Since we have had the cold damp weather my car is taking a little longer to crank in the mornings and start. My wifes Furby starts first time and my old Toledo caught first time as well in this sort of weather.

When I stick main beam on the passenger side Xenon starts flickering as well and I was wondering if they are drawing to much current from a perhaps tired battery?

Does it sound like a battery that is past it's best? Where is best to get it checked (other than halfords!)

Cheers

Any local garage can check battery condition. Most of them will probably do it for free on the understanding that you buy the replacement battery (if required) from them.

It does sound as though it time to replace the battery. They only lat a few years normally though with constant recharging with a quality charger you can get away with it for much longer. Winter always puts additional stress on the electrical system. The battery output is lower the demand is higher and so on. The xenon lights only use 35 Wats each as opposed to the 55/60 of most Halogen systems. Their are some very good deals on the internet and E bay etc.

With the wife being pregnant I think it wouldn't go down if the car didn't start over the Christmas break!

Any recommendations?

Since we have had the cold damp weather my car is taking a little longer to crank in the mornings and start. My wifes Furby starts first time and my old Toledo caught first time as well in this sort of weather.

When I stick main beam on the passenger side Xenon starts flickering as well and I was wondering if they are drawing to much current from a perhaps tired battery?

Does it sound like a battery that is past it's best? Where is best to get it checked (other than halfords!)

Cheers

This is where your details could be put in your profile ! say which model, Year, and most important your location !

I have the equipment, but don't know where you are !!

Radiotwo

I'll post when home but there are other things to check.

Can bring the lead to check and get cheaper batteries too.

Do the lights dim at low and high revs or only at low and does steering at low revs or idle cause issues?

Well it was defo the battery as it gave up the ghost this morning in the -3c temperature! :wonder:

This was incredibly useful as we were just about to go off to our first midwives appointment

So neighbour jumped started me and I used his trade card to buy a SIlver Bosch 72Ah/780A battery. Thing weighs a ton! Changed it in the work carpark and it starts first time with no issues now

It obviously knew it was going to be replaced at the weekend!

Well it was defo the battery as it gave up the ghost this morning in the -3c temperature! :wonder:

This was incredibly useful as we were just about to go off to our first midwives appointment

So neighbour jumped started me and I used his trade card to buy a SIlver Bosch 72Ah/780A battery. Thing weighs a ton! Changed it in the work carpark and it starts first time with no issues now

It obviously knew it was going to be replaced at the weekend!

Ahh yes I was going to offer you a trade discount on that one. It's a very good battery and yes it weights a lot.

Get the car checked for a sticking alternator pulley as this is common, can be replaced for about £60 and stops charging at low rpm..

What does that entail then Mark? Are there any symptoms for it?

What does that entail then Mark? Are there any symptoms for it?

Exactly as you have above, basically it causes the alternator to stall as the pulley is a kind of free wheel bearing which allows the thing to slow down naturally rather than with the pully when you drop revs.

The new battery will mask the problems but if there is the issue it will come back eventually. IIRC fix was about £65 at a dealers.

I'll have a look into it.

Cheers