Battery again!!!

[Spencer69]

Hi Crowd, Well especially on this sunny day and when supposed to be dropping wife off at hospital, car gives up on us! No charge but still little to open/close windows but not start car...tried to give car a boost with a little jump start gadget (size of a mobile phone) which has worked in past when needed...especially over past few weeks with colder nights than usual!

But even with the boost, no further 'energy'...well not enough to start engine! Slight panic stations, but at least wife taken to appointment by great neighbours.

Battery only purchased in 11/04/2018 and is a Yuasa battery with 3 yr warranty, which has just past...local garage not open, so now have to wait 'til Monday...

Unless, anybody here has any ideas or answers that may help me solve problem whilst waiting 'til Monday to buy new battery!

Thank you for reading and for any replies...Take care!

[UKjim]

Measuring voltage after a charge doesn’t always tell the whole story. I recently had similar problems and using a reasonably sophisticated battery tester, it consistently informed me that the SOH (state of health) of the battery was 93% and no reported problems but after 5 or 6 days the car would not start. I purchased an Amp Hound with which you can test every fuse in situ to determine parasitic draw from the battery, the results of this test showed a minor draw of 35 milliamp, so this pointed to a faulty battery.
Replaced the battery with a Yuasa Silver and since then no problems.

[Kremmen]

If, like me, you're a low miler some months, I recommend a CTEK charger.

I use mine weekly if I haven't done at least one 20 mile run and my 2013 original battery is still going strong.

[culzean]

A battery with a three year warranty normally lasts 3.5 years, less if it is left in low state of charge ( less than 80% ) for any time.  batteries are like muscles, if they are not used they get weak.

[Spencer69]

Hi All, So, so grateful for all replies and will get back to them later...Have just collected wife from hospital and needs little R&R...an in own car, no taxi! I figured out what was the problem...the car battery booster (mobile phone size gadget referred to in OP) has a little bulb on side and I had only just figured this out today...it flashes Red, Red/Green, & Green. It also has a little 'click' switch. Anyway, gave it 1 last go, made sure all connections correct, also confirming Green light on (on the part that has red black crocodile clips that plugs into booster) and gave ignition switch a turn...and what happens...it bloody well starts!

Just 1 piece, I also managed to find the magic eye which shows-looks like it shows-green in a clear circle, which on the instructions on battery says...Recharge! So gave car a blast, 8 - 10 miles, and got call to collect wife.

Normally we do drive enough miles per week to stop this from happening as no problems before lockdowns etc., but since, have only been doing very short daily drives 5 or 6 days pr week., which aren't probably even 2 miles & know this doesn't do battery much good.

So, all good for moment, and will see what Monday brings, either leave as is or local garage for new battery! Will get back to you people later. Thank you so, so much for all your replies.

[culzean]

Measuring voltage after a charge doesn’t always tell the whole story. I recently had similar problems and using a reasonably sophisticated battery tester, it consistently informed me that the SOH (state of health) of the battery was 93% and no reported problems but after 5 or 6 days the car would not start. I purchased an Amp Hound with which you can test every fuse in situ to determine parasitic draw from the battery, the results of this test showed a minor draw of 35 milliamp, so this pointed to a faulty battery.
Replaced the battery with a Yuasa Silver and since then no problems.

Even the expensive professional battery testers are not that good, It is not easy to test a battery - good rule of thumb is if its giving problems and you don't know when it was fitted or it is getting to around 5 years old then replace it. It is the cheapest way of checking if it really bis the battery that is causing problems - and if it wasn't then you wouls have needed a new battery soon anyway.  Places like Tayna and MDS mean that you can get a good Yuasa battery for about half Halfrauds prices.

[culzean]

Hi All, So, so grateful for all replies and will get back to them later...Have just collected wife from hospital and needs little R&R...an in own car, no taxi! I figured out what was the problem...the car battery booster (mobile phone size gadget referred to in OP) has a little bulb on side and I had only just figured this out today...it flashes Red, Red/Green, & Green. It also has a little 'click' switch. Anyway, gave it 1 last go, made sure all connections correct, also confirming Green light on (on the part that has red black crocodile clips that plugs into booster) and gave ignition switch a turn...and what happens...it bloody well starts!

Just 1 piece, I also managed to find the magic eye which shows-looks like it shows-green in a clear circle, which on the instructions on battery says...Recharge! So gave car a blast, 8 - 10 miles, and got call to collect wife.

Normally we do drive enough miles per week to stop this from happening as no problems before lockdowns etc., but since, have only been doing very short daily drives 5 or 6 days pr week., which aren't probably even 2 miles & know this doesn't do battery much good.

So, all good for moment, and will see what Monday brings, either leave as is or local garage for new battery! Will get back to you people later. Thank you so, so much for all your replies.

That little window on top of battery is just a general check and only showing state of charge of 1 of the 6 cells,  it has a floating plastic ball like a hydrometer has ( to check specific gravity of electrolyte - which is best indication of state of charge of a lead acid battery ) - so any one of the other 5 cells can be faulty.

[Rory]

So gave car a blast, 8 - 10 miles, and got call to collect wife.

It's time it needs, rather than a blast - they need a regular good 30 plus mins of run time,

Modern charging systems don't put a lot into the battery, otherwise they'd boil.  They charge pretty gently, hence the need for time.  Or use a charger.

[123Drive!]

Yuasa is rubbish. It happened to mine. After two years it was finished. Using Bosch now and lasting for 3 yrs .

[culzean]

Yuasa is rubbish. It happened to mine. After two years it was finished. Using Bosch now and lasting for 3 yrs .

There are two types of car owners,  those who have a Yuasa battery and those who wish they had one.... I have had no luck with either Bosch or Varta batteries, but Yuasa has never given a problem on bikes or cars. The battery is probably the least understood and most neglected part of a vehicle - batteries only need a minimum of TLC to give good service.

[madasafish]

Yuasa is rubbish. It happened to mine. After two years it was finished. Using Bosch now and lasting for 3 yrs .

Yuasa are so bad the one in son's Yaris only lasted 9 years - whilst mine lasted 11 years.

[swhull]

Yuasa is rubbish. It happened to mine. After two years it was finished. Using Bosch now and lasting for 3 yrs .

Yuasa are so bad the one in son's Yaris only lasted 9 years - whilst mine lasted 11 years.

 

[culzean]

Yuasa is rubbish. It happened to mine. After two years it was finished. Using Bosch now and lasting for 3 yrs .

Yuasa are so bad the one in son's Yaris only lasted 9 years - whilst mine lasted 11 years.

look on any motorbike forum and Yuasa is the one of choice, the one that never let anyone down despite the vibration.

[ianhj]

Hi All, So, so grateful for all replies and will get back to them later...Have just collected wife from hospital and needs little R&R...an in own car, no taxi! I figured out what was the problem...the car battery booster (mobile phone size gadget referred to in OP) has a little bulb on side and I had only just figured this out today...it flashes Red, Red/Green, & Green. It also has a little 'click' switch. Anyway, gave it 1 last go, made sure all connections correct, also confirming Green light on (on the part that has red black crocodile clips that plugs into booster) and gave ignition switch a turn...and what happens...it bloody well starts!

Just 1 piece, I also managed to find the magic eye which shows-looks like it shows-green in a clear circle, which on the instructions on battery says...Recharge! So gave car a blast, 8 - 10 miles, and got call to collect wife.

Normally we do drive enough miles per week to stop this from happening as no problems before lockdowns etc., but since, have only been doing very short daily drives 5 or 6 days pr week., which aren't probably even 2 miles & know this doesn't do battery much good.

So, all good for moment, and will see what Monday brings, either leave as is or local garage for new battery! Will get back to you people later. Thank you so, so much for all your replies.

Agreed, sometimes the instructions on these battery boosters are scant. Ours has got us out of trouble twice ( interior lights left on pre an early morning flights!). I have been pleased with our Ctek charger - MXS5.

[E27006]

Hi All, So, so grateful for all replies and will get back to them later...Have just collected wife from hospital and needs little R&R...an in own car, no taxi! I figured out what was the problem...the car battery booster (mobile phone size gadget referred to in OP) has a little bulb on side and I had only just figured this out today...it flashes Red, Red/Green, & Green. It also has a little 'click' switch. Anyway, gave it 1 last go, made sure all connections correct, also confirming Green light on (on the part that has red black crocodile clips that plugs into booster) and gave ignition switch a turn...and what happens...it bloody well starts!

Just 1 piece, I also managed to find the magic eye which shows-looks like it shows-green in a clear circle, which on the instructions on battery says...Recharge! So gave car a blast, 8 - 10 miles, and got call to collect wife.

Normally we do drive enough miles per week to stop this from happening as no problems before lockdowns etc., but since, have only been doing very short daily drives 5 or 6 days pr week., which aren't probably even 2 miles & know this doesn't do battery much good.

So, all good for moment, and will see what Monday brings, either leave as is or local garage for new battery! Will get back to you people later. Thank you so, so much for all your replies.

For short journeys, low miles per week, in daylight,  try driving with  with the sidelights ON (not the headlights). The alternator spends more time charging the battery than when lighting off, this can be seen if you drive with  a voltmeter plugged into the 12V accessory socket. The voltmeter will read  at 14.3V to 14.4V for most of the drive, more active charging than with lights off
A voltmeter as in the Ebay  link for £2.99 is similar to the one I use

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174656084798?hash=item28aa505b3e:g:yAcAAOSwWixgOeGN