http://www.car4play.com/forum Car4play forum en-gb Mon, 04 May 2026 12:47:35 +0100 Copyright: Car4play webmaster@car4play.com (Technical) 5 car4play688650 Mon, 04 May 2026 12:47:35 +0100 I’ve ordered a like for like Exide, also from Tayna. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688650&v=e car4play688648 Mon, 04 May 2026 11:20:20 +0100 "Kwik fit are open today if it helps?" I got an email from GSF stating that they were also open today. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688648&v=e car4play688644 Mon, 04 May 2026 08:00:58 +0100 Stuck a new battery in our C4 Picasso recently - it was the original 2017 one at nearly 90k. Still started OK, but S/S never worked, computer reported reserve capacity was basically non existent, and we had an instance of the (electric) PAS not working after a cold (-5) start. S/S works again now, not done that since it was about 18 months old! A new Varta EFB same as the OE fitment was under £100 from Tayna, delivered next day - no brainer to change it before it failed completely, especially as these are at risk of frying the engine ECU if cranked with a very low battery. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688644&v=e car4play688643 Mon, 04 May 2026 07:05:21 +0100 Kwik fit are open today if it helps? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688643&v=e car4play688641 Sun, 03 May 2026 22:37:59 +0100 We have had this discussion before... Buy yourself a jump starter for each car. Less than £40 a piece. Keep it charged up. leave it in the car. This is what I did after lady Duncan flattened the battery on one of the Yaris' - my fault. https://www.amazon.co.uk/jump-starter/s?k=jump+starter I bought the Yooloo. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688641&v=e car4play688640 Sun, 03 May 2026 21:32:43 +0100 >> The Beemer disables S/S if the battery is not fully charged/electrical load too high - >> Or if its not up to temp, or if the outside temp is too low. >> which means it rarely works. Fabia (16 reg) was frequently disabling S/S due to what the console said was 'high electrical load'. At the time, late 2019/early 2020, I was using it commuting to Northampton for work and occasional longer runs vice the 'lingo. Idleness during lockdown didn't improve it and conditioning the battery with a smart charger only got it better for a short period after which it was telling me to charge it by driving. Wouldn't start at all after a fortnight on the drive while we were away in the 'lingo. Smart charger diagnosed battery as dead. Replacement fitted by Halfords contractor on my drive. Current Superb is an occasional refuser though it's usually OK under way. Watching it as I suspect there may be a trend. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688640&v=e car4play688639 Sun, 03 May 2026 21:06:39 +0100 " ......................when i'm at 'base camp' Urdos, a village in the beautiful Vallee d'Aspe in the French Pyrenees, a few miles N of the Spanish border." Stop it now!! :)) Enjoy http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688639&v=e car4play688638 Sun, 03 May 2026 18:46:57 +0100 thanks carmalade…it’s the original Exide SS 60Ah 600A. Made in Italy y’know. Glad it’s happened now, rather than 3 weeks Tuesday when i’m at ‘base camp’ Urdos, a village in the beautiful Vallee d’Aspe in the French Pyrenees, a few miles N of the Spanish border. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688638&v=e car4play688637 Sun, 03 May 2026 18:00:06 +0100 Exide 027 battery with stop start , around £80 . http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688637&v=e car4play688636 Sun, 03 May 2026 17:54:27 +0100 Ensure you order the suitable battery for the SS which are generally more money/ I got caught out once on a Picanto. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688636&v=e car4play688635 Sun, 03 May 2026 17:41:05 +0100 And no buses tomorrow.., better check the already infrequent N Rail Settle > Skipton route. on the plus side if there are trains, not bus replacement, I can have a few beers before returning home. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688635&v=e car4play688634 Sun, 03 May 2026 17:26:02 +0100 >> better order a new battery which was >> tomorrows job :-) Good luck, it's a bank holiday! http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688634&v=e car4play688633 Sun, 03 May 2026 17:04:53 +0100 finally wouldn’t kick Sofia Suzuki into life…dash lit up like a xmas tree and pushing the stop/ start made no difference. Glad i left it on the drive facing downhill, rather than in the garage nose up to the wall. CTEK MXS 5 now connected…see if it starts tomorrow..better order a new battery which was tomorrows job :-) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688633&v=e car4play688626 Sat, 02 May 2026 22:30:41 +0100 The Beemer disables S/S if the battery is not fully charged/electrical load too high - Or if its not up to temp, or if the outside temp is too low. which means it rarely works. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688626&v=e car4play688625 Sat, 02 May 2026 21:43:25 +0100 Possibly does make a difference. I leave my stop start on... and my battery has lasted longer than yours ;) http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688625&v=e car4play688623 Sat, 02 May 2026 21:13:13 +0100 >> >> There was much doom-mongering on HJ a decade ago about AGM batteries and stop-start in >> general being unreliable and a failure waiting to happen. >> I don’t know if this makes any difference, but in my almost 3 years of ownership, first thing i do after starting the car is turn off the stop/ start. A simple push button effort ..needs doing each trip, unlike the ‘lane assist’ which is constantly off until I decide otherwise. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688623&v=e car4play688609 Sat, 02 May 2026 17:42:03 +0100 I presume we are discussing an old-style lead battery ? In very simple terms, if a battery's internals age normally without failing, it can last for 10 or 12 years before enthusiasm gradually lessens. If internal failures occur, a battery can pack up in a matter of days. Not sure about main EV batteries - maybe they haven't been taken to full term yet ? http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688609&v=e car4play688608 Sat, 02 May 2026 17:40:16 +0100 There'll possibly someone along soon to trump me, but the original AGM batteries in both mine and my son's Astras are now both 10 years old. There was much doom-mongering on HJ a decade ago about AGM batteries and stop-start in general being unreliable and a failure waiting to happen. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688608&v=e car4play688607 Sat, 02 May 2026 17:36:06 +0100 Very likely to be the original. ( my 2018 1.6 petrol is) . Replace it with a suitable known make , type 027 . http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688607&v=e car4play688606 Sat, 02 May 2026 17:29:47 +0100 The Bosch AGM battery in the Beemer is now 8 1/2 years old. Still seems full of vim and vigour, have to confess I was expecting it to be toast by now. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688606&v=e car4play688605 Sat, 02 May 2026 17:28:32 +0100 8 years is my rule of thumb based on about 3 replacements including our old Roomie and a Panda we had before that. I actually replaced the battery on the MX-5 at 6 years before a foreign road tour as a precaution because it had been flat a couple of times when I forgot to put the battery minder on*. It's actually OK I'm sure - I still have it as a spare. *actually this was down to an Aldi charger which worked fine, except after a power interruption when it would stay off. We get them quite often in bad weather, many of the village power lines being above ground. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688605&v=e car4play688604 Sat, 02 May 2026 17:08:31 +0100 If it's the original, then it's seven years old. About the life of a battery nowadays. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688604&v=e car4play688603 Sat, 02 May 2026 16:26:50 +0100 This was discussed a bit back in March, nothing definitive but it is related. This thread, https://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=687469&v=f, discussion starts @ RoR's post at 18:59 on 26 Mar http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688603&v=e car4play688602 Sat, 02 May 2026 16:17:18 +0100 2019 Vitara, always started on the button, even after being left for 4/5 weeks in my garage. Recently returned from 10 days overseas, and a bit lethargic at the airport. Middle of the night 30 mile fast drive home, then next morning another fast 15 miles. After 30 minutes in Tesco it barely started..a very sudden deterioration in battery condition. I thought it was supposed to be gradual. No sign of any drain…interior lights, it’s not a hybrid, so surprised it’s failed so suddenly, assuming it is a battery problem. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688602&v=e