Hello,
I'm wondering whether to buy a new battery for my other half's 56 plate Astra 1.4 petrol.
She only does short journeys, which may be part of the problem. It's about 8 miles (one way), or 15 minutes to work.
When we had the cold weather it would not start, only click, so I connected the battery to charge overnight.
Since then it has been ok until she broke down last week. The recovery man started the engine a couple of times to listen to it but on the third attempt it just clicked. She had not had hazard lights or headlamps on, so the battery had not discharged from that. Besides, I thought cars now switched off before lights could flatten the battery that much?
The garage just recharged the battery and the car is starting normally but I'm wondering whether to change the battery before the cold weather comes back?
What is the group's opinion on battery testers like these:
I have connected a multimeter across the battery. With the engine off it reads 12.4V, with the engine on it is 14.4V. The minimum voltage was 9.35V. I started the car a second time and the minimum was 9.55V. Bizarrely I tested it a third time (I don't know why, I must have got carried away) and it only dropped to 10.08V that time. Perhaps everything had warmed up by then?
I'm not sure what these voltages should be. Are these voltages low? Or on the other hand is the fact that I could start the car three times in a row a sign that there is nothing to worry about?
The dealer says a GM battery will be £66. Halfrauds web site says £66, £76 for calcium, or £96 for a Bosch. Should I just get the recommended one? I have heard some people suggest to buy the biggest one that fits the battery holder. Is it worth doing that?
Thanks, Stephen.