Battery problem

Glenman

Bought a VW diesel golf 2 years ago. Apparently it had a new battery at the time. However, it is struggling these days, I know its cold! Car would not start on Sunday morning so had to get the jump leads out. It's been very sluggish since then as well but the car is just about starting. You wouldn't expect a "new" battery to give up after two years would you? The battery was never serviced i.e. topped up with water. Should this be done.

mayo_lad

yes you would expect a new battery only to last 2 years esp with the cold , there is nothing worse to destroy a battery than the cold . the battery in my jeep only lasts a year and a half if I'm lucky.

if i was you I'd just buy a new battery and solve the problem while also reducing the stress on the stater motor and alternator

Henry Ford III

Take it out and charge it fully!

Fishtits

It is most likely that the battery that was fitted to your car was a cheap generic one. Original Equipment spec batteries will last a lot longer than two years but they cost more.

It is not unusual for an OE battery to last ten years. The issue is one of price - OE are available in the aftermarket but cost approx 50% more than the generic rubbish. There are some decent non OE brands out there but you need to know what you're getting. You get what you pay for basically.

The caveat here is that the vehicle is in good order regarding starting, charging etc and gets a decent enough run to enable the battery to recharge each day, if any of these are missing it will reduce battery life substantially.

Cheers,

Glenman

Thanks for the tips, yea, it was probably a cheap battery, a car dealer would cut costs where possible. Where would be the best place to buy an "Original Equipment spec batteries"?
Does topping the cells up with water make any difference? This was not done. I will take it out and top up and cells and charge it to see how it goes.

biko

Get a new one at a factors, don't mess with opening and pour water in - there is acid inside.
€79 at Tesco shopping centre factors. They take old back.

Glenman

Thanks for the suggestions. Car almost didn't start this morning and with temperatures set to go even lower tonight I think its time to buy a new battery this evening. I want to buy a good quality battery? What should I be looking for and what price would I need to be paying for a good quality battery for a diesel car? Thanks

phill106

Make sure its the correct ampage, large diesel cars need bigger batteries. I know a golf isnt massive, but any good motor factors should be able to tell you which one you need.

--Kaiser--

Fishtits wrote: »

It is not unusual for an OE battery to last ten years. The issue is one of price - OE are available in the aftermarket but cost approx 50% more than the generic rubbish. There are some decent non OE brands out there but you need to know what you're getting. You get what you pay for basically.

+1
A decent car battery should last around 10 years

manatoo

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

+1
A decent car battery should last around 10 years

+1 I bought my Carina at 10 years of age and it still had the original Toyota battery dated with the same date as the car was delivered to the dealer it was bought from when new.

After that I bought a cheapo battery. Lasted over 4 years, one year of which the car was sittin up and only started every 3 months or so. Had to be jumped each time but held the charge no problem afterwards.

On to my second cheapo now which I picked up at the unbelievable price of €49 in Points n' plugs on Prussia street with a 2 year guarantee. At that price it doesn't matter if it only lasts a couple years.

langdang

Glenman wrote: »

Does topping the cells up with water make any difference? This was not done. I will take it out and top up and cells and charge it to see how it goes.

If the cells are low, and you have a charger and de-ionised water, then yeah - top it up and charge it fully. Might be just goosed but I'd try it anyway.

But if you absolutely positively have to have your car starting properly and reliably, then maybe as Biko said - skip the messing around and get a new one.

Fishtits

OP, I'm assuming your Golf is a Mk IV, if so the OE battery would have been a Varta. The other main OE supplier to VAG (Passat TDI etc) is Moll.

The correct size would be a 74AH 680CCA, commonly known as an "096"

If you ring around the motor factors in your area you will find one that supplies one or both of the above brands, they are both distributed in Ireland.

You should never have to add water to a modern battery. If the battery is low either its faulty or the alternator is overcharging, they are fit and forget items.

Cheers,

MarkoC

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

+1
A decent car battery should last around 10 years

Sounds like a beautiful fairytale.

The average life of a car battery is in the range of three to five years. Several factors can lead to a battery's short lifespan. Many people's driving habits contribute to this, leading to the battery dying closer to the three-year range.

Significance
1. Exposing the battery to extreme temperatures, hot or cold, can shorten the battery's life span and cause starting problems as the temperature affects the chemical reaction required.
Effects
2. The battery's life can be shortened by several starting cycles and short drive times within a relatively short time frame.
Time Frame
3. The car needs to run for at least 20 minutes on average for the alternator to fully recharge the battery.
Prevention/Solution
4. Many batteries are encased in an insulated jacket to help it withstand cold temperatures. Many people, even professional mechanics, often remove this cover, putting the battery at risk of a shorter life.
Warning
5. A car battery's life can also be shortened if it is a standard "starter" battery used in a car containing electronic devices like TVs and DVD players.


Varta is a good battery but dont expect them to last 10 years !

Glenman

Thanks for all the tips. I got a battery yesterday. Its a Varta with 3 years warranty for E115, so I am happy with it.
I use the rear view & wing mirror demister for 5-10 minutes at the start of every journey but my average journey length would be around 30min. I presume using this high current feature would shorten the life of the battery?

Nonoperational

Ah I doubt using a window demister for 5 minutes at the start of a 30 minute would make any difference to it at all.

--Kaiser--

MarkoC wrote: »

Sounds like a beautiful fairytale.

I've had three cars, and in each case the OEM battery lasted at least 10 years. Are you always so patronising or is this a special occasion?

Fishtits

Sounds like a beautiful fairytale

Ooohh thats a bit harsh!

OE batteries will and do last 10+ years unless they've been hammered in the mean time.

I have two vehicles on fleet that are both 10 + years old and are still on original batteries.

Modern batteries are far superior to there predecessors but they do have a weakness... they don't like being left less than fully charged.

Cheers,

MarkoC

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

I've had three cars, and in each case the OEM battery lasted at least 10 years. Are you always so patronising or is this a special occasion?

Well im impressed with your battery results its very rare if they last over 7 years in these days, usually 5, heres just random thread, worth to read peoples experiences with OEM batteries

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/technical-stuff/38613-oem-car-battery-life-how-long-did-your-oe-battery-last.html

bryaner

MarkoC wrote: »

Sounds like a beautiful fairytale.

The average life of a car battery is in the range of three to five years. Several factors can lead to a battery's short lifespan. Many people's driving habits contribute to this, leading to the battery dying closer to the three-year range.

Significance
1. Exposing the battery to extreme temperatures, hot or cold, can shorten the battery's life span and cause starting problems as the temperature affects the chemical reaction required.
Effects
2. The battery's life can be shortened by several starting cycles and short drive times within a relatively short time frame.
Time Frame
3. The car needs to run for at least 20 minutes on average for the alternator to fully recharge the battery.
Prevention/Solution
4. Many batteries are encased in an insulated jacket to help it withstand cold temperatures. Many people, even professional mechanics, often remove this cover, putting the battery at risk of a shorter life.
Warning
5. A car battery's life can also be shortened if it is a standard "starter" battery used in a car containing electronic devices like TVs and DVD players.


Varta is a good battery but dont expect them to last 10 years !

+ 1 thats exactly it..

Fishtits

There's an awful lot of rubbish posted here..

If you buy a decent battery and look after it, it will last you 10 years.

End of story.

MarkoC

Fishtits wrote: »

There's an awful lot of rubbish posted here..

If you buy a decent battery and look after it, it will last you 10 years.

End of story.

And what are the special tips for average Joe how to look after your battery that it will last easy for 10 years ?

bryaner

Fishtits wrote: »

There's an awful lot of rubbish posted here..

If you buy a decent battery and look after it, it will last you 10 years.

End of story.

Please tell us of a decent battery so, and how you look after a maintenance free battery?

snowman707

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

I've had three cars, and in each case the OEM battery lasted at least 10 years. Are you always so patronising or is this a special occasion?

9 years and 240 k miles on my son's primera dsl OEM battery

when replacing we always use Oldham , not the cheapest option but seem to last longer and give better service especially in large diesel engines

sean1141

just changed a battery in our 206 diesel this week.. its a 02 and the battery has been in it since new.. i would think it only fecked up because the heater plugs are fecked.. my 05 leon is still on its factory battery too...

maintenance free batterys still need a good run to let them recharge after a start espicaly in this cold weather where they need to heat the glow plugs for longer before starting.. so if you only do a short trip you are not giving them a chance to recharge or let the engine warm up so when you go to start it again it drains more from the battery..

MarkoC

sean1141 wrote: »

maintenance free batterys still need a good run to let them recharge after a start espicaly in this cold weather where they need to heat the glow plugs for longer before starting.. so if you only do a short trip you are not giving them a chance to recharge or let the engine warm up so when you go to start it again it drains more from the battery..

Dont you think its cheaper to buy a new battery after every 5 years than spend money on longer journeys just to charge your battery and "maintenance" it in that way ?
I agree with you here thats the perfect life for the battery but thats not the solution for "average Joe"

Lets make a small calculation:

Every day you need to make 5 miles longer trip or let the car run for extra 15 min at least twice a day if your journey is just 15-20 long to work or wherever you need to go , thats about half liter to 1 liter of extra petrol every day, theres at least 2 months cold time when this process is needed so, that makes 30-60 liters of extra petrol in 2 months period, if you want to be really good care taker over your battery you have to do the process all year around , 180-360 liters of extra petrol in a YEAR ...

Lets maintenance our batteries for 10 years in that way and we can proudly say "we saved the world by not buying 1 battery

Too pricey for me if i lived in town and had to drive 15-20 min to work and back every day ... And im talking here about average person who uses the car mainly for short distances like work, shopping, droping kids to school etc. Thats our average every day life, not to think about maintaining the car batterys ...

Any better ideas ?

sean1141

MarkoC wrote: »

Dont you think its cheaper to buy a new battery after every 5 years than spend money on longer journeys just to charge your battery and "maintenance" it in that way ?
I agree with you here thats the perfect life for the battery but thats not the solution for "average Joe"

i said thats how a battery should be maintained i know not every once can do this due to short trips to the shops or whatever.. personally i would buy a battery when the old one is fooked not every 5 years;)

MarkoC wrote: »

Lets make a small calculation:

Every day you need to make 5 miles longer trip or let the car run for extra 15 min at least twice a day if your journey is just 15-20 long to work or wherever you need to go , thats about half liter to 1 liter of extra petrol every day, theres at least 2 months cold time when this process is needed so, that makes 30-60 liters of extra petrol in 2 months period, if you want to be really good care taker over your battery you have to do the process all year around , 180-360 liters of extra petrol in a YEAR ...

Lets maintenance our batteries for 10 years in that way and we can proudly say "we saved the world by not buying 1 battery

the op's car is a diesel which are a lot harder to start than a petrol.. short runs do not suit diesels so its better to take them for a long run.. if your only tipping around the town buy a micra or yaris.. plus it would make no sence to do it twice a day all year around. the car would be a lot warmer during summer time and a lot easier to start.. so lets say you do drive a diesel in town on short runs. an extra 10 min drive a day over two months will probaly cost you say 15 liters of diesel in those two months (E19) plus a small bit of wear on your car.. now by doing this drive you are helping your battery recharge, warming up your engine fully which stops crap building up in egr valve, inlet manaifold and DPF(in some diesels) which can save you thousands down the line so ya i would rather run my car for 10 mins extra during the cold months:)

MarkoC wrote: »

Too pricey for me if i lived in town and had to drive 15-20 min to work and back every day ... And im talking here about average person who uses the car mainly for short distances like work, shopping, droping kids to school etc. Thats our average every day life, not to think about maintaining the car batterys ...

Any better ideas ?

a 15-20 min drive is pleanty to recharge your battery after a cold morning start.. just as long as your not stopping and starting the engine before it warms up. esp a diesel..

any factory fitted battery should last 8-10 years.. cheap batterys will die a lot quicker..

Nonoperational

2003 Alfa 156 still on it's original battery too and the water isn't even topped up.

Eph1958

Glenman wrote: »

Thanks for all the tips. I got a battery yesterday. Its a Varta with 3 years warranty for E115, so I am happy with it.
I use the rear view & wing mirror demister for 5-10 minutes at the start of every journey but my average journey length would be around 30min. I presume using this high current feature would shorten the life of the battery?

Did the new battery completely solve the starting problem?

teednab-el

I have a 2000 Audi A4 with the original battery in it and its still there so i dont know why some people are saying they wouldnt last 10 years. Still going.