Cheap batteries costing dear
GSF Car Parts say suppliers selling outdated products, mixed with customers making buying decisions only on price, is needlessly storing up car battery trouble for motorists.
The UK’s largest privately owned motor factors have seen a dramatic increase in battery sales winter already, as the recent cold snap has caused car batteries that got through last winter’s exceptionally mild temperatures, to suddenly reach the end of the road.
Old-style antimony batteries, and later antimony-calcium ‘hybrid’ batteries may have dominated 20 years ago, but no cars made after 1999 have had these fitted from new. Unfortunately, this doesn’t prevent them still being sold as replacements; they can appear attractive on price too - but only because they are cheaper and easier to produce than today’s calcium-calcium batteries.
The advice from GSF is to avoid antimony hybrid batteries at all costs. They simply don’t cope with typical short journey driving, or the power requirements of modern cars. They suffer five times the levels of fluid loss and will also self-discharge more quickly too, creating problems in colder weather, or when unused over extended periods.
Contrary to popular misconception, modern alternators will usually struggle to fully recharge a battery with typical short journey driving patterns. This constant state of undercharge results in acid stratification, which will reduce the capacity of the battery, and shorten its working life.
The problem’s aggravated where batteries are underpowered, wrongly specified or of inferior quality. So though today’s batteries may look much the same as they ever did, they are much more sensitive, requiring specific extended charging routines.
Demands on the humble car battery meanwhile have never been higher, thanks to the host of electrical gadgets and conveniences incorporated in modern cars. Think of sat nav and climate control, but also core systems for security, safety and engine management. In total, today's small family cars draw over three times as much electrical current as their 1970s equivalents.
In the race to keep up, battery power output and performance have improved but life expectancy hasn’t for the hard pressed battery. The AA’s 2012 Breakdown Report revealed nearly half a million battery-related call outs, with 150,000 replacements completed. This makes battery problems the number one cause of breakdowns - some 25% ahead of tyre problems occupying a distant second spot.
“Cutting corners is an absolute false economy now,” says Jonny West, Managing Director of GSF Car Parts. “In the past, cheap replacements tended to ‘do the job’ but these days it’s too risky.”
Once you factor in the worsening consequences of ‘flat battery’ too, like ECU problems or lost radio codes, the arguments in favour of quality become convincing says Jonny West, Managing Director GSF: “The difference between a really poor quality battery and a decent one might be as little as £20. It’s because most car batteries look the same, that people get drawn into making bad decisions.”
GSF Car Parts offer plenty of choice; ranges from Bosch, Banner and Vetech on their improved retail website give up to six individual battery choices – but critically, all of them carry at least 3 years warranty and can be trusted. Vehicle registration look-up makes parts selection simple whilst orders can be home delivered, or collected from one of over 70 GSF Car Parts branches.
To find out more, please visit www.gsfcarparts.com and use the discount code BAT20 for 20% off your replacement car battery.
