A battery that starts the car every morning, not just most mornings.
Batteries fail quietly and then all at once. We test yours for free, tell you honestly how much life is left, and fit the right type if it is time, including the 12-volt auxiliary batteries in hybrids and EVs.
Why the battery matters more than it used to
Your battery does far more than turn the engine over. On a modern car it keeps a dozen control modules alive while the car sleeps, powers the start-stop system, and smooths the supply to everything from the infotainment screen to the electric power steering. It is charged whenever the engine runs, but it has a finite number of cycles in it and will eventually need replacing.
The problem is timing. A battery rarely gives much notice, and when it goes it tends to be on a cold morning when you are already late. Regular servicing at Autoworld includes a battery and charging-system check for exactly that reason. We would rather tell you in October that it has one winter left than have you call us from the driveway in June.
A quick guide to battery types
Not every battery suits every car. Fitting the wrong type is one of the most common causes of a battery that fails well inside its expected life.
Calcium batteries
The standard fitment on most everyday vehicles. A small amount of calcium is alloyed into the lead plates, which makes them more durable than older designs. What you get:
- Strong cold-cranking performance for reliable starts
- Longer shelf life and service life
- Sealed and maintenance free
Absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries
A higher-performance design built for the electrical load of modern vehicles, and essential on anything with start-stop. The electrolyte is held in glass fibre mats rather than free liquid, which gives you:
- Much better durability and cycle life than calcium
- High charge acceptance, which the battery management systems in European cars depend on
- Spill proof and leak proof, so safe to mount inside the cabin or boot
- Strong starting power even at a low state of charge
- Maintenance free
Hybrid and EV 12-volt batteries
Hybrids and electric vehicles have no starter motor, but they still carry a small 12-volt battery, often an AGM unit tucked in the boot. It boots the vehicle’s computers and closes the high-voltage contactors. When it is flat the car is dead regardless of how full the main pack is, and these batteries are a frequent cause of “my hybrid won’t start” calls. We stock the correct replacements and can check the high-voltage pack while the car is with us.
When to have it tested
Any time is a good time, but especially if the battery is more than five years old, if you do not know its age, or if the car is a Japanese import where the battery may never have been replaced. The test takes a few minutes and is free. We check the battery under load, confirm the alternator is charging properly, inspect the terminals and cables, and give you a straight answer on whether it is fine, marginal or due.
What happens next
Book a free battery test online, send an enquiry below, or call 022 3900 587 and we will fit you in. We confirm every booking by text or email. If the test shows a replacement is due we quote it before doing anything, and nothing beyond the test is done without your say-so. Replacements are usually fitted on the spot, coded to the vehicle where required, and the old battery is recycled.
Common questions
How do I know my battery is on the way out?
A slow, laboured crank on a cold morning, dimming headlights at idle, a battery warning light, or a car that needs a jump start after sitting for a few days. If the battery is more than five years old, or you bought the car used and do not know its age, it is worth testing before winter.
Is the battery test really free?
Yes. We load-test the battery and check the alternator's charging output while you wait. If it passes we say so. If it is weak, we tell you how much life is likely left and what a replacement involves.
My car has start-stop. Does that change anything?
It does. Start-stop systems cycle the battery far harder than a conventional car, so they need an AGM or EFB battery that can take it. Fitting a standard calcium battery to a start-stop car will usually fail early and can upset the battery management system.
Do hybrids and EVs have a battery I need to worry about?
Yes. Alongside the high-voltage pack, every hybrid and EV has a small 12-volt battery that powers the computers, locks and lights and wakes the car up. When it fails the car will not start even though the main pack is full. We test and replace these, and we can check the high-voltage pack at the same visit.
Does a new battery need to be coded to the car?
On many European cars and some newer Japanese models, yes. The car's energy management system needs to be told a new battery has been fitted so it charges it correctly. We do this with the replacement, which is one reason to have it fitted in the workshop rather than in a car park.
Enquire or book: Batteries
Tell us about the car and what it needs. We reply within the hour during workshop hours and confirm every booking by text or email.
Thanks, your enquiry is on its way.
We will confirm your booking by text or email, usually within the hour during workshop hours.