Sods Law.

[Doon frae Troon]

Handing over my car to my daughter next week as a runaround for her family.
Eight years old Fiesta, been a good friend and a really cost effective car to run.
Spent yesterday cleaning and washing it and it looked as good as new.
Told the Mrs I was popping out to fill the tank up to discover the battery flat.
Thought it was because I had the doors open whilst I cleaned it.
AA called and started straight away, he tested the battery to say the battery was knackered. {think it may have been the original one}
£90 for a new battery.
Just going with the one car for a few months to see how comfortable we feel.
Two cars sitting around that have done less than 8k miles this year combined.

 

[User62651]

8 years for a battery, no matter the mileage, is a good return. 5 or 6 years is normal life I think.
One car makes you walk or cycle more! Silver linings! ?
Mrs had a hospital visit this week, 160 mile round trip, actually good for the car to get a sustained run and engine properly hot, way too many very short trips this last year.

 

[USER1999]

Went to start the Mrs car last week, and the battery was flat. I have charged it, and the car starts, but I don't think the battery is up to much.
My Z4 starts, but turns over a bit slower than usual, probably needs a new battery. I thought that last year, but it got through the summer.
My Merc, hmm. Went out today, and first touch of the starter, nothing. Counted to 10, tried again, and it turned over once, slowly, and then burst into life. Have run it about for 40 minutes, but it was only left for a week. The stop start function hasn't worked for months. Think the battery is toast.

So, 3 cars, probably need 3 new batteries, one of which is silly money for a branded one.

 

[ScienceBoy]

8 years for a battery, no matter the mileage, is a good return. 5 or 6 years is normal life I think.

I got 8 years out of mine too, its a decent lifespan and nothing to complain about. It is a cost all car owners who keep cars for 5+ years have to deal with.

 

[Tashyboy]

This time of the year, cold weather kills them
quote
Cold weather slows everything down, especially the chemical reaction happening inside your car battery. In fact, at 32°F, a car's battery loses about 35% of its strength. And at 0°F, it loses up to 60% of its strength—but your engine requires nearly twice as much power to start!

 

[ManinBlack]

I've been having the same problem due to doing only short trips. The problem is that the battery fails without any warning. To give me some warning I bought a volt meter which plugs into the 12v socket in the car, £5 from Amazon. For my AGM battery a reading of 12.8 volts equals a full charge. When it goes below 11.5 I know its time to give it a charge.

To avoid further problems I bought a jump starter:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08BZ6QJ57/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's an amazing bit of kit. It's so small I couldn't believe it would work so I tested it by repeatedly starting the car until the battery ran down. It started the car no bother at all. It now sits in the boot & I have a diary note to charge it every 2 months.

What I want to know is why don't manufacturers fit cars with volt meters or at least build in a "low charge" warning.

 

[USER1999]

Does that jump starter work with stop/go type batteries, or just conventional.

I need to buy a new charger too, as the old one I have only does conventional batteries not the new ones.

Edit:
Up to 4L so no good for me. Should have read the link!

 

[harpo_72]

Got to turn ours over. I got a new battery for my MX5 which only sees journals to and from the GC or blasts out in the evening so everyone can hear a NA tuned 4 cylinder.
Then there is the Fiesta which is 6yrs old. It’s our run about and is very low mileage but it’s doing what all Fords do and dying one bit at a time due to age not use. I dunno how Ford do it, may be it’s because they just put cheap components together.
Not looking forward to replacing it, cars are over priced and PCP/lease interest rates are horrific

 

[ManinBlack]

Does that jump starter work with stop/go type batteries, or just conventional.

I need to buy a new charger too, as the old one I have only does conventional batteries not the new ones.

Edit:
Up to 4L so no good for me. Should have read the link!

Yes it does. My car has start / stop & an AGM battery

 

[jim8flog]

I've been having the same problem due to doing only short trips. The problem is that the battery fails without any warning. To give me some warning I bought a volt meter which plugs into the 12v socket in the car, £5 from Amazon. For my AGM battery a reading of 12.8 volts equals a full charge. When it goes below 11.5 I know its time to give it a charge.

To avoid further problems I bought a jump starter:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08BZ6QJ57/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's an amazing bit of kit. It's so small I couldn't believe it would work so I tested it by repeatedly starting the car until the battery ran down. It started the car no bother at all. It now sits in the boot & I have a diary note to charge it every 2 months.

What I want to know is why don't manufacturers fit cars with volt meters or at least build in a "low charge" warning.

Batteries often fail because one cell fails and the electronics will not work on 10 volts hence the appearance that it is totally dead.

The cells can fail totally suddenly regardless of the level of charge prior to the failure.

Last one I had fail happened immediately after a run of about 30 miles, Stopped parked and when I returned it was dead.

 

[SaintHacker]

Short journeys kill batteries, especially in this weather. It needs a good 15 mins of running to recharge what a cold start takes out of it, and thats before you factor in lights, blowers etc all running overtime this time of year.

 

[Imurg]

Short journeys kill batteries, especially in this weather. It needs a good 15 mins of running to recharge what a cold start takes out of it, and thats before you factor in lights, blowers etc all running overtime this time of year.

Thats why, when I go shopping, I take a slightly scenic route home...my car must be getting lazy..it's done less than a thousand miles since early November..should have been about 6500+

 

[USER1999]

Have bottled it and ordered a new battery for the Merc. Being fit on Wednesday, at home.
The other cars I can take a chance on, as they are old, and have zero tech to worry about.

 

[anotherdouble]

Have bottled it and ordered a new battery for the Merc. Being fit on Wednesday, at home.
The other cars I can take a chance on, as they are old, and have zero tech to worry about.

Bet it’s a 2 man job to lift the battery ?

 

[USER1999]

Bet it’s a 2 man job to lift the battery ?

It's certainly a big unit. With my dodgy back I don't fancy it, especially where it is tucked away.

 

[anotherdouble]

It's certainly a big unit. With my dodgy back I don't fancy it, especially where it is tucked away.

?