Any Solicitors / Trading standards here?

[dgacampbell]

Ok folks, let me run this one by you.

On 18/12/2013 I purchased a Yuasa battery for my 90.

It does not seem to hold a charge for much longer than 24/36 hours or at least enough too start the car, 2 days and it needs to be jump started.

The battery has actually been weak for some time, but I had misplaced, or rather forgotten the safe place I put the receipt until today.

I was told the battery had a 2 year guarantee at the time of purchase.

I went into the motorfactors I purchased it from this afternoon, the guy came out with a tester provided by the battery manufacturer no less and it said the battery was good.

They are refusing to change it, if I want them to test the battery overnight I have to purchase another one in the mean time??
The battery is apparently rated at 500sae and when tested read 612sae.

My argument that of course the battery was fully charged now, that it took 15mins to get there, 10 of those minutes on the motorway at the posted speed limit (honest) did not seem to matter.

Opinions?

Where do I stand here?

TIA

Dan

[geneandbolly]

as my old colleague would have said when viewing dennis waterman's monstrous new teeth, he would tell them (the dentist responsible) . .to

"GIT IT SORTIT!!!"

[Andy10v]

If you want them to test it over time you will need to leave it with them, I doubt the warranty covers a loan battery, or any costs incurred. Warranties are normally repair or replacement, nothing else.

If a cheapo clutch fails within warranty, they will replace it when you remove it and send it back, they do not cover labour or down time.

I take it you have confirmed the battery is at fault and there is not a low voltage drain with ignition off causing the problem?

Its an akward situation, but if they cannot see anything wrong they will not warranty it, and if the fault takes 2-3 days to show they will need the battery for 2-3 days.

If you kick up enough of a fuss you may get sorted just to get you on your way, dont bet on it though, and you will not be popular.

[moonwatcher]

I agree with Andy, you'll have to leave it with them for assessment and any other costs sadly are yours however inconveinient, I currently have a pair of trainers that I consider faulty, I returned them to the retail outlet, they then returned them to the manufacturers, estimated to take 1 month in the mean time I do without or buy another pair

[John.]

You need to have the parasitic drain checked-this is the load on the battery while the car is sitting idle. Your radio,clock, and certain other things will use a very small amount of power which will be apparent when doing this simple test.
A figure of 0.03 amp would be about right for your car. You fitted an amplifier for speakers did you not? Worth checking this is powering off.......this would drag the battery down considerably if it were to stay powered.
Most basic multimeters have an amps function, it's not a hard test to carry out.
john.

[msh]

I agree to John - the problem most likely to be with the car, not battery. But care must be taken while measuring that current with multimeter - cheap ones have max current measurement usually 200 mA and is protected by internal fuse, rated @ 0,25A - in case the drain is bigger than this or something creates power consumption pike when battery is connected [like aftermarket alarm that arms and sounds horn at that moment] , that fuse would be blown instantly.

I usually do this test with simple standalone ampermeter, one that is intended to be mounted on some board. Ampermetre with max current between 1A and 5A must be good enough.

Of course, good, expensive multimeters have similar current measurement capabilities.

[dgacampbell]

Ok folks, responses appreciated!!

I will check for a Parasitic drain at the weekend, providing I can get a dry day (it is possible I may win lotto first lol)


Hoping it is something daft, If it is the alarm, that could be a problem....... Would the heavier duty battery for the quattro model make any difference if it turns out to be that?

[moonwatcher]

Sorry to say but a bigger capacity battery will just delay the obvious

[theschmallfella]

Originally Posted by dgacampbell

Ok folks, let me run this one by you.

On 18/12/2013 I purchased a Yuasa battery for my 90.

It does not seem to hold a charge for much longer than 24/36 hours or at least enough too start the car, 2 days and it needs to be jump started.

The battery has actually been weak for some time, but I had misplaced, or rather forgotten the safe place I put the receipt until today.

I was told the battery had a 2 year guarantee at the time of purchase.

I went into the motorfactors I purchased it from this afternoon, the guy came out with a tester provided by the battery manufacturer no less and it said the battery was good.

They are refusing to change it, if I want them to test the battery overnight I have to purchase another one in the mean time??
The battery is apparently rated at 500sae and when tested read 612sae.

My argument that of course the battery was fully charged now, that it took 15mins to get there, 10 of those minutes on the motorway at the posted speed limit (honest) did not seem to matter.

Opinions?

Where do I stand here?

TIA

Dan

My brother in law bought one of these batteries a few months back for his A4, and he suffered the same issue with his. He took it back after a few weeks and they gave him another one, same problem. I took it out, charged it fully and put it into my 200. Not a single issue, starts and holds its charge. It turns out it the A4,not the batteries. I'd never come across this brand before but they seem to work okay for me so me thinks it's your car.

[John.]

Originally Posted by dgacampbell

Ok folks, responses appreciated!!

I will check for a Parasitic drain at the weekend, providing I can get a dry day (it is possible I may win lotto first lol)

Did you get anywhere with this today Dan??

John.