My car isn’t starting; do I need a new battery?
If your car isn’t starting, it doesn’t necessarily mean the battery is at fault. There may be an electrical issue causing the problem. The best thing to do is to get a professional to test the battery; it may be that the battery needs to be charged, or the battery might have started to suffer from acid stratification, in that case, you may need to replace the battery. Jump start the vehicle and take it to a mechanic for testing. To prevent potential non starts, periodically get your battery tested.
I have a Stop-Start car, do I need a special charger?
Not necessarily. The only batteries that require a special charger are Lithium batteries. Start-Stop AGM and EFB batteries are made out of the same lead and acid as non-Start-Stop batteries and can be charged with a regular battery. However, some battery chargers do have an AGM mode which uses a slightly higher voltage which better suits AGM technology. Find out more about chargers here.
I have a Stop-Start car, why do I need an AGM or EFB Battery?
If your car turns off at traffic lights when you have it in neutral and foot of the clutch, you have a Start-Stop engine. Start-Stop engines require batteries with a higher cycle life to cope with the constant stopping and starting. Higher capacity engines (1.8l+) will require AGM (Absorbed Glass Matt) batteries while smaller vehicles may have an EFB (Enhanced Flooded Battery). If you replaced your AGM or EFB battery with a standard SLI (Starting Lighting Ignition) battery, the SLI battery will fail within weeks. You must replace like for like to ensure the replacement battery doesn’t fail prematurely.
Start-Stop engines need a battery that can very quickly recover the energy taken during engine start. An SLI battery takes around 20 minutes to recharge after an engine start, an AGM or EFB battery takes 2 minutes to recover. An SLI battery would be destroyed in a matter of weeks if it were put through the strain of stopping and starting constantly.
Why has a garage quoted me for fitting a battery?
Many people can easily locate their vehicles battery and assume that it can be unhooked and a new one put in within a few minutes. This may be true for some vehicles with SLI batteries, however, AGM and EFB batteries require recalibrating to the vehicles on board computer. In addition, many modern vehicles have full engine bays which means the battery is not so easily accessible; in some cases, the battery is located under the passenger seat, replacement can take up to an hour.
How can I prevent my battery from deteriorating in cold weather?
Many people have got into their car on a freezing Monday morning to find the car won’t turn over. What can we do to protect the battery from freezing temperatures?
- Regular use.
- Trickle charge.
- Keep in a garage.
- Add a battery fleece around the battery.
You should also get your battery tested in Autumn to ensure you’re battery is healthy and ready for the colder weather that winter brings.
What’s the difference between AGM and EFB?
Both AGM (Absorbed Glass Matt) and EFB (Enhanced Flooded Battery) were developed for use on Start-Stop engines. AGM batteries are generally used on larger engine vehicles (1.8l+) and EFB are used on smaller engine vehicles. If you’re replacing an AGM or EFB, you must replace like for like. Failure to replace like for like may reduce in premature failure of the replacement battery.
What’s the difference between the brands?
Ecobat Battery Technologies offer a variety of brands for distributors to stock. Many distributors and garages will offer a ‘Good, Better, Best’ range.
Best – OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) £££
Exide and Varta are fitted in many vehicles that roll of production lines. If you need to replace your battery, you may wish to replace it with the exact same brand; more often than not, you will need an Exide or Varta battery. Exide is fitted OEM on Citroen, Dacia, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Volvo and many more. 70% of European car brands work with Exide.
OEM batteries are often the most expensive option; however, having an OEM battery fitted will give you peace of mind that the battery will last longer than a standard battery.
Better – Lucas Batteries ££
Lucas is brand that has been around for more than 140 years. The Lucas battery range is vast and covers 99% of the UK car parc. Lucas batteries are widely available throughout the UK and Europe. Lucas batteries offer a great value for money and are built to OEM specifications.
Good – Numax Batteries £
Numax is Ecobat’s own brand. The Numax range covers the most popular battery types in the UK and is the most economically priced product.
Why does my car have two batteries?
Modern vehicles like Range Rovers may require more than one battery. The first battery is a battery that is in charge of starting the vehicles, usually an AGM battery. The second battery is much smaller and is called an auxiliary battery; the job of the auxiliary battery is to power the internal electronics like lighting and electronic seating etc. The auxiliary battery is commonly found under seats or in the vehicles boot.