Check your battery

[golfvr6]

Starting my motor the last few days has been getting worse. Checked my battery today and all the cells were virtually empty, topped them up with de-ionised water, all now is fine.
If you haven't got a sealed battery then check it, it only takes a couple of minutes and will save you more than a few quid.
Ho Ho Ho  

[kniterider]

had battery probs with mine last month, put a new batt on the mk2 when i got it as it was flat, so was fine then i didnt use car for a few days and it sounded a bit slow on startin next day 'flat' took ages to even jump it off!!, and what was the cause!! boot light stayin on all the time!! the longer i left the car the flatter the battery!! so out came the bulb!! then i wired the bulb up with the lights through a new switch cause you dont need boot light if you aint got yas lights on do yas!! aswell as checkin your battery check you pin switch for your boot and your doors!!!! dont want any flats  in the middle of know where peeps!!

[mrwotto]

Thanx for the reminder will have to check mine at weekend!!

[jedi16v]

cheers for advice 6' will check mine. i know de-ionised water is cheap but is'nt melted ice cubes de-ionised?

[golfvr6]

Its quite funny really, i've done all sorts of things like clutch, headgasket, radiator(mk3 is a mission), brakes,calipers,suspension, but i've never checked the battery level before. If its gone flat i just charged it then bought a new one when shagged.
I wonder how many batteries can be saved by just keeping them topped up. The water cost me about 2 bar, a new battery would have been at least 60 bar.

Ho Ho Ho
 

[richandhazel]

Funny you should mention that. I took Hazels Audi to work the other night and it was very slow to turn over..........so when I got it to work and parked in the multistorey I positioned the car on an exit ramp, just in case. Sure enough, when I went to start the following morning I ended up rolling it down the exit ramp and bump starting it.

Changed the battery for a spare when I got home and sure enough her electrolyte level was low..........topped up and charged, now fine.

Most batteries are sealed these days so its rare to have to do anything other than replace them when they fail.........not this one though

[Gambit]

i dont have to check, mine has a little display on it

green = good
red = bad

 

[AdamB]

cheers for advice 6' will check mine. i know de-ionised water is cheap but is'nt melted ice cubes de-ionised?

I'm no chemist, but doesnt freezing water just change the physical state, and not the ionisation? It'll only cost a couple of quid for a bottle. If you use ice cubes made from tap water, it will still have the impurities in it.

[golfvr6]

It was only 2.5 bar for 2 bottles at the petrol station.

Ho Ho Ho
 

[modulater]

cheers for advice 6' will check mine. i know de-ionised water is cheap but is'nt melted ice cubes de-ionised?

I'm no chemist, but doesnt freezing water just change the physical state, and not the ionisation? It'll only cost a couple of quid for a bottle. If you use ice cubes made from tap water, it will still have the impurities in it.

Good work fella, De-ionised water is the steam of the water condensed, hence why it is sometimes called distilled water.

Ho Ho.