How old is my battery

[DSdriver]

I went out to see if I could fix hydraulic leak on new XM. Battery is a pancake. It is a Unipart with 3 year guarantee and has the boxes 9 and 11 checked on the side. Is this when it was first fitted only it says "recharge at".

Who does Unipart nowadays? Our local BL dealer seems to have disappeared without me noticing.

[red5]

Only thing you need is invoice for it.

 

Unipart are still going by me (Midlands - local dealer is very busy).

 

Whereabouts are you?

[Joey spud]

Dont know where you are but Express factors in Otford/Sevenoaks 01732 464546 do unipart and Pete and Paul there are top blokes too...

[red5]

Dont know where you are but Express factors in Otford/Sevenoaks do unipart and Pete and Paul there are top blokes too...

Mary does the accounts...?

 

Sorry. Couldn't help myself.

[DSdriver]

No battery invoice, just bought the car. Nobody gives all the invoices they have for parts on a second hand Citroen. There isn't enough space in the boot.

[red5]

Well, you'll struggle then unfortunately. Sure it's the battery - could be drain on it somewhere...not that Citroens ever suffered from odd electrical faults...

[Joey spud]

On some batteries there is a week/year code stamped on top of the battery post something like 52/10,i think unipart batteries are now made by Yuasa.

I had a Halfords one recently where the receipt was lost but the store said they could tell the age of it by a code stamped into the top edge of the battery lid and they changed it no problem.

[DSdriver]

... Sure it's the battery - could be drain on it somewhere...not that Citroens ever suffered from odd electrical faults...

 

Hard to tell at the moment. Test meter of course doesn't work - what is it with these things? Why do the put such flimsy connectors and wires in the probes, and what is the use of a test meter that has a battery in it, if it isn't working you cant tell if its the battery or not cos you can't friggin test it.

As you can tell things aren't going well.

[Squire_Dawson]

It's not one of their 'Samson' batteries is it? They had a lifetime guarantee, don't think they make them now as it nearly bankrupted Unipart.

[DSdriver]

As mentioned at the top it has a three year guarantee and seems to have a date code of 8/11 or could be 11/08, or that could be when the guarantee runs out, they don't make these things obvious. Car now starts having charged battery. Searching for spare meter and hoping that will work to test for random discharge.

Have noticed that the top cover of the dipstick is missing, checked oil and it seems to have far too much in but this could be just a random dipstick that someone has put in to fill the hole (badly). Oh the joys of buying chod.

Spoke to Mary? at Express factors, very helpfully told me that they can test the battery but are just closing for the day.