Buying a car battery.

I've used https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/

Very good fo slightly more obscure stuff as well like aux batteries for stop start systems.

Also used Halfords as their "pro" range are Varta or Bosch I think?

I got mine from the AA. They came round and fitted it, and it was only about £10 more than going to halfords and buying one. Which would've involved blagging a lift off a mate because my car wouldn't start. It's been fine. Well worth an extra tenner.

Tanya are usually recommended, I always fit Yuasa Silver and yet to have an issue. Sounds like you have another issue though, there's no way you should be killing it with a couple of miles charging time. Either your alternator is shot or you have a power leech, usually a stuck relay. All IMO, but I'd be speaking to a mechanic unless you're vastly over exaggerating the distances between starts.

Maybe treat yourself to a solar trickle charger too, leave that connected and on the dashboard to keep it topped up?

solar trickle charger

That's a good idea.

Another vote for Tanya here. Were cheaper than Halfords last time and quick delivery.

Also used Halfords as their “pro” range are Varta or Bosch I think?

I don't know where Halfords source batteries, but Bosch and Varta are made in the same factory.
Go for the biggest battery that will fit in the space with the longest warranty.
I'd buy a "standard" type and a decent charger with maintenance/conditioner function (<£40), unless you need AGM for stop-start tech cars which will take a bit more punishment

Check your drain current. I've just had to replace an alternator and 2 batteries because there was a faulty Bluetooth module in our Civic draining the battery all the time. It varies, but you shouldn't see something outside of 30mA as draw when the car is off and standing silent for a few mins.

Yeah, thanks. How do I do that? I have a multimeter.

I'm now reluctant to change the battery in case it's the alternator. If the alternator fails will it kill the new battery?

I'm hoping it's just my driving habits. Looking at my diary and google maps, I've not been further than a two mile journey in months. Two to four times a week.

The Halfords branded batteries are made by Yuasa for the 3 year warranty and mainly Bosch for the 4 year ones. The added advantage is their warranty and that you're never far from a branch. Get them to price match whoever is cheapest and you have the best of all the options. They'll even test your current battery and alternator (basic voltage test) if you ask nicely for free too!

To test the alternator measure the battery voltage when it's off, should be around 12.4v. Then start the car and the battery should be reading around 14.4v if the alternator us working.

I drive regularly, but rarely over a couple of miles.

A pair of sensible shoes might be cheaper than a battery?

Just popped into Halfords to look at batteries and a chap came out and ran some tests. Battery and alternator in good condition, but he found a loose cable on the battery. So quite happy with that result. Free as well, impressed with the service.

So, could still have a parasitic draw, or maybe I need to drive it more. But that’s a few potentials ruled out at least.

sensible shoes

Never gonna happen grandad 😉

Tanya are usually recommended

Agreed, I've had good service from them. But it's not Tanya, it's Tayna - I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that gets it wrong!

Best to buy a slightly larger battery than you need, so it still has the power to crank the alternator when <100%. Also imperative to make sure the water is topped up, covering the lead plates.

Is that still a thing, topping up batteries with water? Remember my grandad doing that with his Allegro.

All these people who lease cars and drive 0.6km to work every day. How do they get by? Just get picked up by the AA occasionally and a new battery?

Best to buy a slightly larger battery than you need, so it still has the power to crank the alternator when <100%. Also imperative to make sure the water is topped up, covering the lead plates.

All well and good but most batteries sit in stupid moulded cases so sizing up is rarely an option. They're almost exclusively sealed as well, can't remember the last time I saw one that could be topped up.

To measure the drain:

Top tip - wear goggles if you're scared and wash your hands after handling the battery.

Leave the car parked for 15mins with everything switched off and locked, but with the hood open.

Loosen the nut to the battery negative clamp so it can be slid off. (tip, don't short the battery terminals, you'll get burned...)

Set your multimeter to 10A and place the wires into the 10A socket and negative

Arrange your multimeter probes with the tips positioned such that you are able to slip the negative clamp off and then have the current then flow through the meter from the bare terminal to the disconnected clamp (you seamlessly insert it into the circuit)

Observe the drain current. Probably 20,30mA. If, say 100+ continually, something is probably wasting power

But I think you just don't drive long enough to maintain the battery charge.

If you have a multimeter, use it to monitor the battery voltage over a few days. Look up lead acid voltage to charge charts.... (tip, do switch the multimeter wires out of the amps socket)

I think you'll need shoes, or a trickle charger of some kind.

Just popped into Halfords to look at batteries and a chap came out and ran some tests. Battery and alternator in good condition, but he found a loose cable on the battery. So quite happy with that result. Free as well, impressed with the service.

Cheers for that. My wife's car has started telling us the stop/start isn't working (Had it a few months, didn't even know it had stop/start as it's never worked!) and my mechanic pal suggested it would probably be the battery so worth popping down to Halfords before splashing out.

Halfords, be prepared to be ripped off.

Halfords, be prepared to be ripped off.

Ok, seems weird to be defending a massive business, but really? They're open all the time, will come out and diagnose your car issues and give you honest advice even when I'd gone down there with the intention of spending £££ on a new battery. Whereas my local garage would've probably had the car in their compound for twelve days before grunting something about god knows what and relieving me of a random multiple of £500.

Bricks and mortar I've not found a better place who stand behind their warrenty no quibbles.

Ecp are an absolute shit show if your battery expires in warrenty

Tanya -fine if you. Can be without a battery for a number of days

It's a 20 quid premium I found ..

But also a 20yo MK4 golf almost certainly has a phantom drain in the system. Our MK4 had shocking electrics *badumtish*

Yeah, thanks. How do I do that? I have a multimeter.

It's a ball-ache, as the modules are doing all sorts of things after you shut it down. I was never able to get a decent reading doing this but good luck.

Cheers for that. My wife’s car has started telling us the stop/start isn’t working (Had it a few months, didn’t even know it had stop/start as it’s never worked!) and my mechanic pal suggested it would probably be the battery

The battery on my car appeared to be working perfectly, started fine every time, however the stop/start function rarely worked and basically stopped altogether in winter. I thought maybe it was the short trips I was doing and the cold weather, but I had it tested anyway. It was producing 400 out of a possible 850A, so I changed it and the stop/start started working straight away even on cool mornings. The only time it won't work now is when there's a high A/C demand, which is determined by the humidity as well as temperature.

It’s a ball-ache, as the modules are doing all sorts of things after you shut it down. I was never able to get a decent reading doing this but good luck.

Alternators do weird things too; they sense charge levels, under bonnet temperature and are often ECU controlled in modern engines

Am alternator with a failed diode will charge the car, but also act as a drain when off. If you hear a faint buzz, and the alternator is warm, its drawing current.
Diagnosed with multi metre to see drain on battery, then unplugged variuos connectors.

Halfords are exensive. Local battery factor if you have one.

Local battery factor if you have one.access to a trade account with trade pricing

Public cash(meaning not on account) sales pricing is rarely competitive at the factors.

Our factor is.

Don't forget to check the current pricing and offers on EuroCarParts (There was a jubilee 55% off thing for batteries running. So far I've been fortunate that one of these has been available every time I've needed some new volts).

Just had a look on Euro and their prices are nearly twice that of Tyna even with the 45% off!!

Just had a look on Euro and their prices are nearly twice that of Tyna even with the 45% off!!

They'll probably price match but you'd better not be in any hurry.
I priced a battery on Tayna and requested a price match from ECP because I thought it would be quicker and handier to pick up locally. I hastened them after a day because I couldn't see why it should take any longer than that to click on the 2 links I supplied them with and say yes or no, and when I received no reply I just went ahead and ordered from Tayna.
Eight days later ECP got back to me to agree the price match!

BTW ECP have my battery up for £211 with discount applied, Tayna want £110 for the exact same one.

I’ve had to replace the car battery several times in the last few years, I just don’t use the car, I commute to work via bike or foot as it’s only 3 miles away. The last year I’ve taken to once a fortnight taking the car for an hour down the motorway which has helped as not needed to get a new battery this year so far, reading above I’ve ordered a solar trickle charger will see if that helps.

I baulk at the price of a battery from Halfords.

They're no trouble to fit at all.

For many, many years and for 8 vehicles, I've used this company:

https://www.batterymegastore.co.uk/

Generally for a Varta, no matter which car.

Hugely recommended.

Also bought my last one from Tayna, a Varta Start-Stop AGM - recommended.