17 replies to this topic

[jeebowhite]

Hi Guys,

OK so I had the car just under a couple of weeks and already having some nightmare problems. I really need some feedback to confirm or reject my knowledge.

When I looked at the car, New Years Eve, the battery was flat. They boost started it, and it worked ok on that battery up until the temperature dropped below 5. All of a sudden the car started being a nightmare, it took longer to turn over, but did turn over. This morning though, the battery was well and truely fluffed. I called out the recovery agent who boost started the car, the engine ran for the best part of an hour (me locking the car with the engine running!) and the battery charged. I bought a replacement (Bosch S4 Silver Calcium) from Euro Car Parts, and replaced the battery this morning.

First start - worked fine, drove 30 miles down the motorway to work.
On driving to work, I come off the slip road, and the stereo switches off and restarts, thought nothing of it but everything else seemed fine.
Second start - drove 30 miles up the motorway back home, and drove down the road to make a visit.

I tested the "Walk me home" lights, and saw they worked, and then left the car for 90 minutes running my errands. 90 minutes later, car is seemingly ok as we sit down, then I turn the key to electrics - Nothing! car is completely black, no lights, no backlights, no life at all. I called the father in law and he brought down my old battery that was running and charging this morning. In the pitch black, I changed the battery, and the car started. Looks like the new battery is dead.

There is no light, life or anything, when I connected the battery to the terminals, there was a tiny fraction of a spark as if there was nothing left to it but a last breathe of life, but the old battery worked fine. So I ran the car for 15 minutes tonight, to give the old battery a lease of life. I have got the old battery in the house to keep warm so it doesnt get killed off.

So, I need to take the battery back, but I want your thoughts... Does it sound like the battery is fecked, or the fact it looked ok, then as I went to turn the car over, all died, pitch black (short of a massive bang, it seemed like it had just blown up). So I will replace the battery tomorrow, but, should I take the car to the garage straight away, tell them its dead, and let them poke around with it under warranty? or should I run the car on the new battery, keeping the old as the more trusted spare?

The alternator on the old battery this morning, was charging at around 14.48 volts, across the positive and ground, so the alternator seems to be doing its job correctly? do we think this is a case of my poor luck and a dead battery, or does anyone think a little more skeptically?

I have two choices now, keep the car, try and get its niggles sorted, and see what I can do, or drive the car at the sales man and tell them I want the kia back. I know which I prefer, and I think it is the Focus, but I dont want to find myself paying money out hand over fist!

If it keeps being a problem and the garage are less than satisfactory, I will be demanding a full refund, and take the keys for my Kia if the car is still there. But what I do in the meantime, is the below... Question is, do you guys think this is the right choice, or would you suggest otherwise?

1) Take the new battery back and get it replaced. A brand new battery dying within 24 hours with almost a "pop" and no life, it could be a faulty battery.

2) drive to work on the old battery, and disconnect the positive lead when I get there to prevent any discharge. then swap the batteries at lunchtime.

3) run the new battery for a few days, trying to replicate my every move today (including the use of the walk me home lights) and see if I can replicate the "pop"

4) Phone the garage and make them aware in the first instance that the car is experiencing difficulties and that I will be bringing it to them next week at the latest, unless something goes awry in the first instance...

5) drive the car and see how it behaves... See if it was just one bad battery, or if there is more lurking behind the scenes!

Appreciate its a long post and all your thoughts are most welcome and appreciated.

A very stressed James...

[k13r4n]

if you have only had it a few weeks I would be straight back and kick off tbh

[NorthSussex]

Short answer to a long post. Put the original battery back on the car and take the car back to the garage, it's their problem to sort it out.

[k13r4n]

agree here ^^

[DanGersFord]

You need to stop leaving your lights tunred on when you park up lol no but seriously id take it back to the garage and get it fixed before the warranty period expires

[Stoney871]

Take the bugger back.

[jeebowhite]

lol, thought as much guys, so what do you recon then, take the battery back for a refund?

Apologies for the long post, I prefer to put all the info in!

[NorthSussex]

Yea, charge it up and take it back for a refund.

[NorthSussex]

Don't worry about a long post, putting it down in writing always makes you feel better,

[jeebowhite]

Lol it did help, took it back and they replaced it no questions, so i have the old battery in, and new in boot. Going to start by testing the old battery with setting off walk me home lights at lunch, if it's fine will replace battery, otherwise if the battery dies will be taking it back sooner rather than later.

Got to phone the garage and tell them to expect me some point in next 5 days...

[jeebowhite]

Well, I replaced the battery and its been fine since. Looked like I bought a dough battery!

Next test is when the weather improves marginally, I will be using the get me home lights, and then see if it starts in the morning... I am sure it should be fine this time round!

[NorthSussex]

I wouldn't say that just because you had a faulty battery that you have a bad car; 1 week after buying my car I found that the battery had gone flat, I phoned the garage that I had bought it from, they came to my house lent me a car and took my car back to the garage, within 5 hours the car was returned with a new battery fitted and the charging system checked, 11 months later and the care has run like clockwork. Not all garages are bad and not all cars are bad, just some.

[mintalkin]

i can see the ad now, selling due to dodgy battery.

[TDCiST]

I agree with NS, ive had a few cars and replaced a couple of batteries in my time... None of them have been bad cars...

[btmaldon]

Don't take any notice. jd's Brother has been logging into his account and having some fun at his expense.