Wife's 2005 Mazda 3 has been for the most part bulletproof.  However the battery not so.  I put a new Bosch S4 battery on it in February 2014.  And it's now struggling.

 

The car does short journeys as my wife's home to work is a mile and she'll come home for lunch three times a week.  So it doesn't get charged back up fully.  I've trickle charged it when it gets low, or take it for a run, and I know the time of year isn't helping.  Charged it last Thursday (eight days ago) and it's now at the point of needing topping back up again.

 

There no problems with any electrical connections, and it seems to be charging fine (perhaps just not for long enough).

 

I guess I'm just after opinions really as to whether the battery could well be at the end of its life, due to the expectations on it and the little reward it gets back.  I think it's the conclusion I'm coming to.  Any thoughts?

 

Gaz

Is the alternator fine?

1 hour ago, gadgetman said:

Is the alternator fine?

 

No reason to think not.  Take it for a 20 mile run on clear roads and the battery is revitalised, no noises or lights, belt tension's fine.  I might spend some more time with a multimeter on it tomorrow.

 

Ta

 

Gaz

 

 

what engine do you have in it?

You could have just got a bad battery from the off. But a mile commute each way isn't going to help things. Its not doing the engine any good either really.

I'd be trying to get to spring and see how it goes when the load isn't so great.

It'll be the short journeys killing it.

 

Walk to work would be the cynics answer but if she can't/won't then maybe investing in a battery optimiser with a trickle charge and plug the car in at night?

12 hours ago, Nathanio said:

what engine do you have in it?

 

It's a 1.6 (automatic)

 

1 hour ago, Aspman said:

Walk to work would be the cynics answer......

 

Mrs V6TDI thanks you for the suggestion  and says she would, if she could only get up earlier (which she won't).  To be fair, she does cycle when the weather's better and it's daylight.

 

I've got a 12v solar charger - might give that a go.

 

Gaz

Edited 28 January, 20179 yr by V6TDI

14 hours ago, Nathanio said:

what engine do you have in it?

 

1 hour ago, V6TDI said:

It's a 1.6 (automatic)

I've got a 12v solar charger - might give that a go.

Gaz

I think the question possibly meant Petrol or Diesel as diesels take more cranking, therefore more power used, although size of engine matters also.

 

A battery low on power would probably require overnight charging with at least an 8 amp charger to give it a chance to recharge.

A charger usually has some sort of indicator on to give an idea of state of charge.

 

A solar charger will make a little difference but highly unlikely to solve the issue imo. (edit, in this scenario).

If a battery is low on charge and has to endure freezing conditions, it is likely to suffer irreversible damage.

 

If you do longer necessary journeys, can you take her car instead of yours, say, once a week? Otherwise I would give it an overnight charge once a week or so.

Edited 28 January, 20179 yr by Tilt

Try Tayna batteries for the best quotes I tend to find.  Get a HD battery to solve the problem if it is not the alternator and it is just the short journeys killing it (and get a petrol car to replace it before EUR4/5 cars are banned from cities etc unless you only drive in the countryside).

If HD means heavy duty, then that will not solve the problem.

 

It will just take a little longer before the problem arises again, and take longer to fully charge.

9 hours ago, Tilt said:

I think the question possibly meant Petrol or Diesel.....

 

Good point - it's a petrol.

 

I cycle to work, and it's only four miles.

 

An overnight trickle, once a week is no real hardship so I think that's what we'll do and see what gives when the weather's warmer.

 

It's on charge now and was taking a fair amperage:

 

 

Gaz

Edited 28 January, 20179 yr by V6TDI