Question 1

Why has my battery gone flat?

Accepted Answer

There can be many reasons why a battery has gone flat - here are the most common causes:
Undercharging - This is the most common cause of a flat battery. Modern vehicle charging systems are designed to reduce CO2 emissions and improve fuel economy by increasing battery usage, while at the same time not providing sufficient charge to fully recharge the battery. A flat battery may also be a result of a fault in the vehicle's charging system.
Human Error - None of us are perfect. Leaving the headlights or interior lights on, or not closing the boot properly can all potentially flatten a vehicle's battery overnight.
Parasitic drain - This is caused by components in the vehicle which continue to operate after the engine has been turned off. The most common offenders are dashcams, alarm systems, or electronic rust prevention systems. These items can gradually wear a battery down over time.
Driving habits - If a vehicle is driven on a lot of small trips, the battery may not receive enough charge to recover the energy lost cranking the engine at the start of the journey. Lead-acid batteries also lose power gradually over time when not in use, so batteries in vehicles which are rarely driven will eventually end up going flat.
Old battery - Old batteries are simply not as good at holding their charge - so if a vehicle consistently won't start it is possible that the battery has reached the end of it's life. Lead-acid batteries last 42 months on average, so if a battery is beyond this age it is on borrowed time.
If you've recently experienced a flat battery, it is important to have an expert investigate whether any problems exist with the vehicle's charging system before a new battery is fitted.

Question 2

How long should my car battery last?

Accepted Answer

How long a battery lasts depends on:
proper installation;
the climate in which the car operates;
how regularly the car is driven.

Question 3

Why do car batteries go flat over time?

Accepted Answer

Almost all batteries have a natural tendency to go flat over time, especially when they're not in use. If you've got an old mobile phone stored in a draw at home, you'll notice it'll probably be flat the next time to try to turn it on - and it's the same story with the battery in your vehicle.

Lead-acid batteries lose charge over time, and this problem is often made worse by the parasitic drain of electrical devices within the vehicle which continue to operate even whilst parked. For vehicles which are rarely driven, a battery maintainer or trickle charger should be used to prevent the battery from self-discharging and going flat.

Question 4

How can I get maximum life out of my battery?

Accepted Answer

There are a few easy things you can do to get the absolute maximum amount of life out of your battery. As a rule, the following items should be checked on a monthly or bi-monthly basis:
Ensure the top of the battery is clean, and that the terminals are free of corrosion.
Check the voltage with a voltmeter. 12.7 to 12.8v is considered to be fully charged.
If your battery is below 12.5 volts, recharge immediately using a suitable smart battery charger.
For maintainable batteries, remove the plugs and ensure that the electrolyte is covering the battery plates. Top up with distilled water if required. For maintenance free types, check the water indicator.
We recommend charging batteries with an appropriate battery charger every 3 months to maintain peak performance.

Question 5

Why does my battery only last few years?

Accepted Answer

Lead-acid batteries last 42 months on average - however this figure may be reduced or extended depending on a number of factors, including:
Whether the battery has been installed correctly.
If the battery chosen is suitable for the vehicle and driving application.
The climate in which the vehicle is driven.
The voltage which the battery is usually kept at.
Whether the vehicle has high or low parasitic drain when not in use.
How often the vehicle is used, and the length of the journeys.
Whether the battery and the vehicle itself have both been well maintained.
Based on these factors, batteries fitted to vehicles which are used in hot climates, driven on short journeys, and rarely maintained would be expected to have a shorter life. Conversely, vehicles which are used in milder climates, driven further, and receive regular maintenance would typically have a longer life.

Question 6

How do I know when my car need new battery?

Accepted Answer

There are a few signs that indicate your battery may be starting to go, including: 
The engine cranks or turns over, but won't start
The engine won't crank, and light and accessories don't turn on
Your car battery shows signs of damage such as cracking, swelling and leaking
You've needed to jump start your car a few times
If you suspect you have a flat battery or aren’t sure why you car won’t start, you can call 0424 299 970 to arrange for one of our technicians to help you get back on the road.

Question 7

What does CCA stand for?

Accepted Answer

CCA stands for Cold Cranking Amps and is the recognised industry standard for rating a battery's cranking performance. The number of plates was once used as the measure for rating batteries, however CCA is now the industry standard.

Question 8

What is Amp Hour (Ah) rating?

Accepted Answer

The Amp Hour (Ah) rating is a way of describing a battery's capacity. It describes the capacity of a battery based on a discharge period of 20 hours.

Question 9

What is an EFB Battery?

Accepted Answer

Enhanced Flooded Batteries (EFB) are being fitted to many vehicles fitted with Idle Stop Start (ISS) technology. These ‘flooded’ batteries are an enhanced version of the standard calcium battery, and are designed to withstand the increased cranking and cycling demanded by vehicles fitted with Stop Start technology.

EFB (Enhanced Flooded Battery): the cycle-resistant starter battery with liquid electrolyte.

Question 10

What is an AGM Battery?

Accepted Answer

AGM stands for Absorbent Glass Mat. This type of battery uses a non-woven glass mat to separate the plates. The glass mat absorbs and retains sufficient electrolyte for the battery to operate, meaning that  there is no free electrolyte in the cell to spill. These batteries are also known as Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) batteries as each cell has a one-way valve to manage cell pressure.

AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat): the acid is absorbed into the glass fleece and thus bound.

Question 11

What is ISS technology?

Accepted Answer

Idle Stop Start (ISS) technology, also known as Stop Start, is designed to help reduce vehicle fuel consumption and emissions. The vehicle’s engine automatically shuts down when the vehicle is stationary instead of idling, and will restart when you need to move again. ISS equipped vehicles are fitted with EFB and AGM batteries which are designed to cope with the additional electrical loads and repeated cranking required from this technology.

Question 12

What is a sealed battery?

Accepted Answer

Sealed batteries are designed to only hold enough liquid to allow electrolytes within the battery to flow. 
Sealed batteries are known to be maintenance free. It’s not necessary to add distilled water to sealed battery cells, so no maintenance is needed. However, under normal conditions the fluid level will last for the life cycle of the battery. All our batteries are maintenance free.

Question 13

Why do some car batteries need to be registered?

Accepted Answer

Some vehicles are equipped with Battery Management Systems (BMS) which require new batteries to be registered with the system. In most instances, RACV Batteries technicians will perform this registration on applicable vehicles.

Question 14

What is a Stop Start battery?

Accepted Answer

Vehicles with Stop Start systems require 5 to 10 times more engine starts when compared to their conventional counterparts. This puts a lot of strain on the vehicle’s battery. In addition to this, the battery is constantly charging and discharging while supporting the vehicle electrical loads when the engine is stopped. This is why a powerful Stop Start battery is needed. There are two different types of batteries for vehicles with Stop Start systems – Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB) and Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) battery.

Question 15

What is the difference between a Stop Start battery and a normal battery?

Accepted Answer

Vehicles with Stop Start systems require a Stop Start battery. Conventional batteries are not suitable for such vehicles and attempting to use one would not only cause premature battery failure. Stop Start batteries are specially designed to handle the constant cycling and frequent high power bursts which are characteristic of Stop Start systems. When the engine is switched, the battery will continue to power all electrical components including the headlights, radio, air conditioner and wipers and will also then deliver the power to start the engine again when required.

Car Battery FAQs