Battery died on VXR8 - what is best source?

[SteveMJ]

Parked up for two days and now won't start :-)

What is best source for a new battery, please?

I fitted the battery in January 2013; a Bosch silver 096 Battery (S5008) from "boschcarbatteries.co.uk", that website is now a dating site - huh!!?

Just over two years does not seem that long for a battery to last?

Thanks, Steve

Edited by SteveMJ on Wednesday 25th March 15:56

[Tattooboy]

If it's a Bosch Silver, it should have come with a 5 year warranty.

If it's knackered, get it exchanged FOC, Halfords sell them.

[Steve_T]

Costco are always cheap for Bosch batteries and carry plenty of stock. Just check terminal configuration and battery size so you get the right one.

[moif]

Just replaced mine with eurocarparts under warranty....3 1/2 years old

[mattcov]

I bought this one, although it has increased by about £10 since I purchased:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005XVUQ6Y?psc=...

Would have thought that one you bought is still under warranty, but don't know who you would contact now.

eta - it was eurocarparts on Amazon, but cheaper than their own site...

[SteveMJ]

I got it from http://www.autopointcarparts.co.uk/index.php/bosch... yes a five year guarantee. Shame no one answers the 'phone!

The 5 year g/tee us worthless if it fails and you are stuck - pi&&ed off!!

[SteveMJ]

Tattooboy said:

If it's a Bosch Silver, it should have come with a 5 year warranty.

If it's knackered, get it exchanged FOC, Halfords sell them.

Just found old paperwork. Yep 5 year guarantee and I ordered on 30-12-12

I got it from http://www.autopointcarparts.co.uk/index.php/bosch... yes a five year guarantee. Shame no one answers the 'phone!

The 5 year g/tee us worthless if it fails and you are stuck - pi&&ed off!!

[Tattooboy]

http://servicefunctions.bosch.com/user/contactdeal...

I'm fairly confident you don't need to return it to the orignal place of purchase for a warranty return. if a company / place sell it, they are under obligagtion to replace it.

A call / e-mail to Bosch will hopefully confirm.

Edited by Tattooboy on Wednesday 25th March 16:44

[SteveMJ]

Finally got through to Autopoint (a chap called Dilly), he is diverting suspicion away from his battery - not a suprise.

He suggests the alternator.

On my 45 mile commute to work, the voltage is around 14.5V for the first 40 minutes or so and then drop to about 12.6 Volts - I took this as being the BCM reducing the voltage as the battery reaches full charge.

After some people on here have said about their battery reaching end-of-life, I have checked the service mode menu. the battery charge is claimed to be usually 85%; not 100 that I would have expected.

Has anyone any thought as to my problem here?

Thanks, Steve

[moif]

I dont think the bcm will allow it to charge to 100%, I have a ctek led charge indicator attached to my battery, only when the car is running does it say its over 85%

[SteveMJ]

moif said:

I dont think the bcm will allow it to charge to 100%, I have a ctek led charge indicator attached to my battery, only when the car is running does it say its over 85%

I am sure I've had it clost to 100% - will be looking in the future when this escapade is over.

[SteveMJ]

After about 2 hours on battery charger, the car car started :-)

Risked a 2 mile journey to Waitrose for a 'free' coffee (Mrs M-J always spends there though).

Car started OK after and when home I checked the voltages (in rngine bay terminals).

Charging at tickover 14.15 V
Charging at ~2500 rpm 14.15 V

After shuting the endgine down the voltage was 13.3 V, a couple of mins later it down to 12.84 V. Diagnostic mode indicated 30% charge (was 0.7% when I put battery charger on for ten mins).

This indicates to me that the alternator is OK - do you guys agree?
---
Rich24 (Rich Brunt) reminded me that last October when I left the car a week the battery went flat then.

So, maybe the battery if iffy or I could have a current drain? Any suggestions as to what drain there could be (a favourite is boot light - but I know that goes off after a while)?

Thanks for your inputs this afternoon, it is all much appreciated.

Steve


It is now on charge and will be left overnight.

[mattcov]

When I thought my battery was dodgy I kept a portable starter in the boot just in case

Can only think lights in boot, glovebox, storage box, interior lights, tracker or stereo might be draining it (especially CD stuck or Sat NAV if you have it).

[SteveMJ]

mattcov said:

When I thought my battery was dodgy I kept a portable starter in the boot just in case

Can only think lights in boot, glovebox, storage box, interior lights, tracker or stereo might be draining it (especially CD stuck or Sat NAV if you have it).

Thanks - have jumper leads in boot and will be driving 46 miles to work in the morning. I'll be seeing what batt charge level is when I arrive and when I leave in the evening as well as measuring battery volts.

Steve

[SteveMJ]

After charging the battery (in the car) overnight) and driving to/from work for a couple of days the battery voltage is 12.87V after being left overnight and the service mode indicator states 100% charge.

That indicates the alternator is Ok and the battery is OK.

I am guessing that there is an intermittant drain - something that kicks in and drains the battery after while of standing.

Any idea appreciated?

Cheers, Steve

[snowwolf]

I have one of these very excellent devices, I can't rate it enough, have used it myself and helped others out with it, whizzes my R8 over with ease, have used it on deisel vans, works every time and keeps its charge for a year!!!!
It's a long video and is as good as the video shows.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bf7u8rQTt94

http://shop.antigravitybatteries.com/micro-start-x...

Edited by snowwolf on Saturday 28th March 13:30

[007 VXR]

snowwolf said:

I have one of these very excellent devices, I can't rate it enough, have used it myself and helped others out with it, whizzes my R8 over with ease, have used it on deisel vans, works every time and keeps its charge for a year!!!!
It's a long video and is as good as the video shows.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bf7u8rQTt94

http://shop.antigravitybatteries.com/micro-start-x...

Edited by snowwolf on Saturday 28th March 13:30

i got given one of these last week

mrs007 using to charge phone while away this weekend

[snowwolf]

007 VXR said:

i got given one of these last week

mrs007 using to charge phone while away this weekend

it comes with all the different types of phone adapters it also have a very good led torch built in, I use mine a lot when going away as it's brill for charging phones and it has a dedicated high output socket for laptops, mine is in the boot all the time.