Battery Removal / Alarm Problem

[Horney]

Get a solar trickle charger, they work really well as I used to use one on the camper when it didn't move for months on end.

Also how much for a battery? Is that Halfords price? If so get down your local autofactors as they're normally 2/3rds the cost of the Halfords ones.

nick

I will look into this solar charger, thanks Nick

That price was for the top spec Bosch battery from Halfrods, Ill get another price from the autofactors, ta.

ECP battery £50!

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Volkswagen_Golf_2.0_2005/p/Car-Parts/Electrical-and-Lighting/Electrical/Batteries/?444770275&1&0d0c3bac476e4b5c031feae980b887dab5068d1b&BATT

Nick

[ifti]

Should the battery die like that after only a month of not being driven??

I do tend to do long journeys usually, but with my previous Fiesta ZetecS I once left it for over 2 months without switching the engine on as I was on holiday, and it start and drove fine when I returned!

[AlanD]

Bare in mind that its had almost a month of sitting in temperatures between -5 and 5 and nearly 3 weeks covered in snow. Its also 5 years old now as well. I am buying a battery reconditioner that a person at work has suggest as they used it on their car, apparently its gives shorts burst and zaps the battery removing sulphur from it etc, see how I get on with that. I just need it to last me till July and I can get myself a new one . Going to attempt to roll down the driveway and jump start it tonight just to get her working as its only just not turning over, all electrics work.

Great find there, Nick, top man

[Gene Hunt.]

Thing is most batterys have a normal life of 4-5 years.As your's is going on 5 years old you would be mad not to change it,just for future peace of mind every time you park up.

[AlanD]

Oh yeah, I'm going to chnage it. Just want to avoid changing it now as it's still going to get very little use till July. If I can tick over on this one till then i'd be more than happy.

[Ant]

Halfrauds (and therefore other places as well) have a battery condition checking diagnostic handset, should tell you if the battery is completely gone or not, they did mine for free so if you can get the battery to them they should be able to give you some more info.

[BuckieGTI]

To check if the battery is completely done it needs to be load tested using something similar to the one in the link below.

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Noco-100-amp-Battery-Load-Tester/3885057/product.html?cid=133635

Some batteries have a little LED on them to indicate their condition. I wouldn't rely on that as it only checks one cell of the battery and they are built up of multiples of cells.

I personally would go to a decent local garage to get it tested rather than some numpty at Halfords.

When buying a new one get the biggest ampere hour rating and gel batteries are far better than liquid ones although a bit more expensive.

[Micky 32]

Bare in mind that its had almost a month of sitting in temperatures between -5 and 5 and nearly 3 weeks covered in snow.

Believe it or not batteries like to sit in cold temperatures and will take longer to self - discharge. It will go flatter quicker in 30 degree heat. Cold only reduces the capacity which shows up the weakness if the battery is failing.

[AlanD]

Well the battery is clearly f**ked either way as I found out when I tried to charger it

Also bare in mind its probably only done about 15 miles in 3 months.