Car Battery Dead Day after $900 Service

LOzBerghainer on 17/10/2019 - 17:17

So I took my 09 Nissan in for a service on Tuesday. I was aware of a brake shudder issue but also just after a regular service at the same time. Was told there was a brake fluid leak in the rear brake shoe which apparently is quite dangerous, they charged $650 odd for new brake shoes and wheel cylinders. Then about 250 for the service.

Quite happy with how the car drove home, yesterday i noticed the ignition very slow to start up and then today - fully dead. I called them to make sure they check the battery level in a service and they say they do and they did - it apparently read that the battery was 'good' but with wear, nothing showing critical level though. So in one week (coincidentally or not?) I have spent over $1100 on the car. What do you think about this, anything suspicious or just a coincidence?

Automotive

Comments

  • dcep on 17/10/2019 - 17:20
    +1

    get a charger ? probably not 'dead' just drained

    • OzBerghainer on 17/10/2019 - 17:21
      -1

      needed racq due to where i was… said cells were dead

      • HighAndDry on 17/10/2019 - 19:57
        +1

        The timing is suspicious but I'm not sure they could kill your battery even if they were trying to - cells basically only die from wear afaik.

        • OzBerghainer on 17/10/2019 - 23:16
          +1

          yeah pure coincidence im settled on

          • The Value on 18/10/2019 - 20:34

            @OzBerghainer: It happens. Last year I went to dealership just to browse. After I was done browsing, I went to leave and my battery was dead!

        • [Deactivated] on 18/10/2019 - 19:06

          Could have been turned upside down and shaken though I'd seriously question why anyone would want to lift 20kg and gyrate.

  • Hithere on 17/10/2019 - 17:27
    +8

    Coincidence.

    I've had a battery start my car without any issues in the morning and an hour later it had gone to God.

    • epkh on 17/10/2019 - 17:35

      May it rest in peace.

      To God we belong and to him we return.

    • geek001 on 17/10/2019 - 17:42

      Is it just me or is anyone else getting this image of all these used car batteries in heaven with God? :)

      • dcep on 17/10/2019 - 17:44

        nah, i imagine them getting ripped apart for their sins and reborn

      • Ozpit on 18/10/2019 - 09:14

        Even God can’t resurrect a stone-cold dead car battery.

    • ProlapsedHeinous on 17/10/2019 - 23:00

      peace be upon it.

    • brad1-8tsi on 18/10/2019 - 08:26

      I've had a battery start my car without any issues in the morning and an hour later it had gone to God.
      I've had that happen several times over the years. The last time was in June. The car started fine on Thursday night and was totally dead the next day. The battery was 5 years old so it was beyond the expected 3 years life.

      The OP doesn't mention how old the battery is. Nor does he mention whether he is getting his 10 year old Nissan repaired at a dealer or independent.

      IMO, when you get to 8 years old you should be budgeting $2k/year for repairs and maintenance. You might not spend it but that's what you should allow.

    • Hoobz on 18/10/2019 - 09:45

      🙏

  • Cluster on 17/10/2019 - 17:41
    +1

    It could also be the alternator not charging the battery. I had a situation in my car where the battery was fine but the alternator became intermittent.

    • EightImmortals on 17/10/2019 - 18:39
      +1

      A dodgy alt should give you some warning lights.

      • Switchblade88 on 17/10/2019 - 19:54

        A dodgy mechanic should give you a 'waning' alternator.

  • Fysh on 17/10/2019 - 17:46

    IF they removed the battery terminal for the service it may have drained due to bad connection. I wouldnt beleive the RACQ they may have battery selling targets.

    • OzBerghainer on 17/10/2019 - 18:56

      Very interesting about the selling points, after all their batteries are RACQ branded

  • [Deactivated] on 17/10/2019 - 18:20

    I'm going with: they accidentally disconnected the alternator (a wire, plug or belt left loose). Or one of the workshop guys gave you his u/s battery. Charged it fully which drained in a week. Worse happens.

  • Euphemistic on 17/10/2019 - 18:26

    I’ve had the same coincidence. I reckon they didn’t even look at the battery during the service. It’s unlikely they’d test it unless something appeared wrong.

    Dealer or independent mechanic?

    • OzBerghainer on 17/10/2019 - 23:15

      Mechanic but quite a large operation

  • hawkeye on 17/10/2019 - 19:01
    -5

    when they bleed the brakes they could have knocked the brake light button that turns on the lights leaving the brake lights permanently on if you came home during the day you wouldn't notice they where on then the next day dead battery.

    • brendanm on 17/10/2019 - 23:39

      Why would they be up under the dash to bleed the brakes?

    • brad1-8tsi on 18/10/2019 - 08:27

      how could they knock the brake light switch?

      • hawkeye on 18/10/2019 - 12:18

        Happened to my neighbor if they're paying a 16 year old TA to hold the brake peddle down anything could happen and it's one more process of elimination.
        I never said it was the cause

  • netjock on 17/10/2019 - 20:16

    When was the last time you replaced the battery? A 10 year old car if the battery had never been replaced then you are lucky for it to last this long.

    Likelihood of them fudging your battery thinking you would go back and buy one from them is low since you can probably get a cheap one and replace it yourself.

    There is also likelihood it is flat because your alternative is faulty (which won't be charging your battery and therefore it is running flat).

  • ThatKiwiFella on 17/10/2019 - 20:23

    I wouldn't trust the words of RACQ.
    Had RACV come and jump start my girlfriends car when the battery went flat.
    Guy told me that the alternator was buggered, ran tests and was adament. I disagreed and he continued to tell me it was the alternator.
    Took the battery to get load tested, was a buggered battery and alternator was providing healthy voltage to the battery.

    I'd suggest taking your battery to an auto electrician, get a load test done, costs all of $20 and takes about 10 minutes. That'll tell you an accurate description of battery health.

    Another test you can do is jump start the car, take battery leads off, if the car dies, the alternator is buggered.

    The service people may have just done a voltage reading which wouldn't neccessarily tell you the health of the battery, nor how well it's holding charge.
    It may just be coincendence that the battery decided to fail not long after a service. A service focuses more on engine and safety while driving, less on electrics

    • Fysh on 17/10/2019 - 21:55
      +1

      The removal of the battery while on is not a good idea in modern vehicles

      • ThatKiwiFella on 17/10/2019 - 22:18

        Is it? I have typically only worked on older vehicles, but a battery is only used to start the vehicle, then the alternator powers everything else, hence why if the car dies, you know your problem lies with the alternator

        • Fysh on 17/10/2019 - 22:20

          Think about all the sensitive electronic equipment. You only have to have issues with communication for one system and you'll get warnings and fail inspection

        • alxr0101 on 18/10/2019 - 08:04
          +1

          No, the battery acts as a floating reservoir/buffer.

          Please don't do this on modern cars…..

        • brad1-8tsi on 18/10/2019 - 08:29

          Is it? I have typically only worked on older vehicles, but a battery is only used to start the vehicle, then the alternator powers everything else, hence why if the car dies, you know your problem lies with the alternator

          ECUs / BCUs don't like voltage spikes.

  • snazzy321 on 17/10/2019 - 21:57
    +1

    If they somehow ran the batter down to dead flat during servicing that would ruin it, assuming your running a typical lead acid battery.

    • Fysh on 17/10/2019 - 22:22
      +1

      Very good point. Window down, ignition on radio on, ignition off radio remains on till door open.

  • hawkeye on 17/10/2019 - 23:13

    who would pay $20 to get a load test on a battery anyone who knows the term already knows that who is charging them that is about to rip them off ….

  • [Deactivated] on 18/10/2019 - 01:06

    It's only a battery, surely they could come up with more problems and cost you more than a battery replacement, did they expect you to purchase and install. Bad timing.

  • backpaqer on 18/10/2019 - 07:54

    I always write the date the battery was installed on the battery when it goes in. If I get 3 years out of it, fine. If I get 4 years that seems to be average, anything beyond that is bonus.

  • OzHunterNSW on 18/10/2019 - 13:12

    Check the battery—- is it the "original battery"…. sound suspicious!
    Buy one of those "power packs" (you can charge your mobile off them as well - and its a light) this will start the engine, then your driving will charge the battery.
    Mechanics probable had radio on all day.

    But - make sure they have not done a "switch" on you.

    Nothing surprises me anymore

  • HeWhoKnows on 18/10/2019 - 17:14

    Chalk and cheese
    The dead battery has nothing to do with the service.
    And what would you be trying to prove anyway?

    The battery was fine for another week so there. No proof at all.

    Batteries today live thier fullest right up until they die.
    So its likely the battery was OK when they checked though interesting they did pick up some wear which does suggest the battery was on its way out.

    Better you have the battery changed then the dealer at twice the price!

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