Can I Recover A Battery?

[Guest Jaffer]

I bought a new battery over 12 months ago and for variuos reasons I haven't really had chance to work on the car since.

 

I'm now back on with the project [ ] and have been doing the electrics etc, but it appears that the battery won't hold much charge . I've tried charging it but even with no load it looses charge, dropping to 11.8volts or so quite quickly. Even after an overnight charge it only reads 12.4volts and hasn't even got enough guts to turn the engine for more than 10-20 secs... and thats without the plugs in!

 

Are there any tricks that will rejuvenate it? it is a new battery afterall... I guess they have a limited shelf life....

[steve in stockport]

sounds like its knackered

even if you spend days fannying about charging and discharging it, it will never be right and you just know it will let you down at the worst possible time

 

if i leave mine for any period of time i always disconnect the neg side of the battery - used to unbolt the leads from the battery, but now have the main earths going to one side of a kill switch and the other side to the battery so its just a case of turning the key

 

if you're going to store the battery off the car keep it off concrete floors and away from brickwork - for some reason they kill batteries

they are usually kept on metal racks in the shops so something like that should be ok

 

Steve

[Mat-Moo]

Worth checking the water level on it (unless it's sealed) however my tip of the day is to buy another battery from a breakes (about £10) which will be more than adequate for the build, and if it goes wrong it's a lot cheaper than £50+ for a new one!

[miikae]

I'm afraid that if it wont hold a charge then its knackered , the best advice for looking after a battery is to use something like the Optimate 3 and leave it connected , i have 2 of these one on my Virago and the other a MST battery gaurd on my Hoodie , more info below ,

 

OPTIMATE 3 SP - Automatic battery optimisation

 

Designed for 12 volt starter batteries from 2.5 to 28 Amp-hours capacity.

 

This is the perfect tool for regular or long-term maintenance of batteries not in daily use.

 

Suitable for all types of rechargeable lead-acid batteries: filler cap types; absorbed acid "MF" for motorcycles; valve regulated (VRLA); & GEL-electrolyte types.

 

Supplied with two interchangeable connection sets, one with clamps for bench charging, the other with in-line protection fuse and eyelet terminals for permanent connection to the vehicle’s battery.

 

Since i have used them i havent had to replace a battery .

 

Mike

[Guest Jaffer]

Thanks Guys.... thats what I feared. This one will do for farting about getting lights etc sorted, but I'll get a new one nearer start up time!

 

Thanks again

 

Jaff

[Big Jim]

You could discharge it fully (wire a builb to it, and leave it) then shake it up to get the sediment inside loose, tip out all the old acid (dispose of correctly) then refill with new acid, recharge the battery and see...............

Nah! just skip and buy a new/another one!

[Guest outtolunch]

You could discharge it fully (wire a builb to it, and leave it) then shake it up to get the sediment inside loose, tip out all the old acid (dispose of correctly) then refill with new acid, recharge the battery and see...............

Nah! just skip and buy a new/another one!

 

When I worked in a chemical works we used to do that as we had the acid but it wasn't worth the effort they would only last for about another 3 months

 

I put a £10 Maplins solar trickle charger in my camper last winter and that stopped it going flat by spring and now have another for the S7

[stevedohc2b]

Do not most new batteries come with a 3 year warrantee could you not get it replaced free worth a try first ?

 

Stephen

[Guest salty_monk]

Not worth the hassle.... £50 for a battery?? I used to get them for about 30 quid!

 

They do tablets at Halfords but they only replenish the acid I think..... Probably doesn't pep it up for long.

 

You could get a heavy duty charge, starter from Machine mart or somewhere & then just use that until you're on the road.... no chance of this happening again then!! http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categori...gine-starters-2

 

Dan

[Guest chris brown]

Not worth the hassle.... £50 for a battery?? I used to get them for about 30 quid!

Dan

Even £30 sounds tops to me try factors mine was £18 five years ago with a 2 year guarantee. I personally wouldn’t bother with long guarantees as the batteries are much more expensive and if it is going to give up it is normally in the first few months.

[Mat-Moo]

£50 is a cheap battery for a sierra 2lt pinto. A varta was about almost £70 at my local motor factors, and the battery I bought last new year for my Espace was £65 for the basic one.

[Guest salty_monk]

Matt you're shopping in the wrong places..... Plus you don't need a huge battery for a hood, a 1.1 fiesta battery would do the job.... even Halfords sell those for £20

 

I got a Diesel Battery (read huge....) for 50 quid 2 years back...

[Mat-Moo]

Was in Halfords today, cheapest battery I could find was £37 and it was small enough to put in my pocket ok not quite that small, but I would rather have more power to hand than not enough!

[Guest Ian & Carole]

Hi Guys

 

We have just replaced the battery on Carole's Smart four two.

 

Turned out to be a stock escort battery from a local motor factor.

 

2yr guarantee.

 

Wait for it-------------------------------------£22.50 inc Maggies Tax!

 

Paid that for the one on the Hood, 5 summers later still going strong

 

Thats the kiss of death for that battery then !!!!!!!

 

Ian J

[Guest craig030774]

andrew page 20 quid for 1.8 focus still asked for discount being a true hoodie