Car Battery, Replace? or Charge?

mildews

Hi all,
Just looking for a bit of advice.
I have an 02 Laguna and I think the battery has lost its charge. Im not doing much mileage at the moment so I will guess that its not getting a full charge from the engine. Should I buy a new one? ( If so how much would I expect to pay? ) or would it be easier to get it charged. (My Dad has a battery charger that I could use, its an older model).
Thanks

cantdecide

Lots of motor factors have battery testers now.

As long as you are not likely to be left stranded and you have jump leads in your boot, I'd chance charging it first.

My mother only uses her car to get in and out from the shops a couple of miles away and it developed battery problems. I thought then and there it meant a new battery but an electrician friend charged it on his charger and I htink 6 months later there still wasn't a blip out of it (got traded in).

I bought a battery recently for €100 but I'd imagine you'd get one cheaper for your car as mine's a 2.8.

mildews

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Halfords do battery`s for around 65e, they do a higher capacity range for around 80 if I remember correctly.

Do you know if they charge a recycle fee on top of that also for your old battery?

cantdecide

A lot of re-cycling centres take them.

Owen

I have an Optimate III battery charger/conditioner that can literally do miracles with batteries. Worth exhausting that possibility first if you know someone who has something similar.

patrickc

as i said in another thread recently, halfords wanted a 100 for an astra battery got it for 60 off the local motor factors, try them 1st

mildews

Thanks for all the advice, will try my Dads charger and see if it works. If not I will definitely try my local motor factors.
By the way do you have to disconnect the battery from the car while it is on charge? as I read this on another forum.