Car Servicing - Failed Battery Test <1 Year Old, Should I Be Suspicious?

• 

  Dollar General on 14/02/2025 - 11:35

  +9

  Yes, they have targets to hit

• 

  Protractor on 14/02/2025 - 11:44

  +14

  The innocent explanation you are missing, is 'you should change to an ethical car service provider'.
  Do the forum a favour and name the service centre and car brand.You aren't committing a crime by doing so.You're potentially protecting fellow consumers

• 

  apple2016 on 14/02/2025 - 11:48

  official service centre

  That's the problem. stay away from them and you will be fine.
  I was once told to replace tyres as the thread depths was less than legal minimum on tyres that were just a month old… When I pointed this out, they just tried to brush it away stating it could have been a mistake etc.

  • 

    battler on 14/02/2025 - 12:25

    +3

    same, got told my front driveshaft was leaking oil and needed replacing for a $2k hit.
    quizzed them some more (i know a tad about cars and had recently repaired a driveshaft on a Golf) and after a second look they told me it was actually the rear.
    WTF - i own a front wheel drive car.
    This was money making at its best, and was conveniently the first time I had been back to official service since 7yr warranty was up.
    Never going back.

    • 

      stuffandthat on 14/02/2025 - 13:30

      +1

      Company car I had was making some noise in the rear. Took it to the Ford dealership that my work used and they quoted $2k to replace some stuff. I took it my personal mechanic and he tightened a couple of bolts. We stopped taking all the fleet cars to the dealership after that.

    • 

      ATTS on 15/02/2025 - 09:55

      Hey mate how did you learn about cars. I know a little as well but would like to diversify my knowledge

• 

  JimB on 14/02/2025 - 11:50

  What brand dealer?

• 

  Russell Dupsumtucka on 14/02/2025 - 12:21

  Maybe they have the incorrect setting on their machine (temp C/F, battery type AGM/LiPo/etc) which is telling them it's failed/failing.

  When I worked at Ford they sent out/made us use the official Ford/Motorcraft branded battery tester and one of the questions was "it is below 32 degrees?".

  The 32 degrees was freedomfarenheits not celcius. Simple question but shithouse testing equipment code.

  You could make a failing battery pass or a passing battery fail (something like that). Could be an honest mistake.

  • 

    DingoBilly on 14/02/2025 - 13:29

    I'd understand if this was the first time they're seeing it.

    But surely they'd have picked up on it being faulty if every single car was failing the battery test for over a year.

    • 

      Russell Dupsumtucka on 14/02/2025 - 13:33

      It can depend on the battery type and CCA/capaciy. Not all batteries failed, but ones that appeared to have no issue starting the vehicle could say it was faulty.
      It could also be the case and they are covering themselves from the inevitable "since you service my car ……" interaction.

• 

  DashCam AKA Rolts on 14/02/2025 - 12:29

  +1

  How much driving are you doing? Is it all short trips, a lot of stop/start usage, very few longer drives? Battery may be suffering from lack of proper charge cycling.
  OR
  Service centre may have recorded that the battery was on the way out last service and as they have no record of a change, automatically added the recommendation to replace to your service file for upcoming services.

  • 

    mskeggs on 14/02/2025 - 13:32

    and as they have no record of a change

    I think this is super likely.

• 

  ihbh on 14/02/2025 - 12:35

  +1

  Definition of insanity: doing the same thing and expecting a different result.

  OP, are you going to the same place again next year?

• 

  Jaduqimon on 14/02/2025 - 12:50

  +2

  your 4yr 8 month old battery from last year was probably fine too

• 

  MS Paint on 14/02/2025 - 12:53

  +1

  LPT: don't use MYCAR for servicing.

  • 

    BewareOfThe Dog on 14/02/2025 - 22:46

    Unless byd are unavailable.

• 

  pegaxs on 14/02/2025 - 14:06

  1 year? Who cares, warranty.

  Also: LOL @ MyCar…. You know all those fish that John West rejects… Yeah, they all end up at MyCar as mechanics.

  If you could imagine Scotty Kilmer, but stupider… MyCar

  You know that kid that went to school with you that left in year 9 to be a "mechanic"… Yep, you guessed it… MyCar.

  • 

    Protractor on 14/02/2025 - 14:56

    My Car is also an anagram of Camry.
    That's where the reliability similarity factor parts company.
    At ~180 degrees.

    Also that kid X year 9? He did 14 (very short stint) jobs at back alley tyre places, rounding off wheel nuts 8.5 hrs a day, before presenting that extensive CV at My Car. Although overqualified , he secured the position as auto technician, and continues rounding nuts with regular monotony.
    Check that oil, mister?

• 

  GordonD on 14/02/2025 - 17:18

  +1

  Go in, ask them to SHOW you your battery failing.

  Tell them if they can't you will make a complaint of systematic fraud to whoever they are responsible to.

  Or you'll complain to OzBargain. That'll scare them.

• 

  racer1234 on 14/02/2025 - 19:42

  +1

  Depending on car model there may be a procedure to follow to reset what the car thinks the battery health is. If this was not followed when you replaced the battery 12 months ago, then even though the battery is good the car will still report an unhealthy battery because it was not reset properly. If you google model and year of car you can check if there is a battery reset procedure required.

• 

  BewareOfThe Dog on 14/02/2025 - 22:48

  Response
  Oh good, my battery is under 3 years old. You are changing this free if charge?
  Do i get a loan car for free?

• 

  Kelpei on 15/02/2025 - 00:12

  A lot of "official service centres" try this little trick. Glad you passed the idiot test

  Edit: Also, buy a cheap multimeter from Bunnings to test the voltage yourself. Should be around 12.6V. if it's low 12's then I'd prepare for a new battery