2016 Battery Indicator

[santoshlv426]

My car battery is going on 8 years and I think It's going to give up the ghost. My question is does it have an indicator to tell me when to replace, or must I wait for a complete failure ? So far it's fine, but that could change.
thanks

[gasgas]

at 8 years why wait and get stuck?

[cj10jeeper]

Usually they have an indicator on the top that if you look into it and it shows green the battery is OK (ie charged).
It’s not a performance test though. Places like Halfords can do that free of charge for you.
You can also check the voltage after a run when it’s rested for an hour or so and if it’s 12.6v you’re good.

All said as above I’d replace now at 8 years whilst you have time to shop around and get a deal, rather than a panic buy when one of the cells fails and it won’t even start.

[mickjaguar]

All said as above I’d replace now at 8 years whilst you have time to shop around and get a deal, rather than a panic buy when one of the cells fails and it won’t even start.

I've had batteries of similar age just die, as C10jeeper mentioned. One battery started the car without a problem and got the engine warmed up. Then straight after when the engine was turned off again, it was completely dead, no dash lights and not even an interior light!

At 8 years old it's time to get a new battery. I replaced one in our XE (8 years old) just before Christmas as it popped up the 'low battery start engine' warning even though it had been put on the Ctek occasionally. Just not worth the bother of waiting for it to die.

[Pilot Pete]

I’ve just started getting the ‘low battery start engine’ warning - been on my CTEK 3 times over the last month which sorts it for a few more weeks. I just want to make sure it’s battery rather than alternator before replacing it - what’s the functional test for the alternator?

[santoshlv426]

OK, so from what I've read there is in fact a battery indicator, so I'll look out for it. And yes I plan on replacing it within the next 2 months. Thanks guys.
Can any competent battery place do it or is there a special process to follow.

[scm]

I’ve just started getting the ‘low battery start engine’ warning - been on my CTEK 3 times over the last month which sorts it for a few more weeks. I just want to make sure it’s battery rather than alternator before replacing it - what’s the functional test for the alternator?

I have a voltmeter that plugs into the 12V socket - it shows around 14.5V when the alternator is working.

As mine's MY18 it looks like I have a couple of years left.

[scm]

OK, so from what I've read there is in fact a battery indicator, so I'll look out for it. And yes I plan on replacing it within the next 2 months. Thanks guys.
Can any competent battery place do it or is there a special process to follow.

My plan for when I need to do it is to fully charge the new battery, then fully charge the old one and then swap them over - that way the BMS should believe nothing's changed. Feel free to disabuse me of my logic as necessary!

Oh, and possibly putting a spare one on the underhood terminals to maintain any setings during the swap.

Lastly, don't close the boot with no battery connected!

[cj10jeeper]

OK, so from what I've read there is in fact a battery indicator, so I'll look out for it. And yes I plan on replacing it within the next 2 months. Thanks guys.
Can any competent battery place do it or is there a special process to follow.

Yes, they can. I just pointed out Halfords as they are national and free.
To test fully they really need to more than just voltage by putting the battery under load.

[Jaguandy]

Do ensure the car processes are shut down fully before changing the battery. There's more about this in other threads in here.