Battery Help...

psychoticgroove · 19-01-2011, 10:37 AM

Gday Folks.

Woke up this morning to a flat battery. Called RAA, guy rocks up half hr later, checks 2 cells and says charge is flat must've left something on (i was pretty sure i didn't). He then said I would need to get it to a professional charging place but if i keep it running for half an hr, it should be ok for the day.
So i let it run, go get dressed for work, come back switch it off to lock up the house (house keys with car keys), go back to start it again and it still wouldn't start (after running for 40minutes).
Called up RAA again, different dude rocks up who checks all cells and diagnosed that one of the cells had failed. The battery was an RAA battery, 18 days out of warranty (2 years)!! FML

My question is, what are my safe options? Do i go with:

RAA regular battery- $138 @ 2 year warranty (same as before)
RAA heavy duty maintenance free battery- $153 @ 3 year warranty
Battery World (century regular)- $150 @ 2 year warranty
Battery World (century heavy duty maintenance free)- $170 @ 2 year warranty
Battery World (century hi performance)- $189 @ 3 year warranty
They are all the effin same, Go Repco/ Sprint auto/ Supercheap auto battery

Suggestions from personal experiences would be highly helpful.

Cheers

XCwillo · 19-01-2011, 10:52 AM

Get the Century high performance
an extra $50 now will be a lot better then having a failed battery again later down the track, wishing you'd paid the extra 50 for the best.
Plus 3 year warranty, you wont be in this position in 2 years time!

Landau Stable · 19-01-2011, 11:14 AM

Agreed with Willo. Nowadays, you can't expect a battery to last much longer than the warranty. Sure, it happens, but just don't count on it. simply approach it that it will last as long as the warranty only, and buy the cheapest battery for each year of warranty. in this case, it is the 3 year job. If you find a cheaper one per year, that lasts for 2 years, then get that one.

302 XC · 19-01-2011, 12:00 PM

So youve got it running then turned of and wont start ???
So the alternator was doin its job ???
Or was the car just running of the alternator ???

Battery warranties are only really as good as the charging system
IF the alternator aint workin the battery will last a coupla days at best
I just pulled the battery outta my Patrol,
According to its date plaque just under 5 years old
For a daily battery now no good for a yard battery its fine

What battery to get
Best to shop around youll be surprised what some places mark up
I get the maximum CCA i can fit for the model

bigsta · 19-01-2011, 12:31 PM

Century all the way. Century are the best hands down I think exide is ok too and are a bit cheaper.

Im not sure but i think RAA batteries are prob the same mob (marshall) that are NRMA, RACQ, RACV batteries.

These are crap and are recycled its the old Marshall ppl with a new name.

psychoticgroove · 19-01-2011, 02:19 PM

Thanks for the replies guys.

I shopped around and got the Century Ultra hi performance battery for $139 @ 3 year warranty. The same one that 'Battery world' quoted $189 on!! Bloody Crooks!

BradZ · 19-01-2011, 05:02 PM

The Century's in my rally car and burnout car have had an absolute flogging. The Escort's Century has been turned upside down and left upside down for hours by accident, the negative terminal is half smashed off cause of some genious with a hammer, and its never ever had a problem, been left on concrete for weeks etc etc, it just never stops. Cant go wrong with them.

bigsta · 19-01-2011, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psychoticgroove

Thanks for the replies guys.

I shopped around and got the Century Ultra hi performance battery for $139 @ 3 year warranty. The same one that 'Battery world' quoted $189 on!! Bloody Crooks!

where from mate?

302 XC · 19-01-2011, 05:29 PM

Battery world are not known for there prices
I bought 2 massive batteries for my old truck year or two ago
Between 5-6 businesses i saved near half price
Same battery,same warranty ect ect

TheInterceptor · 19-01-2011, 06:14 PM

I always drive past a place that seem to have standard century batteries for $89.
Rippoffworld more like it...

psychoticgroove · 20-01-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsta

where from mate?

Supercheap Auto mate

saber · 20-01-2011, 11:30 AM

Hi mate

Do a search on the forums for battery recommendations. This topic has been covered before.

I’ve used the following brands: Century, Excide (OEM battery for BA/BF Falcons), Bond and Supercharge.

All have performed well. I’ve had the Excide battery in my BFII egas sedan for over 4 years now (will be 5 in October this year. It's the orignal battery that came with the car), I haven’t touched it in 2 years (ie no maintanence) and it starts and cranks the engine strongly first time, no matter how cold the morning is. Not exactly sure how much they cost, I’m guessing around $150ish, but you can get them from Supercheap/Kmart, so they should be available locally.

Hope that helps!