For some time I've been reading about people having problems with their car batteries and I've been recommending spending a bit extra on a Halfords battery because it comes with a 3 year warranty while most come with only one year which isn't really long enough in my opinion. Well today was my turn.
I bought a new Halfords battery in August and it sat unused in my garage since then. I put it on the car a few days ago and it was flat. Charged it up 3 times now and though it shows just over 12V it won't crank the car unless I give it some help from jump leads.
I took it into Halfords this morning to get it changed and they refused. They put a "battery tester" on it which turned out to be no more than a voltmeter and it was showing 12.8V or "89% charged" according to their box. When I questioned the guy how it checked the current draw he told me it was illegal for them to use a drop tester which loads up the battery. I'd already used a proper battery meter on it and it sat in the red and read poor. So they have no way of testing the battery properly and because their box shows it as holding voltage they won't change it. I have to bring the car to them to show it won't crank. That means I have to put a different battery on it to get it though the MOT (because I doubt it will pass if it can't start itself) then jump start it to get it to the shop.
It's a joke and I'm not happy. I splashed out on a set of metric and imperial Professional spanners at great expense but they will be going back for a refund and I'll get them from Snap On or something instead, I'm fed up and they can't have my custom, time for a letter to head office
I bought a new Halfords battery in August and it sat unused in my garage since then. I put it on the car a few days ago and it was flat. Charged it up 3 times now and though it shows just over 12V it won't crank the car unless I give it some help from jump leads.
I took it into Halfords this morning to get it changed and they refused. They put a "battery tester" on it which turned out to be no more than a voltmeter and it was showing 12.8V or "89% charged" according to their box. When I questioned the guy how it checked the current draw he told me it was illegal for them to use a drop tester which loads up the battery. I'd already used a proper battery meter on it and it sat in the red and read poor. So they have no way of testing the battery properly and because their box shows it as holding voltage they won't change it. I have to bring the car to them to show it won't crank. That means I have to put a different battery on it to get it though the MOT (because I doubt it will pass if it can't start itself) then jump start it to get it to the shop.
It's a joke and I'm not happy. I splashed out on a set of metric and imperial Professional spanners at great expense but they will be going back for a refund and I'll get them from Snap On or something instead, I'm fed up and they can't have my custom, time for a letter to head office