[Lily]

Hi everyone!

Sorry I've been a bit missing in action, it's been one of those weeks when nothing goes to plan. In fact, my whole 2026 seems to be following that pattern but I remain positive. Or at least I try! 😆

But I digress... Let's talk about what we came here for, cars!

We all know the pain of a flat battery, especially when you’re in a rush.

A few things we’ve seen help:

• Driving regularly (short trips can drain your battery over time)
• Turning off lights and electronics when parked
• Keeping your battery in good condition, especially in extreme weather

So, what’s your best bit of car battery advice?

Could be tips, things to avoid, warning signs, or even a lesson learned the hard way.

[Santa]

Many cars are loaded with electronic devices these days. Individually, they may not be a problem, but setting off on a short commute on a frosty morning with the heated windscreen, heated seats and heated steering wheel on, not to mention the heater on full blast, will soon create problems. Common sense really...

There are some excellent "smart" (that word makes me cringe) chargers available these days, and regular use will ensure that your battery stays in top condition (until it fails, of course). On my low-mileage car, I plug it in every couple of weeks in the winter.

[olduser]

Like Santa I made use of a "Smart" charger at short intervals.
Good ones will tell the condition of the battery, most will give a cell equalising charge, and most use rough DC for charging which is better at dissolving sulphate deposits.

I have found todays sealed batteries do loose water, and performance can be improved by topping up (with distilled water) until the plates are just covered.

While checking the battery, it's always worth checking the high current connections around the battery plus the connection to the car body and engine.

[NMNeil]

Unfortunately batteries are not designed to last anymore, and 3 - 4 years is the normal lifespan.

Battery type	Typical warranty	Mild climate, mixed driving	Hot climate or heavy use	Cold climate, many short trips
Basic flooded lead-acid	24–36 months	3–4 years	2–3 years	2–3 years
Premium flooded lead-acid	36–48 months	4–5 years	3–4 years	3–4 years
AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat)	48–72 months	5–7 years	4–5 years	4–6 years
Start-stop rated AGM/EFB	48–72 months	4–6 years	3–4 years	3–5 years
LiFePO4 12V drop‑in*	60–120 months	8–10+ years	6–8 years	7–10 years

[Rolebama]

Batteries are a bit like people - too sedentary a lifestyle and they will fade, but a bit of exercise will help their fitness, so run them down a bit every now and then. My last 4 cars have all been quick starters and the batteries have faded quite quickly, in fact one had to have a new battery every year. My current one sits for extended periods and has a gizmo that disconnects the battery from unnecessaries like odometer, clock and I don't know what else, but it will still start even after 3 to 4 wks rest.

[Lily]

@NMNeil just saw this and it's a shame! I really dislike planned obsolescense. 😑🙄 😑🙄
I take really good care of my smartphones, and even when they haven’t had any drops or damage, one day they just stop working. I’d happily pay good money for a modern phone with the durability of a Nokia 5125…

@Rolebama your comments made me realise I've been really lucky with my Ford Fiesta, 7 years and no need for a new battery!

[Rolebama]

@Lily FWIW: I had my last phone, a Samsung S20, for years. The only reason I changed it for an S25 was because the battery life was getting too short. I only use my mobile occasionally, and it would last me almost a week on a charge. I changed because it went down to just about a day, and would just about make a 60 minute chat with mates.

[olduser]

Originally Posted by Lily

@NMNeil just saw this and it's a shame! I really dislike planned obsolescense. 😑🙄 😑🙄
I take really good care of my smartphones, and even when they haven’t had any drops or damage, one day they just stop working. I’d happily pay good money for a modern phone with the durability of a Nokia 5125…

@Rolebama your comments made me realise I've been really lucky with my Ford Fiesta, 7 years and no need for a new battery!

I would expect a life of around 7 years for a car battery, that is what I got from all my cars but they did get maintained, that included charging if required.

The alternator was a big improvement, less use of the charger needed.

Then came the sealed no maintenance battery, my first car with a sealed battery was in trouble at about 18 months but I was ready, opened the cells up and found the acid was not visible!
Some melted fridge frost, used to refill to plates just covered, and away we went again but as soon as I could I gave it a gentle overcharge with my rough DC charger.*

From then on, I checked levels in sick sealed car batteries first, and recommended the owners check at least once per year.

Lead acid batteries need some space under the plates to collect rubbish (mostly lead sulphide), otherwise this rubbish piles up and shorts out the battery.

The fashion is to have smaller battery cases, less space for the rubbish, shorter life.

I have heard people blaming auto stop/start for short battery life but I have not had trouble with that, the control system will not stop/start unless the battery has a decent level of charge, or if the load on the battery is high.

Three or four times I have watched mechanics testing batteries, and failing to understand what the tester was telling them, perhaps they did understand but wanted to make an easy sale.
No one ever asks, "why has the battery failed?"
We pay for a new one and off we go.

* Rough DC Charger, only uses half the mains AC cycle, this is thought to dissolve more Lead Sulphate of the plates returning the Lead to the plates, and returning the Sulphur to the acid.

[Lily]

@Rolebama it's always the battery! I used to buy replacement batteries instead of new phones but they changed that as well.
@olduser that's what I thought, 7 years seem normal to me, but apparently it's not the average according to the chart our friend posted above. Crazy that's the case.

[olduser]

As far as I know, with the right tools, mobile phones still can be opened and the batteries changed?

[Lily]

@olduser yes but doing it yourself is not an option like before, unless you are really crafty.

My phone, a S24 is glued shut and has delicate flex cables, strong adhesive and lithium battery risks so I'd need heatgun, suctions tools, etc, to replace it and some expertise repairing phones (which I don't have).

With old Nokia 5125 I just needed to buy a new battery, open the back of the phone and voilá! I was done and the phone was good as new.

[NMNeil]

Many States here have enacted "Right to repair" laws which means that to sell say a cellphone in that State the battery has to be replaceable.
It will probably end up being a Federal law much like the one that comes into effect next year in the EU.
https://cybershack.com.au/other/eu-r...air-rule-2027/

[olduser]

Originally Posted by Lily

@olduser yes but doing it yourself is not an option like before, unless you are really crafty.

My phone, a S24 is glued shut and has delicate flex cables, strong adhesive and lithium battery risks so I'd need heatgun, suctions tools, etc, to replace it and some expertise repairing phones (which I don't have).

With old Nokia 5125 I just needed to buy a new battery, open the back of the phone and voilá! I was done and the phone was good as new.

I agree with you all the way, it would have to go to a repair shop who have (or should have) the kit to open the phone.
Why are they like that?
Well it's our fault, we are the dumb clucks that bought them in the first place.

But it is not surprising, my daughter was telling me she has a new phone, I ask why, she says, "she has a good deal, they renew her phone every year!?!?"
I have asked a couple of carers, and they have a similar deal but why?

No wonder people are complaining about the cost of living, paying for a new phone every year!

[olduser]

Originally Posted by NMNeil

Many States here have enacted "Right to repair" laws which means that to sell say a cellphone in that State the battery has to be replaceable.
It will probably end up being a Federal law much like the one that comes into effect next year in the EU.
https://cybershack.com.au/other/eu-r...air-rule-2027/

Oh those terrible Europeans making all these nasty rules.😀
I bet they wouldn't have got it through if the UK had still been in!🙄