Car battery problem

BANNERMAN98

I have an 04 focus 1.4 and have been driving it 4 out of the last 5 days so it's been getting very good runs but today I had to get the window repaired and then it started fine, went to get it washed and out petrol in and the battery was instantly dead. Got it jump started and had a friend mechanic examine the battery and he found a weak cell. Came home and left it running for 15mins and I now need a jump start again.

BANNERMAN98

http://www.halfords.ie/motoring/bulbs-wiper-blades-batteries/batteries/yuasa-12v-silver-car-battery-hsb063-5-yr-guarantee#tab3

Rang halfords, they recommended this one

visual

Get cheaper in local motor factors but as its weekend halfords are open on sundays

JohnBoy26

visual wrote: »

Get cheaper in local motor factors but as its weekend halfords are open on sundays

For a cheap brand maybe. a yuasa won't be a whole lot cheaper in the factors though.

landmarkjohn

Couldn't fault Halfords for battery. I exchanged a battery with a month to run on a 4 year warranty without a quibble. Not many local motor factors will provide that warranty on a battery

BANNERMAN98

My local service station will put in a new battery on Sunday for me, €60 so I won't have to pay up to €96 to halfords(I hope)

Bpmull

BANNERMAN98 wrote: »

My local service station will put in a new battery on Sunday for me, €60 so I won't have to pay up to €96 to halfords(I hope)

But a battery is not just a battery. At least the one you linked in halfords is a very good brand. The service station could literally be putting any piece if crap brand it to it that might only last 1-2 years. A battery is like a lot of things you get what you pay for. Personally I'd buy a decent battery and have it for 5 years but if you want to buy a cheap one and change it every 2 that's fine. You may be lucky and they stick in a decent brand but it's highly unlikely. Also make sure there giving you the right size amp wise as if they undersize the battery in terms of its current then it will be constantly under pressure and fail even sooner.

BANNERMAN98

Changed battery and should the oil, engine bad battery lights stay on?

landmarkjohn

BANNERMAN98 wrote: »

Changed battery and should the oil, engine bad battery lights stay on?

Should go out with engine running if all is well.

cnoc

BANNERMAN98 wrote: »

Changed battery and should the oil, engine bad battery lights stay on?

What brand battery was fitted. What is the Amp hour rating.

BANNERMAN98

Can't see the brand name but it says 320cca ah40 063 nk

Bpmull

BANNERMAN98 wrote: »

Can't see the brand name but it says 320cca ah40 063 nk

so compared to the halfords battery above its 40 vs 50 amp which is a big enough difference. Thats the capacity of the battery. Also the Cca or cold start capacity is 480 vs 330 which is the ability of the battery to start the engine from cold. Put it this way I wouldn't like to try and start your car in any kind of cold conditions. Id say the likes of -10 degrees you'd be struggling big time. But then it depends on the condition of the engine and how easy it generally start. All you've really done is bought a smaller battery with no warranty inferior performance and an unknown brand hence the cheaper price I suppose.

coylemj

BANNERMAN98 wrote: »

Can't see the brand name but it says 320cca ah40 063 nk

That sounds like 40 amp hours (the battery capacity) model whereas the one Halfords recommended was a 50 ah model. It may be that the 'best fit' for your car lies somewhere in between but it looks like the garage sold you the smallest model that will do the job. A bigger capacity battery will last longer for a given car i.e. the 40 ah model might struggle if there's lots of short journeys.

I put your details (04 Focus 1.4) into www.micksgarage.ie and the smaller of two batteries they're recommending is a 44 ah Exide for €64 so if your battery cost €60, has no brand name and is only 40 ah I'd have to say you were sold a pup.

BANNERMAN98

Right well that's disappointing to know that

JohnBoy26

Bosch or Yuasa is what I'd go for. Both are good brands.

BANNERMAN98

Well I was caught on the hop so this battery will have to do for the time being

Bpmull

BANNERMAN98 wrote: »

Well I was caught on the hop so this battery will have to do for the time being

well hopefully you'll still get a few years out of it. At least you'll know for the next time to stick to the main brands and get at least the recommended size ah capacity for the car.

BANNERMAN98

This is my first ever car so im learning as I go and I've a lot of learning to do it seems