Euro car parts selling old batteries?
Discussion
Having just ordered a new Bosch car battery from Europarts, I turned up at the Barnsley branch to collect it, The battery was behind the counter and looked anything but new, and when I examined it (something the assistant seemed reluctant for me to do)I I could see that the label was dated 2018. As it is now 6th September it is likely that the battery is at least 9 months old. I am aware of what extended discharge periods can do to a battery so I refused to accept it. They produced another battery (from which the same label had mysteriously been removed). When I buy a battery I want a relatively new battery, I'm funny like that. I wanted to buy it from Eurocarparts for simplicity of returning it in the event of a fault, but mu trust in them has been severely dented. It's an 04 27 with 4 year warranty
lornemalvo said:
Having just ordered a new Bosch car battery from Europarts, I turned up at the Barnsley branch to collect it, The battery was behind the counter and looked anything but new, and when I examined it (something the assistant seemed reluctant for me to do)I I could see that the label was dated 2018. As it is now 6th September it is likely that the battery is at least 9 months old. I am aware of what extended discharge periods can do to a battery so I refused to accept it. They produced another battery (from which the same label had mysteriously been removed). When I buy a battery I want a relatively new battery, I'm funny like that. I wanted to buy it from Eurocarparts for simplicity of returning it in the event of a fault, but mu trust in them has been severely dented. It's an 04 27 with 4 year warranty
As long as it has had a voltage check it should be fine. I've worked in aftermarket for OE and now independent - OE have charging regimes and checks and the engineers dictated shelf life requirements similar to those needed in manufacturing. In independent aftermarket those conditions generally aren't there with no real adverse impacts.A voltage check confirms nothing. My current battery is shot and does not hold a charge but a voltage check immediately after charging shows plenty of voltage, even though it won't start my car.
It's true that the four year warranty is in place, but I'm told by a couple of very knowledgeable chaps that discharging a battery beyond a certain point, especially for long periods, will kill it. If my battery dies, it will cause hassle and inconvenience, how much hassle depending on where I am and what I'm doing.
I can't see Euro Car Parts charging their batteries in a well organised cycle. From what I've read, most employees seem to hate the place and morale is very low.. A few months I could understand, but nine months, and possibly much more is simply too long in my opinion.
It's true that the four year warranty is in place, but I'm told by a couple of very knowledgeable chaps that discharging a battery beyond a certain point, especially for long periods, will kill it. If my battery dies, it will cause hassle and inconvenience, how much hassle depending on where I am and what I'm doing.
I can't see Euro Car Parts charging their batteries in a well organised cycle. From what I've read, most employees seem to hate the place and morale is very low.. A few months I could understand, but nine months, and possibly much more is simply too long in my opinion.
lornemalvo said:
A voltage check confirms nothing. My current battery is shot and does not hold a charge but a voltage check immediately after charging shows plenty of voltage, even though it won't start my car.
It's true that the four year warranty is in place, but I'm told by a couple of very knowledgeable chaps that discharging a battery beyond a certain point, especially for long periods, will kill it. If my battery dies, it will cause hassle and inconvenience, how much hassle depending on where I am and what I'm doing.
I can't see Euro Car Parts charging their batteries in a well organised cycle. From what I've read, most employees seem to hate the place and morale is very low.. A few months I could understand, but nine months, and possibly much more is simply too long in my opinion.
For unused batteries the voltage check is quite relevant. If they are 12.6v or close great. If not. Run. (if they are less than full you have to ask why. LA batteries naturally self-drain over time)It's true that the four year warranty is in place, but I'm told by a couple of very knowledgeable chaps that discharging a battery beyond a certain point, especially for long periods, will kill it. If my battery dies, it will cause hassle and inconvenience, how much hassle depending on where I am and what I'm doing.
I can't see Euro Car Parts charging their batteries in a well organised cycle. From what I've read, most employees seem to hate the place and morale is very low.. A few months I could understand, but nine months, and possibly much more is simply too long in my opinion.
Once a battery has been used a bit then the voltage check tells you nothing about the battery's performance.
Once drained below 11ish volts, LA batteries suphate and it buggers them, particularly if left like that. Your mate is right.
LA batteries store well. But they need maintenance charging (topping up) They also have a finite number of uses (charge / discharge).
lornemalvo said:
A voltage check confirms nothing.
That's not right. You're doing it wrong - by charging the battery and then immediately measuring the voltage.If you charge the battery at room temperature and then leave it to stand overnight at room temperature you will get a voltage reading next morning that gives a good indication of the battery's condition.
A perfect battery will give around 12.65 volts. At the simplest, anything under 12.4 volts is "knackered" and anything under 12 volts is "long dead".
Having said that, a high drain drop test at your local battery specialist is the best way to check a battery.
RogerDodger said:
For unused batteries the voltage check is quite relevant. If they are 12.6v or close great. If not. Run. (if they are less than full you have to ask why. LA batteries naturally self-drain over time)
Once a battery has been used a bit then the voltage check tells you nothing about the battery's performance.
Once drained below 11ish volts, LA batteries suphate and it buggers them, particularly if left like that. Your mate is right.
LA batteries store well. But they need maintenance charging (topping up) They also have a finite number of uses (charge / discharge).
Once a battery has been used a bit then the voltage check tells you nothing about the battery's performance.
Once drained below 11ish volts, LA batteries suphate and it buggers them, particularly if left like that. Your mate is right.
LA batteries store well. But they need maintenance charging (topping up) They also have a finite number of uses (charge / discharge).
I work at Bosch, and batteries are one of the products I am responsible for. What you say is correct.
There is also 13 digit code on the top of the battery that determines it's manufacturing date. I am assuming the 2018 sticker was put on my ECP as they don't leave the factory (to my knowledge) with any actual date printed on them
V8 TEJ said:
RogerDodger said:
For unused batteries the voltage check is quite relevant. If they are 12.6v or close great. If not. Run. (if they are less than full you have to ask why. LA batteries naturally self-drain over time)
Once a battery has been used a bit then the voltage check tells you nothing about the battery's performance.
Once drained below 11ish volts, LA batteries suphate and it buggers them, particularly if left like that. Your mate is right.
LA batteries store well. But they need maintenance charging (topping up) They also have a finite number of uses (charge / discharge).
Once a battery has been used a bit then the voltage check tells you nothing about the battery's performance.
Once drained below 11ish volts, LA batteries suphate and it buggers them, particularly if left like that. Your mate is right.
LA batteries store well. But they need maintenance charging (topping up) They also have a finite number of uses (charge / discharge).
I work at Bosch, and batteries are one of the products I am responsible for. What you say is correct.
There is also 13 digit code on the top of the battery that determines it's manufacturing date. I am assuming the 2018 sticker was put on my ECP as they don't leave the factory (to my knowledge) with any actual date printed on them
lornemalvo said:
the code on the side of the batteries are as follows:
570 412 063
0 092 s40 260
There is a 13 digit code on the barcode which is 4 047023479730
I can't easily decipher a date from that, assuming it's the right code?
Apologies for the crap image, but the code in question will be like the one on the left below. It will start with a letter, number, letter, and then a series of numbers.570 412 063
0 092 s40 260
There is a 13 digit code on the barcode which is 4 047023479730
I can't easily decipher a date from that, assuming it's the right code?
rallycross said:
If buying from ECP avoid their Lion brand batteries they are rubbish and don’t last long.
I disagree. I have them in several cars.I have a Corsa that I put one into in September 2017. It sat until it went for MOT in April 2018. It then sat until its MOT in April 2019 (two miles between MOTs - test centre and back))
Then my brother collected it from me to use daily. He’s still using it with the same battery working fine.
They come with a three year warranty too
V8 TEJ said:
I work at Bosch, and batteries are one of the products I am responsible for. What you say is correct.
There is also 13 digit code on the top of the battery that determines it's manufacturing date. I am assuming the 2018 sticker was put on my ECP as they don't leave the factory (to my knowledge) with any actual date printed on them
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