Should I change my battery.

[randomeddy]

Petrol car, owned for six and a half years.

If the battery checks out OK should I change it just in case.
Will it be getting to the end of its life.

[bobbysmithy]

Yes

[Penelope Stopit]

If you had a doctor check you over and were told that all your parts were good, would you insist on having an operation to change some?

[Gary C]

No

[Tony1963]

Plenty of batteries last over ten years. Unless you’re doing a lot of driving in the few wild areas the U.K. has, I’d just keep the old battery in until it shows the signs.

[randomeddy]

Fair enough, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

[Gary C]

First indication of a failing battery is a slow crank in cold weather (ooh err!)

[loskie]

I've done this as its better to buy a suitable quality battery for £70 as preventative maintenance than suffer a breakdown and then be shafted £130+ and the hassle of HAVING to get a new one then.

You can be sure when it does fail it will be at the most inconvenient time and place possible.

[randomeddy]

It was parked over xmas for nearly two weeks and was sluggish to start.
I reckon if it had been a diesel it would have been a fail.

[NDA]

randomeddy said:

It was parked over xmas for nearly two weeks and was sluggish to start.
I reckon if it had been a diesel it would have been a fail.

My Range Rover was sluggish to start over a cold spell... I put it on trickle charge ... it then just went flat - fortunately at home. It now has a new battery and is back to crisp starting.

I'd say change it.

[randomeddy]

I am going for it. Not worth the hassle if it fails.

[Mave]

I think that's the right thing to do. If it struggles after 2 weeks, it's probably on its way out.

[randomeddy]

I put the multi meter on my battery and it was showing 12.1 v so got it changed today.
Local place £110 +vat including free fitting , changed it there and then.
The new one is a Duracell which for some reason amused me being used to seeing small ones for torches etc.

[Gary C]

randomeddy said:

I put the multi meter on my battery and it was showing 12.1 v so got it changed today.
Local place £110 +vat including free fitting , changed it there and then.
The new one is a Duracell which for some reason amused me being used to seeing small ones for torches etc.

Probably worth the peace of mind, but it must be said, just putting a meter onto a car battery isn't a particularly good way of checking the condition of it.

Unloaded terminal voltage is largely set by cell temperature.

Really, the best way is a proper discharge test.

However, as you say it struggled a bit after a two week layoff, it will give you some comfort as there is not much worse than a flat battery on a cold wet night.

Battery prices though !

[randomeddy]

It spun over much faster with the new battery fitted.

That's my bit of excitement for the weekend.

[Gary C]

randomeddy said:

It spun over much faster with the new battery fitted.

That's my bit of excitement for the weekend.

YAY !

You have to take any excitement you can get at the moment.