Flat battery /RAC /Halfords

[steve_b_wales]

My wife went to start her car this morning and the battery was flat. I could have used my jump leads to start it, but due to the position the car was in, with no space to park mine near it, she called out the RAC, which to be fair to them, arrived in less than an hour. The battery was checked and the RAC guy stated that it wasn't holding it's charge and that a new one is needed. My wife explained that her car is hardly used, and then for only a couple of miles. The RAC guy agreed that after starting the engine, the vehicle should have a 'good run' but still said that the battery is faulty. The battery is under a 5 year warranty with Halfords, as it was fitted February 2022. She contacted Halfords and was told that there was a battery in stock and to bring her vehicle to them to replace today. She went there earlier and the battery was checked by one of their 'technicians' who informed here that there was nothing wrong with the battery and that the vehicle just needed a good run (after she explained the lack of use her car has) and said that 'they' won't replace it. She explained that should it go flat again, then the RAC would not come out again for that fault as she had been advised to get a new one (he offered to fit one for £170!)

So, where does she go from here? She is bringing the car back home and I said that I would use it instead of mine to give it a 'good run'. Who do we believe, RAC who stood to make a sale, or Halfords who would have had to give her a replacement battery free of charge!!!!

Edited 14 hours ago by steve_b_wales

[enfieldspares]

Contact the RAC who should have a log of the call out. Get that. Then contact Halford's customer service. And get there version. Either one is right or the other. How long was the car not used for from when it was last used? I got delayed in Nigeria once when the Presidential Election was delayed so came back to the UK with my car here standing for four weeks and, yes, the battery had gone flat. So on a modern car with an alarm there is always some current being used and so the battery will run down over time. Personally I'd always use an independent battery supplier. Never one of these "big boys" as, like eBay, you are one of many hundreds and thousands of punters so they don't care.

Edited 14 hours ago by enfieldspares

[39TDS]

If you leave a car battery flat for a period of time it will "break". This is what you have done so it is your fault, not Halfords and not the RAC.

You can get trickle charges and solar charges that will keep it topped up to prevent it happening and you can also get smart chargers that will rejuvenate sulphited batteries.

I recommend a small solar charger on the dash, assuming it is parked outside.

[Bigbob]

My range rovers the same i didn't realize when i bought it , they need a good run a few times a week  . Mine mostly sits on the drive after struggling to start it my local garage said its one of the stop start ones £300 fitted , The Mechanic a brother of the owner said that car need a good run 20 /40 minutes i do that twice a week and the battery has started the car over the winter o problem 

[steve_b_wales]

5 minutes ago, enfieldspares said:

Contact the RAC who should have a log of the call out. Get that. Then contact Halford's customer service. And get there version. Either one is right or the other. How long was the car not used for from when it was last used? I got delayed in Nigeria once when the Presidential Election was delayed so came back to the UK with my car here standing for four weeks and, yes, the battery had gone flat. So on a modern car with an alarm there is always some current being used and so the battery will run down over time. Personally I'd always use an independent battery supplier. Never one of these "big boys" as, like eBay, you are one of many hundreds and thousands of punters so they don't care.

We did have a print out of the RAC report which my wife showed the Halfords 'technician'. The car was last used on Friday and the journey was less than 8 miles. I will get her to contact Halfords customer service again when she arrives home.

5 minutes ago, 39TDS said:

If you leave a car battery flat for a period of time it will "break". This is what you have done so it is your fault, not Halfords and not the RAC.

You can get trickle charges and solar charges that will keep it topped up to prevent it happening and you can also get smart chargers that will rejuvenate sulphited batteries.

I recommend a small solar charger on the dash, assuming it is parked outside.

It was last used 3 days ago, albeit for less than 10 miles, with two stops and starts.

 

[scarecrow243]

when the motor is not used much and only short journeys the battery will go flat nothing wrong with the battery stick a trickle charger on it till its fully charged 

[Wylye]

Good luck with Halfords. I think they are a shower

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, A 5 year warranty is just that, Do not let Halfords fob you off Steve, Contact Trading Standards 

[scarecrow243]

a 5 year warranty does not cover a replacement battery if you are not using the motor

[TIGHTCHOKE]

10 minutes ago, scarecrow243 said:

a 5 year warranty does not cover a replacement battery if you are not using the motor

But you shouldn't "volunteer" that information.

[scarecrow243]

a battery tester  will tell if the battery is good or has bad cells in it so no new battery

[garygreengrass]

2 hours ago, Wylye said:

Good luck with Halfords. I think they are a shower

A mate of mine had the same problem with his battery but he was using his car regular the battery was less than 2 years old; Halfords warranty is a load of **** not worth the paper it's written on. 

[steve_b_wales]

2 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

But you shouldn't "volunteer" that information.

Very true. Nothing was mentioned to Halfords about the lack of use of the vehicle.

3 hours ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, A 5 year warranty is just that, Do not let Halfords fob you off Steve, Contact Trading Standards 

My wife re-contacted Halfords customer service. The lady she spoke to said that she would contact the store manager and will give a response within 24hrs. IF a response is not given then my wife is to phone customer services again and the complaint will be escalated. She also spoke to RAC customer services who informed her that the RAC report on the battery condition should be taken as being very accurate, and that they (RAC) use far more sophisticated equipment to check the battery that what Halford use.

IF there is no joy, then Trading Standards will be contacted. Halfords have not been informed of this 'yet'.

[39TDS]

4 hours ago, steve_b_wales said:

It was last used 3 days ago, albeit for less than 10 miles, with two stops and starts.

Batteries are just not designed to cope with such treatment long term. I think you have done well to get 2 years out of it tbh.

 

[London Best]

8 minutes ago, 39TDS said:

Batteries are just not designed to cope with such treatment long term. I think you have done well to get 2 years out of it tbh.

 

You obviously buy cheap batteries.

[steve_b_wales]

14 minutes ago, 39TDS said:

Batteries are just not designed to cope with such treatment long term. I think you have done well to get 2 years out of it tbh.

 

Her use of  the car is not always short distance drives.

 

Edited 10 hours ago by steve_b_wales

[moondoggy]

In Wales don’t you have to drive everywhere at 20 mph? 🤔😁

[udderlyoffroad]

31 minutes ago, 39TDS said:

Batteries are just not designed to cope with such treatment long term. I think you have done well to get 2 years out of it tbh.

This.

Whilst I personally would agree that the RAC will likely have better kit to determine the true health of the battery than a min wage Halfords operative, your described use of the vehicle will kill the battery. Doesn’t matter how much the battery costs either, parasitic draws on any vehicle built this century are just too much.

Either invest in a decent trickle charger and ensure you use it, or use the car.

[enfieldspares]

Halford's.

Did the Halford's "operative" try and argue that her battery wasn't flat as it was clearly the same shape and dimensions as when it was sold to your lady five years ago?

[JKD]

4 hours ago, scarecrow243 said:

a 5 year warranty does not cover a replacement battery if you are not using the motor

But she is using the motor, albeit not very often and short distances.

4 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

But you shouldn't "volunteer" that information.

Exactly 👍

[countryman]

Best to just turn up at Halfords and ask them to test your battery, if they say you need a new one then produce your receipt.

[Sweet11-87]

unfortunately  39TDS is right, by not using the car often and only for a couple of miles by your own admission you've knackered the battery it will be loosing charge slowly while standing and short journeys will probably be taking more out than its putting back in.  its probably been on its way out due to this routine and will have lead to sulphation.

if you find the halfords battery garantee online i bet it even mentions this.

however halfords is a massive company and can take the hit better, id wager theyd sooner sort it that deal with the earache. go to a different branch and just leave out the bit where you admit you've done exactly what your not supposed to do to a car battery .

moving forward id suggest running the car out more or disconnect the battery if its going to sit

 

 

[udderlyoffroad]

1 hour ago, Sweet11-87 said:

moving forward id suggest running the car out more or disconnect the battery if its going to sit

No. Don’t do this.

[Sweet11-87]

2 minutes ago, udderlyoffroad said:

No. Don’t do this.

go on then? why not?

[udderlyoffroad]

Well let’s see: risk of damaging equipment through arcing, prematurely wallering out battery terminals (they’re only soft lead after all), It will throw up all sorts of fault codes, your fob could lose sync…

Unless it’s a car with a carburettor prior to about 1993, just don’t. Either use the car more or invest in a decent trickle charger that will keep the battery topped up