Car Accessories Shop

[jamesfrancis1]

I need to buy a decent battery charger.
Tesco, Home Pro and the guy selling car odds and ends outside the donuts shop in front of Tesco all say no do not stock.
Can anyone recommend a decent shop in town?


james

[STEVE G]

If you drive north past the Palace, on the left there are several local type shops and service centres that provide all types of stuff for motor vehicles. At least two of them specialise in car batteries and at least one of them sells chargers as well as I remember seeing some when I was there in September looking for a battery, (I was in both and I don't remember which). Just look out for stacks of batteries and Bosch adverts!

[Pagey]

I bought one of these little beauties. Keep it in your boot and you can jump start the car without having to take off your battery to charge or requiring another car to jump start from. Charge up from your house mains every few months. I paid 280 Saudi Riyals , about 2,300 Baht 6 months ago.

P.S. Anyone in Riyadh it's for sale at 200 SR, used only once as I am leaving.

http://www.blackanddecker.com/product-t ... gency.aspx

[chopsticks]

I bought one of these little beauties. Keep it in your boot and you can jump start the car without having to take off your battery to charge or requiring another car to jump start from. Charge up from your house mains every few months. I paid 280 Saudi Riyals , about 2,300 Baht 6 months ago.

P.S. Anyone in Riyadh it's for sale at 200 SR, used only once as I am leaving.

http://www.blackanddecker.com/product-t ... gency.aspx

They are also useful if there's a power cut for lighting and as a 12v power supply for other appliances. The rechargeable sealed lead-acid battery inside should last a while.

[jamesfrancis1]

I bought one of these little beauties. Keep it in your boot and you can jump start the car without having to take off your battery to charge or requiring another car to jump start from. Charge up from your house mains every few months. I paid 280 Saudi Riyals , about 2,300 Baht 6 months ago.

P.S. Anyone in Riyadh it's for sale at 200 SR, used only once as I am leaving.

http://www.blackanddecker.com/product-t ... gency.aspx

Thanks STEVE G, Pagey and Chopsticks.
Will check out the place north of the Palace dealing in batteries.

This is what l really need Pagey.
I have called out Honda 3 times in 16 months, changed battery twice and the thing still goes flat.
Honda uses this machine to jump start my car, but by now l could have purchased 2 of the things judging by Honda's charges .
I want one .

[Pagey]

I will see what it weighs - maybe I will bring it with me !

[chopsticks]

I bought one of these little beauties. Keep it in your boot and you can jump start the car without having to take off your battery to charge or requiring another car to jump start from. Charge up from your house mains every few months. I paid 280 Saudi Riyals , about 2,300 Baht 6 months ago.

P.S. Anyone in Riyadh it's for sale at 200 SR, used only once as I am leaving.

http://www.blackanddecker.com/product-t ... gency.aspx

Thanks STEVE G, Pagey and Chopsticks.
Will check out the place north of the Palace dealing in batteries.

This is what l really need Pagey.
I have called out Honda 3 times in 16 months, changed battery twice and the thing still goes flat.
Honda uses this machine to jump start my car, but by now l could have purchased 2 of the things judging by Honda's charges .
I want one .

I haven't looked around for one in Thailand but there's many model/manufacture variations
no doubt all coming from China.
It's the sort of useful gadget thing you may find in Tesco or Big C or possibly in the Grand Night market.

[Pagey]

I bought mine from Carrefour in Saudi

[jamesfrancis1]

Well l paid a visit to all the auto shops around Soi 54 plus or minus a Soi.
They could only offer me a conventional batter charger, IE take the battery out of the vehicle, take it up to your room and charge it up.

I am looking for the type Pagey has and Honda uses regularly to start my car and drain my wallet

Think l may need to call/visit Honda a) to start my car AGAIN!! and b)give me the name of this charger/starter and c) can they order/sell me one if l cannot find one in Hua Hin.
I may have to sit down for the price bit and chill out

A conventional charger was quoted as B 1950 to me today, if anyone wants to know for the future.

Meanwhile it is foot/legging it or bicycle

james

[chopsticks]

Could try eBay if delivery costs and customs duties are not excessive.

Honda really need to fix the car though and find out why the battery keeps discharging.

[Takiap]

Could try eBay if delivery costs and customs duties are not excessive.

Honda really need to fix the car though and find out why the battery keeps discharging.

I second that, and especially if the car is still relatively new. The battery should never die on you in the way you describe so I would say you have a short somewhere. Quite common in very old cars (20 years or so) but otherwise virtually unheard of.

[Lung Per]

Are the car batteries in Thailand (or Asia) generally of a poorer quality than those in Europe? Car batteries, especially in northern Europe and Scandinavia must be quite sturdy because of the cold winters. But one would also presume that car batteries in Asia should be of a good quality considering the heat and consequential higher evaporation?

[Nereus]

I second that, and especially if the car is still relatively new. The battery should never die on you in the way you describe so I would say you have a short somewhere. Quite common in very old cars (20 years or so) but otherwise virtually unheard of.

Not sure why you think that young fellow? In fact, it is more likely to be the other way around.
Older cars, as one example, had simple mechanical type relay "cutouts" in the generator circuit that were either on or off. Newer cars with electronic voltage regulators rely on a solid state device (diode), to prevent battery current draining to ground, or earth, when the engine / alternator is stopped. It is very possible for these devices to "leak" and drain the battery.

It is not difficult to test for any leakage to ground while the engine is stopped. Any decent digital DVM multimeter can test it. There should only be a few milliamps that runs the alarm / immobiliser system. It is typical of what goes on here that the Honda service people have not bothered to check it.

There are several other reasons that could be causing this fault, and just using a booster or jumper leads to start the car is not going to find it. Batteries in Thailand are in general crap, and they will fail overnight. The OP needs to try and find a garage that will test the system, rather than spend money on something that is just a bandaid.

[jamesfrancis1]

Thanks for the comments chaps.

The car, a Honda City is a little over 5 years old and we have had it from new.
We are on the second new replacement battery now(so with the one that came with the car we are on number 3!!).
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

At times l believe l would be better off with a 6 pack of AA batteries

I have the name of this machine now, it is called an "auto jump starter".
Plenty for sell new/second hand in the UK but yet to find in Hua Hin/Thailand. Still searching the web.


ps... anyone want to buy a very low mileage Honda City with a crappy battery, will throw in a 6 pack of AA batteries

[VincentD]

I have called out Honda 3 times in 16 months, changed battery twice and the thing still goes flat.

You may want to consider a membership with Car World Club (CWC). They provide emergency breakdown services anywhere in Thailand 24 hours a day. It doesn't cost an arm and a leg and has saved me a lot of grief on many occasions. Dealership breakdown services are not the best in the world.

As to your battery problem, any battery over 18 months is suspect, especially if they are the 'local' brands. I replaced the original battery with a Puma calcium battery - they are gauranteed for 18 months and the company does honour the gaurantee. (Had one replaced for free just short of 18 months for being slightly under voltage. Note that the battery was situated right next to the turbo so it would get heat affected.) A failing alternator can also leave you stranded. Below is a link to a website I used to frequent. There is an article on how to check for parasitic battery drain. Though specific to the car, I think with a bit of common sense it can be applied to most modern cars.
http://www.swedishwrench.com/
Go to 'feature articles' > 'Saab battery and alternator diagnosis'.

Hope that helps.