Problem with mother's Citroen AX...

[Crasher]

I am finding a lot of younger people are getting confused by flat batteries. When I were a lad a new cars battery would probably last 18 months to 2 years, the one on our 79 Fiasco 1300S lasted 2 years and even my elderly housewife next door neighbour said “yer batteries add it lad”, which I knew so I jump started it off her Vandem Plas 1500 (aka a posh Allagro) and went off to the Ford dealer for a new one. Nowerdays I see batteries 10 years old that are still working, a brand called Tesla from Yugoslavia that VW used in the 80’s were amazing for how long they lasted. Also modern cars are very sensitive to low voltages, the PQ35 platform VAG cars (Golf 5 etc) hate a low battery. I suppose it is because when they go it is much rarer than it used to be so people have become less used to it but also modern engines crank over a lot easier due to lower friction and modern starters seem to be able to crank over normally at low voltage so it throws you. My favourite brand of battery must be Durex which we used to see on Brazilian built Gol’s, maybe they last longer...

[jmurray01]

So you think it was just a weak battery that was causing the alternator to refuse to charge until revved? Possibly the exciter wasn't getting enough voltage although I thought it would have as long as the car started.

Anyway after fitting the new battery (eBay's finest at £46, but it is a 560CCA which is more than enough for a 1.5 diesel) we took it for a nighttime drive 20 miles with the headlamps, heater, radio and wiper on and after parking up to get something to eat, it started right back up again and drove another 20 miles home under the same conditions.

Time will tell if the battery light comes back on again or if it goes flat but I have a good feeling a dodgy or simply old Halfords battery was the whole problem.

Yes you're right batteries are lasting a lot longer these days, that when it goes weak or flat you tend to suspect more serious things rather than simply a shot battery.

EDIT: OK, not sure why the forum censored out the common nickname for Halfords... Sponsoring maybe?

[Crasher]

not sure why the forum censored out the common nickname for Halfords... Sponsoring maybe?

No, it may be a common nickname but it is rude, unfair and derogatory, like referring to main dealers as thieves, that is also blocked.

[jmurray01]

No, it may be a common nickname but it is rude, unfair and derogatory, like referring to main dealers as thieves, that is also blocked.

If it wasn't justified then they wouldn't have that reputation in the first place, but good to know. Long gone are the days of free speech.

[Renars]

Nickname might have some truth in it, but its not a good practice to cultivate it in popular car forums.
You have to claim its your opinion, not a well known fact.

[jmurray01]

Nickname might have some truth in it, but its not a good practice to cultivate it in popular car forums.
You have to claim its your opinion, not a well known fact.

Well I will be sure not to cultivate any nicknames here regardless of their veracity.