Changing my advice on batteries. I was wrong, sort of.

[Rorschach]

I was wrong! Don't tell the missus I said that!

In the past I have recommended buying cheap car batteries, I still stand by that statement. What I am not recommending is buying cheap car batteries online.

This is to be the fair the first cheap battery I have had develop a problem early. Normally I change every 3 years, this battery despite a 4 year warranty has developed a fault (a dead or dying cell it seems) after about 10 months of use. No doubt the cold weather has pushed it over the edge, but no matter it's not acceptable.

Getting it sorted from an online retailer is proving a nightmare, so I recommend buy cheap, but buy from a local shop so if you have a problem you can go shout at them in person. Worth a few extra quid in my opinion.
It's my first fault with a cheap battery and not the first bought online, but it will be the last I buy online

[dandan]

I have found the AA to be pretty good for batteries, they are roughly the same price as my local motor factors but they will come and fit it at home for you and dispose of the old one. I used them for both mine and my wife's cars over the last year.

They also have a 4 year warranty and will come out and sort out any replacement for you.

[kellys_eye]

My car needs a replacement battery - £113 at Qik Fit I've had replacements from Halfords in the past and even theirs can be 'faulty' - I don't think it's very easy to determine a manufactured or in-transit fault after they are made/sold until the point at which they simply 'don't work properly'. It emphasises Rorschach's note about getting them where you can 'easily get a refund/exchange'. POSTING batteries back can be quite a problem!

[Rorschach]

Yep I agree. I don't blame the seller for a bad battery, it happens, I blame them for poor customer service. In future all batteries will be from a local shop, still cheapos though lol.

[adonis]

On the subject of batteries, Lidl and Aldi occasionally do car battery and alternator testers cheap, I think screwfix do one for a fiver, cheap enough to have for if you are not sure if the alternator or battery is on the blink.

[Rorschach]

Yes that's good advice, though you can do some pretty good tests with a simple multimeter. My car (focus) also has a built in test mode where I can view the battery voltage on the display, that is handy.

[woolyhead]

I used to live close by Bush Batteries, a battery manufacturer in Bush Hill Park, Enfield. I drove my old Ford Zodiac battery there and they rebuilt it with new cells while I waited, and only charged me a reasonable sum. It was fascinating to watch them at work, too. This new battery lasted about 6 years.

[Argyll]

I buy lots of batteries for work. The best online dealers are Tayna and Powersonic. Their customer service is second to none and they are quick to rectify faults.

I've also bought car batteries from Halfords using a trade card but Dingbro is always a bit cheaper. I think Dingbro are only in Scotland though.