jamesfrancis1 wrote:We do not use the car much which could be a major part of the problem.
And once a year return to the UK for around 2 months.
Honda's suggestion is to disconnect the battery altogether when not using the car
That's good advice though from Honda, as even the smallest drain on the battery from the alarm system / clock etc. will discharge it.
I've found that if you just disconnect one side (earth) then it may still have enough power to start the engine after being parked for up to 6 months. Also, be sure to keep the top casing of the battery clean and dry to prevent any small leakage across the terminals.
Many batteries do get replaced unnecessarily so be sure to check that it is being charged up correctly when you are driving. (Alternator, fan belt, voltage regulator etc.)
chopsticks,
The only things "running" while the car is parked up are the clock and the audio security(when power is disconnected,or the audio is removed, the only way to use the equipment is by entering a security code that l have).
Thanks VincentD,
Very useful thanks.
The heat comment is interesting.
Our car is parked up in a condo car park exposed to the sun all day.
We have a UV cover which is one of the thicker better ones, but boy in the high heat season the car still feels pretty hot inside.
Could this contribute to a drain on the battery along with lack of use?
Still l have booked Honda to come out tomorrow and "start me up" again and tell me all about this auto jump starter and how l can get my hands on one.
Wait for the price
I have several old Porsches in the UK and previously had similar problems with them eating even top quality batteries. The answer is cheap and simple....
If you are serious about having a reliable battery, then these will do the job. They are used in many emergency vehicles along with "seasonal use" applications that stand around unused for months.
They are available in Bangkok but be prepared to pay about 4 times the price of a standard lead acid battery. However, they will last 4 times longer, so it depends on your needs and application. There are a couple of different types, also depending on the application, whether deep cycle or normal engine cranking.
You can get it sent by the Thai Postal Service if you so wish....
As luck would have it we had business in Bangkok on Monday, so decided to go up Sunday, stay overnight and visit this site recommended by Vincent D .
It is close to Yaorawat(China Town) on the Thanon Charoen Krung Road.
A labyrinth of various shops each no larger than you could swing a cat in .
Stocked higher than a Quick Save (do they still exist?) with goodies of all types, not only motor items.
The owner lady of this motor store (sweet lady) had to send her son out to find us as we were lost; thank goodness she did as we would have never found it. He had to escort us back out as well!!
Nice machine just what l wanted at B2500.
So all set to go and no more expensive Honda “call outs” .
I was rather shocked that the battery in my Jazz started to balk at over 20 months. Was used to batteries lasting 5 or more years in the U.S. so was quite surprised. Finally went comatose at gas station and had to replace at about 26 months. Since then have learned that I was fortunate to have my battery last that long. New ones are only warranted for 1 year and if you get two years from it your at the limit of its life. In the U.S. three years is minimum for any, even cheap, battery.
Of course when letting car sit for over a month should disconnect the terminals to the battery as they will cause the battery to drain over time and certainly do not help the life of it.
Replacing the "quality" car batteries here in Thailand is just another example of the quality of products we have available here.
I think there must be a bit of luck involved with the quality of Thai vehicle batteries. My Vigo is still on it's first battery after over five years and it regularly gets left for a couple of months with the alarm on and it's never gone flat yet. I knew someone else who bought a Vigo at the same time who got through several batteries in a couple of years.
Mind you, perhaps it destroys batteries if you're driving slowly around town in traffic on short journeys with the fan running at full blast as I only use the truck for trips out of town.
I have been surprised and disappointed by the apparent poor quality of batteries here in Thailand.
We have only ever had "Honda" replacement batteries fitted by Honda and l have to say they are "naff" .
In the UK a battery would last me 4-5 years(Honda car) and that is with harsh winters to cope with.
Still l have my "auto jump starter" now, but l will disconnect the terminals to the battery when leaving the vehicle for long periods of time in future.
JF1
glad you found what you were looking for. It is on my consideration list now as I have just bought a car with automatic transmission so won't be able to push-start the car as I could with the manual. I love to roam around the Klong Thom/ Ban Mor area when I have a free weekend or two. And I always get lost. Quite happily, too.
Brianks
the typical battery that comes with your car is a cranking battery. What this means is that it is only designed to start the car. Frequent short trips may not allow the battery to reach full charge, and can shorten it's lifespan. Steve G hit the nail on the head with his reference to short trips and heavy battery drain. Likewise the installation of 'Hi-power' sound systems.
Most of the cheaper cars on the road keep their costs down by inclusion of a certain percentage of 'local content' (meaning locally fabricated/ sourced items used for local manufacture). Batteries are among the first things to go local.
Nereus has some good advice in his post; get a properly sized one (that actually fills out the battery tray, not floats around in it) that is manufactured to a proper specification and you won't worry about it so much. Avoid local batteries if you can. Sure you'll pay more for a proper battery but you'll have more peace of mind. Oh, and get a 'maintenance-free' battery. You won't have to keep topping up with distilled water.
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