Dead as a door nail

[Buster73]

Went to go out in my N430 this afternoon.

Pulled off the cover , tried to unlock it and nothing worked , couldn’t open it so had to go and dig the key out of its safe hiding place.

Eventually found it and got the car open , not one light showing on the dash and no click from the starter motor.

Opened the boot to find the trickle charger lead had become disconnected!

Dead as a door nail.

Borrowed a charger and it’s now on charge and we’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Seven years in would a new battery be worth investing in or what ?

What a bugger….

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Yes, get a new battery. Doubt the existing one will hold it's charge now anyway.

My TVR had similar issues, got it started (like you by charging the battery) but ten miles later it still wouldn't start on the key if stopped. New battery and it's been bang on ever since.

[M1AGM]

That’s a bit st buster! New battery. 7 years is a decent length of service.

[Buster73]

M1AGM said:

That’s a bit st buster! New battery. 7 years is a decent length of service.

My fault completely, but I think it would be wise to get a new battery.

Any recommendations for a specific type gratefully received.

[Calinours]

You are very lucky to get 7 years as AM of the era just eat batteries. Very poor and ill thought through electrical system and architecture design.

Even my 90’s designed ‘99 996 had decent battery isolation and automatic disabling of alarm after 2 weeks to guarantee sufficient charge to get in and get started.

The 2000’s designed astons had none of that even basic stuff. Add in some very poorly integrated Volvo, Jag and Ford electrical systems, some rubbish quality sub-modules and an ‘ET call home’ tracker and you have a perfect recipe for a battery eater

Replace the battery. It’s also a good idea to ensure any tracker is disabled.

[maccavvy]

Look at tayna batteries online
Fast and great prices

[SHIFTY]

You need to make sure that the battery dimensions are correct Height 175MM, Width 175MM and Length 354mm.

Most sites when you input your reg number will show a height of 190MM and you will find that the bracket that goes over the battery to hold it in will not fit.

After many searches I went for a Yuasa 3000 series battery YABYBX3017 slightly higher spec than the original and with 4 years warranty fits straight in.

[Dewi 2]

Calinours said:

You are very lucky to get 7 years as AM of the era just eat batteries.

I must also have been lucky.

After 8 years, knowing the battery was original and having read on here about time wasting, stranding nightmares, I decided that I was pushing my luck.
At the following service, the battery was replaced.

TOP TIP. I was very slow to realise this, but old car batteries can still continue to be used for oither purposes.
When not powerful enough to start an engine, I began using a couple connected to 10 watt solar panels, to power garden 12 volt LEDs.
Work perfectly.

[Nigel_O]

Dewi 2 said:

TOP TIP. I was very slow to realise this, but old car batteries can still continue to be used for oither purposes.
When not powerful enough to start an engine

My wife has a horse and she has an electric fence to keep it in its field. I’d kept a small Redtop race battery that eventually failed to start my Westfield, but it powers the fence for weeks at a time

[Buster73]

SHIFTY said:

You need to make sure that the battery dimensions are correct Height 175MM, Width 175MM and Length 354mm.

Most sites when you input your reg number will show a height of 190MM and you will find that the bracket that goes over the battery to hold it in will not fit.

After many searches I went for a Yuasa 3000 series battery YABYBX3017 slightly higher spec than the original and with 4 years warranty fits straight in.

Thanks for that valuable information, it’s much appreciated.

[Buster73]

maccavvy said:

Look at tayna batteries online
Fast and great prices

Thanks.

[Calinours]

I used my old camper van leisure batteries to power my garage security lights and cams, topped up with an old solar panel on the roof and a cheap controller. When they finally absolutely die, you get a decent price weighing then in

[Buster73]

Ordered as per the two recommendations above.

£110 delivered, didn’t think that was too painful.

[embdenb]

Buster73 said:

Ordered as per the two recommendations above.

£110 delivered, didn’t think that was too painful.

The pain starts when you try to put it in the vehicle.

[triple5]

embdenb said:

The pain starts when you try to put it in the vehicle.

Very true

[SL500UK]

embdenb said:

The pain starts when you try to put it in the vehicle.

I wouldn't even know where to start, but the AA chap who changed mine didn't seem to have a problem.

[Buster73]

embdenb said:

The pain starts when you try to put it in the vehicle.

The pain has started trying to get those slide brackets off ffs ,there doesn’t seem to be enough space to the left to slide it off , any ideas ?

[IainWhy]

Yea push harder, its complete rubbish, i was so annoyed by it i cut them down so as not tue have the issue again.

Shove hard enough they will pass, but its a complete pita

[sirmarcus]

My experience of changing DB9 battery is, if you have soft office-boy hands like mine, there is literally no way of doing it without removing some skin and swearing a lot...

[Mr.Tremlini]

Put a new battery in my `07 Vantage in 2016, as AM Safenwil told me it was the original battery, I figured 9 years was a good run! Of course the "new" one is now approaching 7 years, has given me zero trouble thus far. When I replace that, which will probably be later this year, I might take the Lithium Ion route and save 15+ Kg!