First up does anyones headlights dip when using the electric windows?

Does this mean the battery is on its way out? Or alternator?

If its the battery, which ones are recommended as a replacement?

I replaced my battery (was the original one) last year with a Bosch HSB013 (610 amps / 63amp hour) with 5 year guarantee, £120 but you can get it cheaper elsewhere, and it fits under existing battery cover.

Your problem could be a number of issues,

1/Check the battery voltage (if its 5 + years old could be on its last legs), I think with everything off it should be about 12.5 volts').

2/ Run the engine making sure battery light is out on dash, check battery terminals again should be about 14.5 volts on charge.

Is it slow to turn the engine over to start?

Costco - Bosch - 59 quid

Edited 28 January, 201313 yr by Liverpool-Lad

First up does anyones headlights dip when using the electric windows?

Does this mean the battery is on its way out? Or alternator?

My lights dim very slightly as the windows reach their limit of travel, but not before. Certainly this was the case before I changed the battery, and I think still happens with my new big @r$e bosch battery.

Edited 28 January, 201313 yr by mbames

thanks for replies. The car doesnt seem to struggle to do anything else.

It does it very noticably when i park up at night so lights still on and engine running and out of force of habit i just check the windows are closed by pulling up both front window switches together and same with rears.

Think a new battery will be added to the list of service parts replaced at the end of feb as im considering some updated audio aswell.

The same happens to mine too (as mbames mentioned). I would be concerned if it started to struggle to turn the car over in the morning on a cold start.

My headlights used to do this and it was the battery on its way out. Even then the battery was only starting to struggle after being left for a week or so.

Got a new one from ecp for about £50 I think.

I should also say that one day I jumped into my car, started it, and it turned over a bit slower than normal (enough for me to notice). I drove to my destination about 20 minutes away (free flowing 30-60mph roads). Parked up, returned to my car 2-3 hours later and it was dead :-( Central locking work and that was it! Fortunately I was able to get a jump start and drove home. Ordered the largest Bosch battery I could with the Brisky 25% from ECP and a mate collected it for me :-) My battery was over a £100 before the discount, iirc

Modern batteries it seems can pretty much die with no warning.

My 51 plate vrs does same altho think it still has original battery on it, dont have any problems starting or electrical problems so just put up with it

thanks for replies. The car doesnt seem to struggle to do anything else.

It does it very noticably when i park up at night so lights still on and engine running and out of force of habit i just check the windows are closed by pulling up both front window switches together and same with rears.

Think a new battery will be added to the list of service parts replaced at the end of feb as im considering some updated audio aswell.

Totally normal the windows will be taking more voltage than normal, plus the car's idling so the alternator won't be supplying optimum voltage

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