Now what? II

[steve_earwig]

You wouldn't believe it but my battery just died! Not gradually lost capacity, not failing to hold a charge - it's dead! One minute it was fine, started the car, the whole deal, the next minute it's a large paperweight. It measures 12.6 volts but if I bridge it with a piece of wire it drops to zero with barely a spark. Obviously something's happened inside it, it's 4 years old now so I suppose I've had my money's worth and it could have been worse - we're meant to be going to the cemetary in Zagreb tomorrow, that would have been fun. Anyway, I have a spare...

[Doggy]

Hard luck Steve, modern batteries seem to go that way, (all of a sudden).

Hope that's you got your run of bad luck out the way in time for Christmas

[steve_earwig]

Me too! Although it's nothing like Welton's and Supa's troubles it's still hitting me hard in the wallet. Anyway, temporarily sorted, my other half's cousin gave me a lift to pick up the battery from the HDi. He's got a pre-pumpe douchebag Octavia and he was asking me what I expected from a French car, surprised I even bought a French car etc and how wonderful his Octavia is. I didn't want to enter into an argument so I didn't mention the loud clatter I heard from it before I got in or how the whole car wobbles because it's not running right.

[teamster1975]

Here's to a new year of trouble free motoring!! Bloody cars

[steve_earwig]

modern batteries seem to go that way, (all of a sudden)

I've had a Google about and that does seem to be the case, no more gradual decline - all and then nothing. The recommendation seems to be to change your battery every three years regardless. I'm not sure how that ties-in with those that have a 5-year guarantee but I don't suppose that's much comfort if you're stranded in the middle of nowhere with a dead motor.

[teamster1975]

modern batteries seem to go that way, (all of a sudden)

I've had a Google about and that does seem to be the case, no more gradual decline - all and then nothing. The recommendation seems to be to change your battery every three years regardless. I'm not sure how that ties-in with those that have a 5-year guarantee but I don't suppose that's much comfort if you're stranded in the middle of nowhere with a dead motor.

The mad thing is I changed my bike battery this year and it was 10 years old and still going strong!
I think the car battery is shot, the last couple of times there was just enough to start the car and fine there-after until the next morning

[steve_earwig]

The mad thing is I changed my bike battery this year and it was 10 years old and still going strong!

They don't make 'em like they used to

I think the car battery is shot, the last couple of times there was just enough to start the car and fine there-after until the next morning

At least you're getting some warning!

[Welly]

Good Job it's not the D9'er as you may well get the old remote locking dodgyness like what soops had (what with yours being quite new an all that).

My battery gave me about 4 days warning but I think it was the original one (maybe very good quality, 8 years use etc).

Don't over-tighten that hold down bracket

[steve_earwig]

Where do you think I got the "spare" battery from? Worried, me? Of course i am!

I didn't even get 10 seconds warning

[Longintooth]

Sunspots Steve, all batteries are packing in - put tin foil on your head for next 2 weeks!!

[steve_earwig]

Inside or outside the paper bag?

[steve_earwig]

I have a new battery It's a 75ah of unknown make (OE on Chevrolets although I firmly believe it came out the same factory as many popular brands) and cost almost 600Kn (which a few months back was just over 50 quid but I'm really not up to checking how much it is now ) The price includes my "staff discount" plus they're on sale too - they've lost count how many batteries they've shifted since Christmas but the shop suddenly looks a lot emptier.

I only really went in to price it up, I wasn't too keen on the performance of the HDi's 60 ah compared to the old 72ah before it died, so I wanted to compare as I'd rather fork out a little extra to be safe - I have very few people here I could call on if I had any problems. They know I'm short on cash so I got told to pay for it when I could but I've already paid 'cos I hate owing money.

No problems starting, despite it being below freezing all the time now (-10 this morning, here we go again).

Btw I put my trusty welding surge protector across the terminals in the HDi before I put the battery back in and it all seems to work ok, despite the huge flash as the -ve made contact (well ok it was a tiny spark but it had me worried ).

[teamster1975]

Nice one Steve! I'm still persevering with my old one but when the pennies start coming in again I'll order from that site you linked to!