Dead battery?

BlazingSaddler

Hi all. Currently in France on hols and went to start the car (Ford Grand CMax diesel 2011) today and nothing but a few clicks, tried it again about 10 mins later and struggled to a start but the trip computer had reset. I then drove to the shops 15 mins away and came back to the car and there was nothing. I had ford European breakdown assist so had a mechanic there within 2 hours who diagnosed a flat battery. Is this normal for a 4 year old car, I thought batteries lasted longer, especially after a 500 km drive only 7 days ago.
Thanks!

Stheno

At most batteries last five years

jake is right

Have you checked the alternator ?

delly

No way to tell for certain without a multimeter, but would have thought it should last. Any chance you had a coolbox plugged in the boot, or someone was charging a phone?

hellyeah

as above phone charger left plugged in while car parked etc will drain battery pretty quickly, glove box / boot left open as they all have interior lights which come on even though the ignition is switched off.

BlazingSaddler

hellyeah wrote: »

as above phone charger left plugged in while car parked etc will drain battery pretty quickly, glove box / boot left open as they all have interior lights which come on even though the ignition is switched off.

No coolbox but a satnav was plugged in on the journey and a few small journeys since we got here. Nothing plugged in while car was parked though.

jca

I'd say the battery is kaput batteries just seem to die instantly now, not like years ago when you Limp through the summer and have to replace it in September. I couldn't see a phone being on charge causing it to go dead. I've often forgotten my phone or sat nav and left them on overnight without any problems. Very bad luck though..

unkel

I'm surprised the break down mechanic didn't replace it there and then for you (for a fee of course)

Batteries typically last about 3-6 years (That said, I once replaced one that was 10 years old :eek:). Just replace it in the nearest battery place / garage / motors factors you can find. They are not that expensive and you don't want to be caught out again!

BlazingSaddler

unkel wrote: »

I'm surprised the break down mechanic didn't replace it there and then for you (for a fee of course)

Batteries typically last about 3-6 years (That said, I once replaced one that was 10 years old :eek:). Just replace it in the nearest battery place / garage / motors factors you can find. They are not that expensive and you don't want to be caught out again!

Sorry, he did change it. Cost €140

Del2005

mattb74 wrote: »

Hi all. Currently in France on hols and went to start the car (Ford Grand CMax diesel 2011) today and nothing but a few clicks, tried it again about 10 mins later and struggled to a start but the trip computer had reset. I then drove to the shops 15 mins away and came back to the car and there was nothing. I had ford European breakdown assist so had a mechanic there within 2 hours who diagnosed a flat battery. Is this normal for a 4 year old car, I thought batteries lasted longer, especially after a 500 km drive only 7 days ago.
Thanks!

How many times have you started it since the 500km and how long where the journeys? If it got enough juice to turn over the car after sitting for 10 minutes and you only did a few short journeys the battery might have been okay if it had got a decent run, 15 minutes driving after starting a diesel isn't long enough especially if the battery was low. Bit late now though since its already been replaced.

Del2005

Stheno wrote: »

At most batteries last five years

Must take the 20+ year old battery out of the tractor then, shame since it still starts at the first attempt. Batteries are like most consumables on a vehicle, it's entirely down to the operator(s) how long they'll last.

unkel

A 15 minute drive in a car with a near dead battery should have been plenty for it to be able to start again after being switched off for 10 minutes. Once the battery is on the way out, you'd cause yourself hassle if you don't replace it straight away. I learnt this the hard way.

BTW I wouldn't be surprised that if the OP would have refused the battery replacement, he would be charged for the next call out if it turned out to be the battery again. At least that's what I would put in the small print if I was a warranty boss

Hachiko

Stheno wrote: »

At most batteries last five years

Any Japanese car I had, batteries lasted 10 years or more. Current battery in is250 is from new and no problem with it (7 years and counting), thats with all the toys in the car from stock plus a hefty 40W 5 port USB hub plugged into the arm rest box.

I would love to know where you got this 5 years thing, batteries should last far longer than that.

JohnBoy26

Stheno wrote: »

At most batteries last five years

Mine lasted 12 years. There is no set time really. Some last longer than others.

Del2005

unkel wrote: »

A 15 minute drive in a car with a near dead battery should have been plenty for it to be able to start again after being switched off for 10 minutes. Once the battery is on the way out, you'd cause yourself hassle if you don't replace it straight away. I learnt this the hard way.

BTW I wouldn't be surprised that if the OP would have refused the battery replacement, he would be charged for the next call out if it turned out to be the battery again. At least that's what I would put in the small print if I was a warranty boss

A 15 minute drive is the minimum for a fully charged battery to recover from starting a diesel, if it's been fully discharged then it'd need way longer with all other electrics turned off.

I'm actually surprised that the OP wasn't offered a boost from the recovery driver as opposed to a €140 battery or maybe not as it's a marketing ploy from a car company as opposed to a proper package from a reputable company.

johndaman66

Del2005 wrote: »

I'm actually surprised that the OP wasn't offered a boost from the recovery driver as opposed to a €140 battery or maybe not as it's a marketing ploy from a car company as opposed to a proper package from a reputable company.

Thing is that if the battery was genuinely goosed then a jump start will get the OP going but it wont be the solution. I'm genuinely not sure if it would be a case of leaving the car overnight or at least a few hours and then finding out or if the Recovery truck driver could do some test on the spot to find out.


I'd agree though that a half decent car battery should last longer than 5 years. The only car I've owned long enough to know is a car I bought used. I believe the battery in it was the original when I bought the car at six years old and it still seemed to be going strong until the day the car was carried away to the breakers yard after it was totalled from being rear ended which was about six years later again.

unkel

Del2005 wrote: »

I'm actually surprised that the OP wasn't offered a boost from the recovery driver as opposed to a €140 battery or maybe not as it's a marketing ploy from a car company as opposed to a proper package from a reputable company.

Probably the small print as I mentioned earlier. Don't get me wrong here, I agree with most of what you have been saying on this thread. In the OP's situation, abroad, the €140 new battery (with the free call out) was most likely the best option though...

jca

140 squids for a battery plus fitting for a diesel car isn't bad in fairness.