Where do you buy your car batteries? (Helping My Mum Fix Her Car)

[Deactivated] on 17/02/2016 - 18:34
Last edited 17/02/2016 - 19:47

Hi guys!

My Mum left the lights on overnight in her Toyota Landcruiser 100 Series 1998 and busted the battery. I'm shopping around online to get the best deals but am worried about the quality. There aren't many car battery reviews. My Dad's really wants a "Toyota-certified" car battery.

**edit My Mum also left the ignition on the first dial or 'click' section (no revving).

What's the best online store for a Toyota car battery? Also, where can I find 'Toyota-certified' brands?

I've never been interested in cars. Help a girl out! Thank you :) I'm located in Melrose Park, Sydney, NSW.

Automotive

Comments

  • nocure on 17/02/2016 - 18:36
    +2

    Direct from Supercharge

    • hashtagbargain on 17/02/2016 - 19:03
      +1

      Can confirm, got a supercharge battery the last time. Great performance to cost ratio. Good service from my local dealer on bell street (melb).

    • [Deactivated] on 17/02/2016 - 19:39
      +1

      Thanks nocure! :)

  • bonezAU on 17/02/2016 - 18:37
    +3

    She left the lights on and 'busted' the battery? Have you tried jump starting it or charging the battery up again? You can take it down to any place that sells batteries and they should be able to hook it up to a machine for free and tell you if the battery is actually busted, or if it's just gone flat.

    • [Deactivated] on 17/02/2016 - 19:49

      The car is parked nose-first down a slanted driveway. Hopefully my brothers and I can push it up onto the road and we can jumpstart it there.

      Thanks for the battery test tip! Didn't know about that :)

  • boonanza on 17/02/2016 - 18:42

    I would definately try charging the battery before replacing it. If the battery has died that is one thing but if the lights were left on overnight then there is a very good chance that the battery is flat & needs charging.

    • [Deactivated] on 17/02/2016 - 20:04

      I'll definitely try that. Thanks boonanza :)

  • PVA on 17/02/2016 - 18:48
    +2

    We just called RACQ, if you are in a Club (NRMA) try them. My wife ws stuck out and about with a flat battery called them and they tested it and needed a new battery (battery was years old) . their Club price was really good I though and had 2 year warranty and the correct size for the 4wad (didnt just put any old size in). Happy with it and looking online was a good price and they installed it.

    You dont need Toyota certified, just the correct sized battery. (read the label on the battery and get that exact size)

  • adzzz on 17/02/2016 - 19:04
    +1

    Lion Batteries on Parramatta Road near Concord has always served me well.

    • [Deactivated] on 17/02/2016 - 20:05

      thanks adzzz! I live local near Concord so I'll give Lion Batteries a ring!

  • Axelstrife on 17/02/2016 - 19:12

    leaving the lights on only flattens the battery same as leaving your laptop on its battery till it's dead.

    just charge the battery and it should be fine unless it's truely dead.

    go get it tested as stated above.

    and i bought one for my mother car from supercheap when it dies while me and here was at the shops luckly across the road from supercheap lol

    • sareth on 17/02/2016 - 19:38

      Fully discharging the battery does cause long term damage (i.e. reduction in storage capacity and life span) - even more so for lithium ion laptop batteries than lead acid car batteries.

      • Axelstrife on 17/02/2016 - 20:20

        a single discharge wouldn't f*** the battery unless it was already F***ed

    • [Deactivated] on 17/02/2016 - 20:02

      Thanks holden93! Yes, I'm trying to convince my Mum to get the battery checked at the local shop. She's convinced it's not worth the effort (though she'll be flushing $250~ down the drain for a new battery). She's clearly not an OzBargainer ;)

  • negger on 17/02/2016 - 19:17
    +1

    This guy is good if you are in Sydney->http://www.onlinebatteries.com.au/products-c-16.html

    • [Deactivated] on 17/02/2016 - 19:57

      Thanks! I've sent the store owner an enquiry!

  • shaybisc on 17/02/2016 - 19:21

    How old is the battery?

    I read a few complaints about car batteries not lasting very long in the paper on the weekend. Quality not as good as in the good old days.

    • [Deactivated] on 17/02/2016 - 20:03

      According to Mum it's 6 years old - the typical life expectancy of a car battery. Still, a battery check won't go amiss :)

      • Mad Max on 17/02/2016 - 21:00

        If it really is 6 years old you are better replacing it. Go and buy the correct battery from sca and install it yourself without having to push the car out.
        If it was only 2-3 years old you could just invest in a cheap battery charger ($30-40) and try to recharge it overnight where it is as long as you have a powerpoint nearby. No need to move or push the car for that.

        • shaybisc on 18/02/2016 - 09:09

          I'd buy a new battery but also buy a cheap battery charger for the next time someone leaves the lights on. How do people survive without a battery charger?

  • Slippery Fish on 17/02/2016 - 19:46
    +1

    I am putting another vote for racv/racq ect. They come to you do the work, if its just flat they will tell you, if not they are on par with autopro ect.

    • [Deactivated] on 17/02/2016 - 19:58

      Thank you for your reply! Though I live in Sydney, I'll keep RACV and RACQ in mind when I travel interstate :)

      • PJC on 17/02/2016 - 21:02

        If you or your Mum have NRMA membership, they should come and charge the battery.

  • Marcsie on 17/02/2016 - 20:45

    Call someone who cares, RACV :)

  • JOCKz on 18/02/2016 - 06:24
    +1

    You can also remove the other cars battery and jump start it as long as it isnt too low. But its best to have the other car running ifs its a smaller car. After you jump it, leave it running for about 20 minutes to charge then turn it off and try starting it again. If it cranks over slow or struggling, one of the cells has dropped and you'll need a new battery (can jump start it to get it running again). If it cranks fine and fires up, your fine. No need for a new battery.

    Crank = Engine turning

    Fire = Car turning on or in other words "Cylinders are firing off"

    If the headlight are at full brightness and its not "cranking" then its definitely the "starter motor". A few love taps should get it going. Im pretty sure on the 100 series the starter motor is on the left side (passenger) under the exhaust manifold. But it shouldnt be the starter if she left the headlights on.

    Go to Battery World to buy your battery if you need to. They just specialize in selling batteries. Higher turnover and newer stock. They can also check your battery and alternator if you ask them to.

  • Davros on 18/02/2016 - 06:54

    Racv, Q,NRMA etc call out service would be a lot more expensive that buying the battery yourself and fitting

  • megadeth on 18/02/2016 - 09:14

    There's a place in St Marys which sells blemished century batteries for $50. These batteries are brand new but can't be sold at regular shops due to some minor cosmetic reasons. Good for cheap new quality batteries for older cars.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2016 - 21:36

      Thanks quasims :) Do you have a store name? Might need this in the future as a penniless uni student :)

      • megadeth on 20/02/2016 - 10:10

        In Jun 2014, I bought a blemished Century NS40Z from this guuy at 111 Forrester, St Marys (corner of Glossop and Forrester) $50. It was for a car which I subsequently sold. Sorry, don't remember the shop name, I found him on ebay and then went in and bought in person.

  • Karlos101 on 18/02/2016 - 10:33

    Hi Michelle,

    if you want something that is 'Toyota Certified' you can always go to Toyota, but be prepared to spend big bucks.

    the other option which i would recommend is a Century/Yuasa/Besco battery (all made in Australia for Australian climate)

    Super charge batteries are made in the Philippines and RACV batteries are imported from thailand, or taiwan or somewhere around there.

    if your mum has a Diesel Landcruiser i can really recommend the Century Marine Pro 730 previously known as an N70ZM
    http://www.centurybatteries.com.au/resources/battery-finder/… - this page has a retailer finder built in.
    even if its a petrol landcruiser, i would probably still recommend the same battery.

    they have very thick lead plates compared to the standard range which means they are better in Diesels to handle the glow plugs and the like, as well as being more vibration resistant. the other bonus of century batteries is that you can still maintain the water levels in them. they also come with a 2 year australia wide warranty with any retailer that sells century batteries. i know that there are Battery Worlds, Auto Bahns and Repcos all around australia so any of those stores should carry the warranty.

    other batteries like super charge and a few other brands, that are 'maintenance free' still lose water due to charging and heat, but you cant top them up.

    you have a Battery World store just at Ryde
    Battery World Ryde
    39 Church St Ryde NSW 2112

    if you head in there they should be able to give you some good information and options. not sure on pricing, you may be able to get the battery cheaper elsewhere, but you would need to research.

    also there is Federal Batteries in Ryde
    D2/22 College St, Gladesville NSW 2111

    these guys import a lot of high quality batteries - they actually have a brand called Amaron which, even though built in India, are very high quality (think of the conditions - hotter than australia, worse roads) i use to own a few of these amarons in 3 separate cars, can confirm they last longer than the run of the mill 2 to 3 years. and are also maintainable with topping up of water.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/02/2016 - 21:33

      Thanks Karlos! Although I've already bought a battery, I appreciate your thorough, personalized research :) I'll save these store names for when my own battery breaks down. Cheers!

  • inherentchoice on 18/02/2016 - 11:36

    Don't any OzBargainers get their car battery from Kmart? I did and it was like $50 less than the exact same one in Super Cheap Auto…

    • JOCKz on 18/02/2016 - 17:00

      Batteries left unused will sulfate, essentially your loosing some capacity. How much will depend on how long its been sitting. Besides that, if you ring Battery World or similar you'll see its cheaper than SCA.

      • inherentchoice on 18/02/2016 - 18:47

        So Kmart leaves them sitting unused but other retailers don't?

        • JOCKz on 18/02/2016 - 19:29

          I'm saying retailers that have a higher turn over of stock will have newer batteries. Not one thats been sitting on their shelves for the last 2 years.

  • Watanabe1995 on 19/02/2016 - 12:09

    costco is cheap,trust me.make a Call 1st

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