Jumped into my car tonight to drive to a meeting about 10 miles away. Car started, but was a bit slow to turn over - I clocked it being slow, but I hadn't used the car since the previous Friday.

Anyway, came to drive back home at 2130, and it was dead, turning the key just killed the stereo and that was it. I got a jump and drove home (thankfully I carry a set of leads in the car).

Was going to stick a meter on the battery to check it wasn't over charging, but by default turned the car off when in the garage. It failed to restart, as expected, so now on charge. Will try starting it in the morning and see what voltage is across the battery with the engine running.

As a replacement I am looking at http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Skoda_Octavia_1.9_2001/p/car-parts/car-electrics-and-car-lighting/electrical/car-battery/?444771006&1&06fbc3159c6d1128115ddf016f1d8a1acac380d2&000020 (part no: 444771006 - incase the link fails) from Eurocarparts with a 25% discount and free delivery....

Current battery has been in there only about 5 years :-(

I should whisper this in case my car is listening but I am still using the original battery after 9 years. However, in past cars the original batteries expired after 6-7 years in our two cars but replacement batteries rarely last longer than four years.

I had a 4 year guaranteed battery from H**f****s that failed after 3 years and 10 months so got that replaced free but the replacement did not last even that long.

What is other peoples experience? Why do the original batteries last longer?

Like yours Matt, mine have always gone from good to dead in a few days.

Mike

My original battery was the same; lasted 6-7 years, and then the previous ECP battery (a Li-on based thing) now seems to have failed. When my original battery failed it went from working (no issues), to dead the next morning, with no indication things were not right. Last time I kept charging the battery overnight, as I couldn't get a battery at a decent price (H*lf**ds wasn't an acceptable option, in my eyes!).

I have seen some batteries with 5 years warranties (Bosch), but I am not convinced they are worth the money, plus me and the old girl might have parted company come 5 years into the future. Maybe I had better not say that too loudly incase she gets her own back and blows up tomorrow!

I guess a new battery in the run up to the winter is no bad thing....

Edited 3 September, 201213 yr by mbames

Just had to change mine in the last couple of weeks. Did the same thing..

Was the same from new though so has provided 7 years of good service including 2 years of doing nothing between the last owners and my purchase.

Just popped down to the car, having been on charge since about about 2130. Charge started off at 3amps, and now about 2amps. Therefore the battery must be pretty flat - the car still wouldn't start so I can't check to see if the alternator is working or not. :-(

Not sure I want to shell out on a new battery until I know that the car isn't going to ruin another one - say by overcharging it.....

Li-ion can die very suddenly from internal faults. And Bosch and Varta batteries are worth every penny IMO. And that's based on the hundreds of fleet forklifts and tow tugs that I look after. Far, far exceeds the life of Unipart batteries and whatever crap they fit to Hysters and Charlattes as standard.

Provided the regulator doesn't go much above 14.4V, you should be fine. (running range should be 13.8 to 14.4, but may drop below at low idle)

Remember to check it at the full rev range.

So something like this: http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Skoda_Octavia_1.9_2001/p/car-parts/car-electrics-and-car-lighting/electrical/car-battery/?444770968

5 yr warranty....

Edited 4 September, 201213 yr by mbames

Jeezus. Last one I bought for the Volvo was £65.

May have been on "mates rates" though since I used my works supplier.

Factor in a 25% discount and it isn't quite so bad. I currently have an 80Amp/hour battery fitted, this one seems to be 77. Now quite as wide, but a fraction taller

Edited 4 September, 201213 yr by mbames

Quality test is to pick it up and see how heavy it is. More mass usually = more lead = good strong plates.

Hoppecke know a trick or two about making batteries too. Whilst I haven't tried their automotive range, their traction cells have been top for a long time. Of course, their car batteries might be rebrands though. Like Bosch are just repackaged Varta's.