When to change battery

[Karbonphyber]

head down to syncrowerkz. they've got a professional battery tester that will tell you health and charge. a simple multi-meter will not show you the complete picture.

[Sorrowtears]

Hmm... didn't realise how expensive are the car batteries now...

I always do the installation on my own and get the batteries from direct supplier (best if they are the manufacturer)

Cheap and decent running for 1year plus and still healthy after a battery test at a workshop which I always visit.

So I'm thinking how much are those workshop price marked up after they got from their supplier.

Recommended my friends on the battery I using, get it and installed for them. So far so good...

 

[Alphas]

I alway wait until the battery is almost dead or even dead to maximize its life. But I have a jump start cable in car and battery at home lol.

[Yeobh]

I alway wait until the battery is almost dead or even dead to maximize its life. But I have a jump start cable in car and battery at home lol.

 

By allowing yr battery condition to reach " almost dead" you are placing a very heavy load onto your alternator. To make it simple , that means yr alternator has to run much more hours than normal and generating high output ( resulting in high temp). The alternator is operating abnormally and will fail prematurely.

[Kangadrool]

Been changing my motorbike battery DIY.

 

The maintenance-free battery comes with a sulphuric acid pack separately. To commission the battery, hold the acid pack upside down with holes properly aligned. Press it down to puncture the holes on the acid pack. Let the acid flow into the battery until complete. Sealed up the holes.

 

The battery is now ready to use. It is recommended to charge it for 10 mins before installing. Else, drive for a good long distance to charge up the battery properly.

 

By right, bike battery and car battery should be the same except the difference in size.

 

I have not seen how it's "done" for car battery as I never see any mech prep in front of my eyes. Probably due to safety (much larger acid pack), they will prep it in w/s out of our sight before bringing it out. They probably do it in small batches to maintain freshness.

 

I don't think car battery has its "content" filled with sulphuric acid in factory as it's a real hazard to ship it. Imagine one full container load of activated car battery............

 

Yes, I think it will go flat after some time.

But jus curious how the "new" batteries maintain their charge? Dun see them charging, but the battery can plug and use straight.

 

[Hiphiphoray]

I always insist changing the car battery at the 1.5 yr mark.

 

I never wait until 2yrs or more......never.

 

In fact this year I change it even earlier @ 1yr 4 mths. Lol.

[Watwheels]

I think many ppl here got it wrong, a multimeter won't be able to tell you how good your battery will perform when you crank your engine to start.

 

What pros use is a battery analyzer like this...

 

It test batteries using a series of short Pulsed DC Impedance method. This testing method is more accurate than conventional resistance load testing.

 

For those who use a multimeter or a volt gauge meter. That will not tell you the condition of the battery. In fact you will see fluctuation in the voltage while your engine is running becoz of the gadgets, headlights and entertainment you are running in your car.

 

The figures in CCA will usually reflects the battery's health. Sometimes ppl do look at the load resistance as well. The lower resistance the easier to crank. The healthy figures are around 400CCA to 500 CCA depending on the size of your car's battery.

 

Unfortunately, this device cost a whopping US$200+ or slightly over S$300 not including shipping. You can buy this online. Or you can just go to your AD to ask them to measure and test the battery for you when you do your servicing. The AD workshop should have at least one of such battery analyzer. Some outside workshops have it too but not all. Some tire & battery shops that I see dun even have this analyzer which is sad. Some have a pathetic device to display green or red light to determine the battery's health.

 

That's why when ppl go to get a battery, those selling will just action action use a multimeter and smoke customers, telling them the battery is no good. They dun even use a correct device to analyze the battery and they dare tell ppl the battery is no good. Better be careful of such shops you go to.

 

 

Edited June 20, 2014 by Watwheels

[Kangadrool]

Think most of them will tell you no good after you tell them battery is one year liao or they see the date on battery. Lol.....

 

That's my experience....

 

After they tell me my battery no good for another one more year, I am still using the same old battery.

 

Yess, this device will tell you more accurately. I ever asked my AD to check, he print out and say battery must change liao..... I told him I change outside...... After one month, it died w/o prior advance notice.

 

I think many ppl here got it wrong, a multimeter won't be able to tell you how good your battery will perform when you crank your engine to start.

 

What pros use is a battery analyzer like this...

 

It test batteries using a series of short Pulsed DC Impedance method. This testing method is more accurate than conventional resistance load testing.

 

For those who use a multimeter or a volt gauge meter. That will not tell you the condition of the battery. In fact you will see fluctuation in the voltage while your engine is running becoz of the gadgets, headlights and entertainment you are running in your car.

 

The figures in CCA will usually reflects the battery's health. Sometimes ppl do look at the load resistance as well. The lower resistance the easier to crank. The healthy figures are around 400CCA to 500 CCA depending on the size of your car's battery.

 

Unfortunately, this device cost a whopping US$200+ or slightly over S$300 not including shipping. You can buy this online. Or you can just go to your AD to ask them to measure and test the battery for you when you do your servicing. The AD workshop should have at least one of such battery analyzer. Some outside workshops have it too but not all. Some tire & battery shops that I see dun even have this analyzer which is sad. Some have a pathetic device to display green or red light to determine the battery's health.

 

That's why when ppl go to get a battery, those selling will just action action use a multimeter and smoke customers, telling them the battery is no good. They dun even use a correct device to analyze the battery and they dare tell ppl the battery is no good. Better be careful of such shops you go to.

 

 

 

[Watwheels]

Think most of them will tell you no good after you tell them battery is one year liao or they see the date on battery. Lol.....

 

That's my experience....

 

After they tell me my battery no good for another one more year, I am still using the same old battery.

 

Yess, this device will tell you more accurately. I ever asked my AD to check, he print out and say battery must change liao..... I told him I change outside...... After one month, it died w/o prior advance notice.

 

 

 

Sometimes being stubborn is not a bad thing after all.

[Jungus]

I think many ppl here got it wrong, a multimeter won't be able to tell you how good your battery will perform when you crank your engine to start.

 

What pros use is a battery analyzer like this...

 

It test batteries using a series of short Pulsed DC Impedance method. This testing method is more accurate than conventional resistance load testing.

 

For those who use a multimeter or a volt gauge meter. That will not tell you the condition of the battery. In fact you will see fluctuation in the voltage while your engine is running becoz of the gadgets, headlights and entertainment you are running in your car.

 

The figures in CCA will usually reflects the battery's health. Sometimes ppl do look at the load resistance as well. The lower resistance the easier to crank. The healthy figures are around 400CCA to 500 CCA depending on the size of your car's battery.

 

Unfortunately, this device cost a whopping US$200+ or slightly over S$300 not including shipping. You can buy this online. Or you can just go to your AD to ask them to measure and test the battery for you when you do your servicing. The AD workshop should have at least one of such battery analyzer. Some outside workshops have it too but not all. Some tire & battery shops that I see dun even have this analyzer which is sad. Some have a pathetic device to display green or red light to determine the battery's health.

 

That's why when ppl go to get a battery, those selling will just action action use a multimeter and smoke customers, telling them the battery is no good. They dun even use a correct device to analyze the battery and they dare tell ppl the battery is no good. Better be careful of such shops you go to.

 

 

 

 

So, which battery shop uses the above? Any near town?

 

I think my battery about to knock off...

[Watwheels]

 

 

So, which battery shop uses the above? Any near town?

 

I think my battery about to knock off...

 

So far I have only seen audio shops and AD workshop use it. So you can get any of them test it for you before you decide to go to any battery shop to get it replaced.

[Kangadrool]

If your car is from big reputable AD, most likely they have & can print out report for you to see also. Can have nice coffee at the same time. It will show you the batt CCA and current measured CCA amongst other info like voltage, temperature, etc.

 

Freaking accurate I must say after my AD did the test for me with printout for me to see. Waited for another month and the batt eventually up lorry.

 

Well.... for most other shops, the mech won't even want you to go nearby when they measure your batt.

 

Those w/o this device will almost always tell you your batt is bad...... better change now.......

 

One even told me that and the same old batt lasted another 3 years on my previous Japenis car.

 

 

 

So, which battery shop uses the above? Any near town?

 

I think my battery about to knock off...

 

Edited June 20, 2014 by Kangadrool

[Johnnylim]

 

 

So, which battery shop uses the above? Any near town?

 

I think my battery about to knock off...

Autobacs got free battery test with report. Went to test last yr March 13 n was told to replace battery. Now June 14 me still using same unchanged battery

Edited June 20, 2014 by Johnnylim

[Kangadrool]

[laugh]

Autobacs got free battery test with report. Went to test last yr March 13 n was told to replace battery. Now June 14 me still using same unchanged battery

 

[Rm2s]

Car manufacturers have put in so many new techs in car but somehow no one developed a reliable way to tell battery life. A simple light turn on to say battery will die within a month or something would be so useful. Given that the car computer probably know the driving habits and usage pattern of each car, I always wonder why can't it be done?

 

My battery also just past 1.5 years, always like not sure if I should change. Change too early waste money not changing may inconvenient myself.

[Kangadrool]

Ask yourself some basic questions:

 

1. am I travelling out of Singapore?

2. do I die die need to drive if batt died w/o warning?

3. do I have recovery service at hand like jump-start service provided by some insurers, AA, etc?

4. can I afford downtime of about 1-2 hours?

 

Just keep some mobile battery shop, AA, insurer's w/s numbers in your phone.

 

For me, I wait until battery dies off unless I am driving out to MY and the batt is already 2 YO.

 

No right or wrong answers, but just some consideration and expectation of your car.

 

Car manufacturers have put in so many new techs in car but somehow no one developed a reliable way to tell battery life. A simple light turn on to say battery will die within a month or something would be so useful. Given that the car computer probably know the driving habits and usage pattern of each car, I always wonder why can't it be done?

 

My battery also just past 1.5 years, always like not sure if I should change. Change too early waste money not changing may inconvenient myself.

 

[Jungus]

I'm surprised at how long some of your batteries have lasted. I drive a 9 year old 2l Mazda 6 and my batteries have always only lasted about 2 years. Each time they died suddenly and I had to enlist help to jump start the car and drive to battery shop.

 

Actually I'm already looking to replace my car and would prefer to avoid this expense. But I don't think I have much of a choice...

[Kangadrool]

With some good practice, your car batt can easily last 2 years even for more "problematic" conti cars.

 

1. Off aircon before reaching destination (can clear bad aircon smell too).

2. off radio/cd player if you don't really listen.

3. never add unnecessary lightings/accessories to your car. Use what has been provided, e.g. switch on headlight even in daytime, don't need to install simi LED running lights, etc, use your indicator lights to signal. Don't horn or flash headlight unnecessarily.

4. unless you have severe night vision problem getting onto your car seat (which then you shouldn't be driving), the cabin lights can be disabled instead of having it auto-on when door is opened.

 

Edited June 20, 2014 by Kangadrool