[ashwinprakas]

Originally Posted by GTO

Just like planned obsolescence, are batteries designed to fail at a certain point in time?

It is EXACTLY 5 years since I got a new battery for the Jeep and it has died out . The timing is so uncanny - as if the battery came with a clock inside to self-destruct.

5 years is a good enough life span, on an average batteries are expected to last for 3 to 4 years. Batteries after all are consumables like the rest.

As preventive maintenance I change the MC batteries at the 3 year mark and Car batteries at the 4 year mark, as the risk of the vehicle not starting at night when chauffeuring a female family member is a thing of nightmares for me.

Regards,
A.P.

[Mortis]

In a follow up to my battery replacement, my alternator also packed up a week after battery replacement !!
Got it checked out and repaired for Rs 3800 for labour, bearing and the rotor I believe.
Reason for failure was water ingress, most likely happened due to rain water getting in the two times old battery was jump started and when new battery was being fitted. Unfortunately not avoidable with all the continuous rain in Mumbai.

PS : The battery icon on the Speedo was lit to indicate the failed alternator. Along with it the parking brake warning light was also continuously lit and went off after the alternator repair. Is this normal ?

[saket77]

Originally Posted by Mortis

PS : The battery icon on the Speedo was lit to indicate the failed alternator. Along with it the parking brake warning light was also continuously lit and went off after the alternator repair. Is this normal ?

No, not normal. Either you are running low on brake fluid or the push switch under the parking brake lever is stuck. First case needs immediate attention. Check fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir.

Regards.

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by saket77

No, not normal. Either you are running low on brake fluid or the push switch under the parking brake lever is stuck. First case needs immediate attention. Check fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir.

Regards.

Sorry forgot to mention I checked brake fluid and it's fine. Right upto the max mark. It could be the switch as my mechanic said but I was waiting for alternator repair to be completed and now it's gone off. I'll check for a few days and see if it comes back

[saket77]

Originally Posted by Mortis

Sorry forgot to mention I checked brake fluid and it's fine. Right upto the max mark. It could be the switch as my mechanic said but I was waiting for alternator repair to be completed and now it's gone off. I'll check for a few days and see if it comes back

Check if it is functional by applying the parking brake so as to be sure if its working normally. Sometimes this switch may get stuck due to corrosion or even intruding upholstery.

Regards.

[Sutripta]

Originally Posted by Mortis

PS : The battery icon on the Speedo was lit to indicate the failed alternator. Along with it the parking brake warning light was also continuously lit and went off after the alternator repair. Is this normal ?

Depending on the model of the vehicle, yes.
This indicator is considered important enough to have means of knowing that the indicator bulb or associated wiring has not failed. So it is sometimes wired through the auxiliary diodes of the alternator.

Regards
Sutripta

[Ithaca]

Bought a Tata Green battery for my Dolphin Honda City.
18 months in and it went kaput.
Replaced it with an Exide a month ago.

Since my home inverter battery was made by Tata Green, decided to opt for it for the vehicle.

[Shashwat B]

Originally Posted by Mortis

They check the Specific Gravity of the Acid in the cells , Cranking Voltage/Amps and also the voltage coming from alternator at idle and when revved

I didn't understand- Check the specific Gravity of Acid in the cell.
I haven't heard this, could you please elaborate

[swissknife]

Originally Posted by Shashwat B

I didn't understand- Check the specific Gravity of Acid in the cell.
I haven't heard this, could you please elaborate

The specific gravity of a battery is measured using a hydrometer.
More about it here:
http://all-about-lead-acid-batteries...-a-hydrometer/

[Mortis]

Originally Posted by saket77

Check if it is functional by applying the parking brake so as to be sure if its working normally. Sometimes this switch may get stuck due to corrosion or even intruding upholstery.

Regards.

The parking brake was functioning normally. I did a bit of googling and it's normal for the parking brake and battery light to come on together when there is an alternator problem if the error is a low voltage generated error (mine was producing 11v) and only battery icon in case it's a total alternator failure

[lancer_rit]

Originally Posted by lancer_rit

My wife's Ritz came with factory Amaron battery. It's done 7 years plus and finally showing some signs of weakening. Car has done 65k km.

Absolutely amazing performance

Finally changed the Ritz factory Amazon black battery after 8 years, 3 months and 67k km doing a lot of short runs and stop/ start pattern. Amazing!

[dpkbehera]

After a few ominous warnings, my Ecosport (D) refused to start. It has covered almost 45,000 kms in Four years. Did a quick check of Team Bhp and BatteryBhai and finalized Amaron 45 Ah. Did consider Amaron 55 Ah but the prospect of the battery not fitting into the Battery Cabin lead to second thoughts. Got a price of Rs 4600 with exchange from the nearby Amaron Pitstop. Preferred this over the BatteryBhai Option of Rs 4300.

[NKR]

Can any one guide where we can obtain an AGM battery. BMW charges awfully high

[Pancham]

The Exide stock factory fitted battery in my 2011 i20 Asta lasted me exactly 5 years. I was quite impressed and got another Exide which is still going strong.

[Sandeep500]

Amaron battery in my Honda city lasted between 5 to 6 years. Even the battery in my diesel swift lasted 5 years that was O.E Exide make.