Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Auto Addict on 02 November 2010, 15:42:02

Title: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Auto Addict on 02 November 2010, 15:42:02
Time of the year to start looking after your battery.

Unless you're driving decent miles each day, and not sat in traffic with all your lights, heater on etc. it's a good idea to give the old battery a bit of a boost once a week with a charger, even if it means re-entering the radio code each time. :y

Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Debs. on 02 November 2010, 15:52:41
Indeed, after a couple of night`s chills last week my sister`s 2 year old "maintenance free" battery (in a Corsa) went U/S: no prior recalcitrance, just a sudden non-starter!......evidently the battery makers/distributors plan for just such a seasonal upturn in trade. ::)

"Sealed for life"......However short a life that may be! :(
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Auto Addict on 02 November 2010, 15:54:52
I always keep a spare, fully charged up, and at this time of the year, cycle them once a fortnight.
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: wingman on 02 November 2010, 16:05:23
Yes excellent idea, I've done the same with a battery I took from the wife's car that was beginning to lose its charge after a fortnight when left, but is fine if kept topped up
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Kevin Wood on 02 November 2010, 16:14:38
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"Sealed for life"......However short a life that may be! :(

My cousin discovered what that meant a few years back. His battery "unsealed itself" in spectacular style a few milliseconds after the end of its' life in Sainbury's car park. I believe said retailers' underwear department was his next destination. ;D

Kevin
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: TheBoy on 02 November 2010, 16:16:19
Quote
Quote
"Sealed for life"......However short a life that may be! :(

My cousin discovered what that meant a few years back. His battery "unsealed itself" in spectacular style a few milliseconds after the end of its' life in Sainbury's car park. I believe said retailers' underwear department was his next destination. ;D

Kevin
Hmmm, reminds me of my UPS incident earlier this year, when my buttocks chewed a hole in the gusset of my pants.....
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Auto Addict on 02 November 2010, 16:17:32
Quote
Quote
Quote
"Sealed for life"......However short a life that may be! :(

My cousin discovered what that meant a few years back. His battery "unsealed itself" in spectacular style a few milliseconds after the end of its' life in Sainbury's car park. I believe said retailers' underwear department was his next destination. ;D

Kevin
Hmmm, reminds me of my UPS incident earlier this year, when my buttocks chewed a hole in the gusset of my pants.....

Too much information........ :o
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Debs. on 02 November 2010, 16:21:57
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Too much information........ :o

 ::) The mercy of it, is that there are no pictures! ;D
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Auto Addict on 02 November 2010, 16:23:32
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Quote
Too much information........ :o

 ::) The mercy of it, is that there are no pictures! ;D

Don't tempt him :-?
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Kneepad on 02 November 2010, 22:17:26
Quote
Time of the year to start looking after your battery.

Unless you're driving decent miles each day, and not sat in traffic with all your lights, heater on etc. it's a good idea to give the old battery a bit of a boost once a week with a charger, even if it means re-entering the radio code each time. :y


I have always charged mine in situ without disconnecting it. What are the issues related to this method.   :-[ :-/

Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Andy B on 02 November 2010, 22:27:23
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.... What are the issues related to this method.   :-[ :-/


none  :y the likes of Ctec supply a connection plug/socket that remains connected to the battery so you can just plug into to charge the battery .... best suited to cars where the battery is buried behind seats etc
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: feeutfo on 02 November 2010, 23:02:29
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I always keep a spare, fully charged up, and at this time of the year, cycle them once a fortnight.
Why? Had 5 winters with omegas now, never had an issue...or are you running a second house off yours as well?  :P  ;)
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Kneepad on 02 November 2010, 23:18:44
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Quote
.... What are the issues related to this method.   :-[ :-/


none  :y the likes of Ctec supply a connection plug/socket that remains connected to the battery so you can just plug into to charge the battery .... best suited to cars where the battery is buried behind seats etc


That sounds kinda sensible to me. The v6 is the first car I've had where i had to remove an overcoat from the battery to get at it. Might look into that Ctec connector thing.   :y
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Vamps on 02 November 2010, 23:22:41
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Quote
I always keep a spare, fully charged up, and at this time of the year, cycle them once a fortnight.
Why? Had 5 winters with omegas now, never had an issue...or are you running a second house of yours as well?  :P  ;)

10 for us...... :y
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: jonnycool on 02 November 2010, 23:45:25
Quote
Time of the year to start looking after your battery.

Unless you're driving decent miles each day, and not sat in traffic with all your lights, heater on etc. it's a good idea to give the old battery a bit of a boost once a week with a charger, even if it means re-entering the radio code each time. :y
And reset the sunroof and windows  ::) ::)
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Kevin Wood on 03 November 2010, 00:10:57
Quote
Quote
Time of the year to start looking after your battery.

Unless you're driving decent miles each day, and not sat in traffic with all your lights, heater on etc. it's a good idea to give the old battery a bit of a boost once a week with a charger, even if it means re-entering the radio code each time. :y


I have always charged mine in situ without disconnecting it. What are the issues related to this method.   :-[ :-/


I would say no problem with leaving the battery connected as long as the charger is a reasonably well-controlled one that won't allow the battery voltage to rise excessively.

The crude Halfrauds type with the Hi/Lo switch, for example, can be a little dodgy in this respect, but if you use them to "top up" the battery you're in for trouble anyway because they will overcharge the battery without warning.

The CTek / Ring / Accumate type chargers that automatically terminate the charge and/or charge with a constant voltage regime will do no harm whatsoever.

Kevin
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Auto Addict on 03 November 2010, 05:54:43
Quote
Quote
I always keep a spare, fully charged up, and at this time of the year, cycle them once a fortnight.
Why? Had 5 winters with omegas now, never had an issue...or are you running a second house off yours as well?  :P  ;)

Car does a lot of short trips, which hammers the battery. especialy at this time of year.
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 03 November 2010, 07:55:21
Quote
Quote
.... What are the issues related to this method.   :-[ :-/


none  :y the likes of Ctec supply a connection plug/socket that remains connected to the battery so you can just plug into to charge the battery .... best suited to cars where the battery is buried behind seats etc

On a motorbike or something simple I can see that working fine.

On their smart chargers that cycle the batteries during float charging, I cant see them being nearly as effective if there is a current drain connected in parralel.

And god help the ancillaries if it starts to do a desulphation cycle!
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Quince99 on 16 November 2010, 19:30:29
Picking up on this - having changed the battery, how do I reset the sunroof please? Not that we really have the weather for it at moment!  8-)
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Auto Addict on 16 November 2010, 19:33:38
I think you move it to each setting and hold the button for about 5secs on each setting.
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Andy B on 16 November 2010, 19:35:20
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Picking up on this - having changed the battery, how do I reset the sunroof please? Not that we really have the weather for it at moment!  8-)

Push & hold at closed, fully open & tilt positions till all movement stops. It's in  the handbook!  ;)  ;)  :y
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: deltaman on 17 November 2010, 16:18:48
Just had to replace my battery, seemed ok but the first cold night it went down, got it started but next night same again. so had it replaced, first class on starting now, £58 fitted for a new Boesch, which I did'nt think was to bad, they topped up the anti freeze for nothing as well.
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: mrgreen on 17 November 2010, 17:11:44
what's the guts regarding charging sealed batteries mine has died and every week or so i jump start it(not on the road yet!) but the charge only holds for a few hours can i charge this with a charger? thanks
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: bestie26 on 17 November 2010, 18:10:44
300+ miles a week -no battery issues
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: dippydave on 17 November 2010, 18:15:32
I have a spare battery too that sat in the garage since the summer, when came to fit showed no sign of life. went to vauxhall who said unless it was fitted on a car there was no warranty! dur....
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Kevin Wood on 17 November 2010, 18:23:45
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I have a spare battery too that sat in the garage since the summer, when came to fit showed no sign of life. went to vauxhall who said unless it was fitted on a car there was no warranty! dur....

Off to another dealer and "I've had this fitted to my Omega since the summer, and...".  :y

Kevin
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Kneepad on 17 November 2010, 18:50:22
Quote
what's the guts regarding charging sealed batteries mine has died and every week or so i jump start it(not on the road yet!) but the charge only holds for a few hours can i charge this with a charger? thanks

Yup just as you would any battery.   :y
Title: Re: Don't forget your battery.
Post by: Auto Addict on 29 November 2010, 12:27:08
Swopped the batteries on both cars today, put on the spares.

Astra battery (6 weeks old) showing 80% charged (about 12.40v).

Omega battery (5 years old) showing 60% charged (about 12.30v).

Both cars had been on decent runs before standing for 2 days.