seatkid Posted December 28, 2003 Report Posted December 28, 2003 Its been a year when loads of things went wrong with my hitherto perfect car. To finish off the year, the battery died on Christmas day. One cell (the one nearest the + post) went and I couldnt revive it with a charger. It lasted 5 years and 2 months from date of purchase of car. Is this good, bad or mediocre? Whats the longest you seen for a diesel battery? Partly it was my fault, I've kept the car several times for 2 weeks or so without firing it up allowing it to discharge too deeply, but I also blame the main dealers who never topped up the battery (even though it had plugs) - last year when it sounded poorly after a service, I found out it was about one quarter dry. When researching the best battery for the lowest cost I came across a few interesting facts. Dont know if this applies to the Galaxy, but Ford have fitted their vehicles starting 1998 with SCS - Smart Charging System which pumps out higher voltages into the battery - Ford specify that only batteries with silver/calcium grids can be fitted. They say that conventional batteries will suffer very much shorter service life or could even explode! Most if not all batteries you will find at the normal battery suppliers wont be this "silver" battery. Halfords even declined to supply me any battery as they didnt have a listing for my Alhambra...... (The Seat dealer could get me a battery in about a weeks time at a ridiculous price) Most discount places offered me conventional batteries with names like "flying bomb" In the end I went for an Exide Ultra 017TE at Quote
westie Posted December 28, 2003 Report Posted December 28, 2003 I seem to remember another topic about battery life on this forum. Ive had 2 Galaxy's. None were brand new, but both still had the origonal battery in them. The first one lasted about 4 years from new when, with the car having done about 60,000 miles, it just packed up.The Galaxy I've got now is the last of the "old" style ones, a late 1999 model. Last week the battery just died again, without warning. My local shop showed my a Bosch one which wasnt the same size or power as the origonal. They then got the listed alternative, which was the Varta one. This one was virtually the same size as the origonal, but an 85ah not a 90ah. It seems to work ok and hopefully aint gonna blow my car up, as it was listed as the correct one in the dealers manual.I reckon you did well if you got over 5 years out of your battery.(by the way, both my cars were diesel. Im not sure if the petrol ones last longer) Quote
Ivor_E_Tower Posted December 28, 2003 Report Posted December 28, 2003 The original Varta died in my Gal in early December 2003 - car was built in Oct 2000 but not first registered until end of Jan 2001. This is the earliest battery death I have experienced. It was replaced with an identical-looking Varta unit; both the original and the new replacement seem to be rated at about 70Ah though, not nearer the 90 Ah claimed by Seatkid. Previous car, now the wife's, is a diesel Scenic, still on original battery after 5 and a half years. Prior to that, 1985 Panasonic battery fitted to my Honda Civic lasted about 7 years. A lady at work has an MX-5 Eunos (Mazda imported from Japan) still on original battery after 13 years! Quote
seatkid Posted December 28, 2003 Author Report Posted December 28, 2003 It was replaced with an identical-looking Varta unit; both the original and the new replacement seem to be rated at about 70Ah though, not nearer the 90 Ah claimed by Seatkid. Strange, on the exide website battery selector it gave 096TE (70Ah) for Seat Alhambra Tdi and 017TE (95Ah) for Ford Galaxy TDi. I presume cos my Alhambra was supplied with all the extras (climate control, sunroof , electric windows all round, heated seats etc etc) the factory fitted a heavy duty battery, (or they picked a vw or ford spec one by accident, or run out of the cheaper ones..) Maybe the the very short life is related to the size, after all doesnt the Ghia have all the electric gizmos too? Only time will tell. Quote
Guest Andy Posted December 28, 2003 Report Posted December 28, 2003 I use EXIDE batteries at work and unless they say silver/calcium on it/them then i would presume they are the normal battery.As for life span they reckon the average lifespan is around 4 years for todays batteries.A battery at my place with 600CCA IS Quote
Guest Dave S Posted December 29, 2003 Report Posted December 29, 2003 My '98, 2.3 has a Ford battery which I presume is the original my sister has had her L reg TD Escort from new and replaced the battery last year. My Father has a customer with a Mitsubishi Colt E reg that had its battery replaced at 6 months under warranty with a Mitsubishi battery which it still has. Seems to me the original batteries last far longer than any replacement, much like exhaust systems I suppose. Quote
seatkid Posted October 3, 2012 Author Report Posted October 3, 2012 Over 8 years and 9 months after I started this thread and I've changed my Exide Ultra battery for a new Exide Premium 017TE (100Ah 900A CCA En1 4 year warranty). Yesterday, I was out and about and twice when I returned to the car, the car hardly turned over (but it still started first time) - not sure what the problem was (it didnt reoccur) but as I'm going abroad shortly, couldnt risk breaking down abroad on a motorway. My car spends long periods unused (often 1 - 3 weeks at a time) and I know the battery has been weak for well over a year despite topping it up with a charge from time to time. Not the best regime for long battery life. Cost me £88 from battery2u.co.uk, free next day delivery, cant grumble. Quote
gregers Posted October 3, 2012 Report Posted October 3, 2012 8 years 9 mths,think you should have a refund. ;) have you kept the old 1,just a thought if you alt isnt working as it should?????????? Quote
seatkid Posted October 3, 2012 Author Report Posted October 3, 2012 8 years 9 mths,think you should have a refund. :lol: have you kept the old 1,just a thought if you alt isnt working as it should?????????? Yep, something else to clutter the garage along with the collection of tyres with 3mm tread on them. The old battery is still servicable (showing 12.6v rested) On both occasions of poor turn over, I had the car in gear and the footbrake on hard (I try to avoid using the handbrake as the parking brake (caliper issue) sometimes sticks on a bit.) Maybe I didnt have the clutch down fully....old age does wonderful things to the brain. Checked the alternator before ordering battery, 14.25 volts looks OK. Next update - about 9 years I expect........ ;) Quote
tezerez Posted October 3, 2012 Report Posted October 3, 2012 Mine lasted 8 years and 2 months, Just got slower and slower, then finally gave up! Had to get a new one fitted on a Sunday, so paid £115 fitted for a 100 amp 4 yr warranty from Wilco motorsave. I do lots of stop start, so reckon life was quite good for a diesel.Previous car (?) was a petrol Renault Kangoo, which never had a new battery in 9 years/110K.Sometimes lately, engine spins without firing straight away. Then will start straight away on 2nd turn. Does this sound like relay 109 to anyone? Quote
seatkid Posted October 3, 2012 Author Report Posted October 3, 2012 Start a new thread, lets keep this thread on topic of battery life.... Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.