Does a battery completely "die"?

kildara

The battery light came on in the car last night (2005 Ford Focus 2.0TDCi Titanium).
Today it wouldn't start, but it did with a jump, so I thought the battery might be done. So I jumped it and brought it around to Kwik Fit to see if the battery needed changed. The car cut out just as I pulled into the car park - lucky timing me thinks.
They tested the battery and said it was dead and I needed a new one.
£92.50.
I didn't have much of a choice because I couldn't drive the car anywhere, because it wouldn't start so agreed to them putting in a new one, which they duly did. I paid and left.
On the way up the road the battery light came back on again. I brought it back to Kwik Fit and told them. They checked and said it might be ther alternator and said to drive it around for a while and come back and they would check it again. I drove round and went back like I was told and they tested the battery and said something along the lines of "It's losing power and this will be because the alternator is not re-charging the battery".
So, now I need a new alternator - which is something they don't deal with.
When I asked him if I had needed the battery in the first place he said that the battery was that flat that it wouldn't ever recharge again.
He did offer to take out the new battery, put the old one back in and refund me, but he said I wouldnt get far in the car.
I said to leave it as it was and went away.
He rang another garage down the road (I have used them before and they seem decent) and explained I needed the alternator done and asked them to have a look, at it so I will bring it there tomorrow.

Is this right? If the alternator had been changed, would I still have needed a new battery?
I'm pretty annoyed at having to spend £92.50 only for that not to fix the problem and now get something else done which is going to cost more money.

Thanks in advance.

InTheTrees

Honestly the only way to tell would be to get the old battery and take it somewhere else to see if it can be recharged. But they probably also charged a "disposal fee" to get rid of it for you.

He should have tested the alternator to see if it was generating power before selling you a new battery in my humble amateur non-mechanic opinion.

cml387

The "battery light" is a warning light to indicate the alternator is failing to charge the battery.
I know it's too late now, but this is usually the sign of a failed drive belt
(used to be known as fan belt).I would presume this has been checked.



I

kildara

Thanks for your reply.

Yes they charged a £1.50 "Green disposal" fee also...

Suppose there is very little I can do know except hope I can get a reconditioned alternator cheap somewhere and get it fitted.

kildara

cml387 wrote: »

The "battery light" is a warning light to indicate the alternator is failing to charge the battery.
I know it's too late now, but this is usually the sign of a failed drive belt
(used to be known as fan belt).I would presume this has been checked.

I didn't check any belts myself. The guy in Kwik Fit only checked the battery and put in a new one.
Now that you mention the belt though, there was a slight "whirring" noise (if that makes sense) when I accelerated. I only noticed that last night too but thought I was hearing things - its still in it now.

cml387

Can you check the drive belt. It's usually fairly visible (unless it's broken,in which case it won't be visible:o). Any Focus drivers out there able to help?

kildara

Cant check it right now as I left it in work and took a truck home. If I find out where it is (or as you say - where it should be!) I will check in the morning.
It would be nice if it was the belt and not the actual alternator that was bust.
Thanks for the advice.

Stoolbend

If the fan belt was gone your power steering wouldn't work either and you would definitely notice that.

It's more than likely alternator that needs to be repaired.

I would also ask them to try charge the origional battery. You cant say it's gone without actually testing it. Any car not charging the battery is going to drain it.

pete4130

kildara wrote: »

Thanks for your reply.

Yes they charged a £1.50 "Green disposal" fee also...

Suppose there is very little I can do know except hope I can get a reconditioned alternator cheap somewhere and get it fitted.

The altenator went in my 05' 1.6 TDCI just before the new year. I got it replaced with a new one and labour for €270ish in south Dublin Auto's in Rialto. Done within a day too (bar the weekend/new year) from having the new altenator ordered and fitted. Fan belt replaced too at the time.