today with an odd feeling in my brakes though, almost like they were warped. Went away after a few kilometres though so probably some rust where the pads were in the same place for so long.

 

[WesleyDB]

R960? No offence, but how do you get a battery that cheap? Last time I bought a battery, which was many years ago, a decent one was at least R1500. Then again, I may be behind the times.

I paid R1050 for a battery so R960 isn't that hard to believe.

 

["D"]

R960? Last time I bought a battery, which was many years ago, a decent one was at least R1500. Then again, I may be behind the times.

If only Master Splinter didn't spend all those years in the sewers, all the time.

 

[Splinter]

I paid R1050 for a battery so R960 isn't that hard to believe.

Ok cool. Like I said, I may have been behind the times.

 

[Splinter]

If only Master Splinter didn't spend all those years in the sewers, all the time.

Well, at least mine are physical....

 

[WesleyDB]

Ok cool. Like I said, I may have been behind the times.

maybe it depends on the battery size.I paid that for a 628.

 

[Splinter]

maybe it depends on the battery size.I paid that for a 628.

Too be honest, I don't really know what that means. So, it seems I am talking out my buttocks then

 

[Sinbad]

My tire place today said they've sold more batteries than tyres in the last week

 

[joker08]

R960? No offence, but how do you get a battery that cheap? Last time I bought a battery, which was many years ago, a decent one was at least R1500. Then again, I may be behind the times.

Cost depends on the size and type of battery. The one I bought was just a standard sealed maintaince free battery.
And I had to give the old battery to them. Without the old battery it would have been around 1200.
What car u drive ?