Jump Start Needed after Dealer Had Tested Battery in Good Condition - Dashcam Footage Evidence

ShortyX on 27/11/2019 - 17:05
Last edited 28/11/2019 - 14:42

Last week, I dropped our car off for a scheduled service at the dealer. A few days later (on Sunday afternoon), it wouldn't start (I think an interior light was left on for about half a day) - after a jump start it was fine. Two days later, the battery was flat again but this time the doors were left open for about 5-10 mins in the morning - after another jump start it was fine and has been since.

I emailed the dealership asking if there were any battery issues during the service, and a service manager responded by advising that the job card showed the battery had tested in good condition, and he has "seen when batteries drop a cell, they can start to play up very quickly". He offered to test the battery at no charge.

I have checked the dashcam footage and noticed that the car had to be jump started three times to move it (once after a wheel alignment, second after moving it from a car park and third after the service).

I have arranged a battery test and potential replacement at another mechanic.

Can a battery potentially be drained during a wheel alignment by keeping the ignition on to unlock the steering wheel? In any case, should I advise the service manager of the dashcam footage?

EDIT: Car is 4 years old.

EDIT AGAIN: Thanks all, I've had a Supercharge battery replaced at an independent mechanic, and I'm not going to advise the dealer of the dashcam footage.

Automotive Car Battery Rechargeable Battery

closed Comments

  • sempro on 27/11/2019 - 17:12
    +11

    buy new battery

    /thread

  • AdosHouse on 27/11/2019 - 17:12
    +2

    That battery is dead. Replace it.

    And no, the steering wheel lock is a mechanical lock that doesn't engage the ignition.

  • spackbace on 27/11/2019 - 17:13
    +2

    EDIT: Car is 4 years old.

    Should be in the first line

    • AdosHouse on 27/11/2019 - 17:14
      +2

      Agree with that.

      4 years isn't bad for a factory battery.

    • ShortyX on 27/11/2019 - 17:16

      Agreed - my bad.

      My real question is around advising the service manager about the jump starts. It seems like there is a comms issue between the technicians and front of house… would that a reasonable assumption? It's just annoying that they didn't let us know.

  • ssquid on 27/11/2019 - 17:26

    Sounds like it was stuffed before you dropped it off for servicing.

    • ShortyX on 27/11/2019 - 17:27

      Wouldn't that show on their testing?

      • the Unforgiven on 28/11/2019 - 13:59

        this thread is getting a bit flat :p

    • kahn on 27/11/2019 - 17:50
      +3

      Are you…positive?

      • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 27/11/2019 - 18:12
        +1

        Or Negative?

        • Kangal on 27/11/2019 - 21:55

          I don't have anion what you're on about

        • dcep on 27/11/2019 - 22:25

          Answer is Neutral

      • Bad Company on 28/11/2019 - 13:59
        +1

        He offered to test the battery at no charge.

        So, the battery holds no charge.

  • pegaxs on 27/11/2019 - 17:30

    What they did wasn't the cause of the failure. The battery was dying/dead already. The beauty of batteries is that they can go from being great today and dead tomorrow.

    The other issue is that the person who did the service may have just run it in the workshop and assumed it was an OK battery because it didn't need jump starting. I don't know of many people who "load test" a battery as part of a service, unless they are asked to do it. If it starts the car to get it in the workshop and starts it after the service, there is no real reason to report it.

    The other issues is that the other times it was jump started, it may have been non-service staff, like a cleaner/washer, service advisor or general staff. None of these would think twice nor would they necessarily communicate a jump start with each other.

    The battery needs to be load tested to check if it has enough capacity to start your vehicle, it needs it's voltage checked to see if it has got a bad cell and you then need to check your alternator is working. If all these pass, then the vehicle has a electrical slow drain issue.

    should I advise the service manager of the dashcam footage?

    For what reason? Sounds like you just want to poke the hornets nest. They have offered for you to take it back in and do the test for no charge (forgive the pun). What more do you want them to do? Kinda looks like to me that you're hidden agenda is you want a "free battery" or some "cOmPeNsAtiOnZ" and are clutching for loopholes…

    And as mentioned in other threads, it is possible that disseminating the recording to anyone, you could be in breach of surveillance laws.

    • ShortyX on 27/11/2019 - 17:47

      Just to clarify, the footage shows it needed jump starting every time it was moved.

      I don't want to "poke the hornets nest" nor do I have a hidden agenda. I'm happy to pay for a new battery as I have learnt that 4 years is a good run for a factory battery. I more so wanted to know if letting them know of the jump starts would help their customer service. I know if I was a service manager, I would like to receive the feedback, but I can see your point of view where it could come across as arrogant or entitled, and that would definitely not be my intention. I am probably more so confused why they didn't communicate the jump starts to me (and genuinely didn't know if it was standard practice in car servicing hence the reason for my post in the first place).

      Anyway, good point about the surveillance laws. To be honest, I was leaning towards just getting the battery replaced elsewhere and moving on. I've probably wasted enough time posting about it on here! 😂

      • the Unforgiven on 28/11/2019 - 14:03

        I wouldn't talk to the service manager, he might go funny

        I would go to another service centre next time if you can

        When getting a new battery, they usually die after 3 years, I would get a Century battery, they are the best

        • ShortyX on 28/11/2019 - 14:35

          Thanks, ended up with a Supercharge.

  • brendanm on 27/11/2019 - 18:48
    +3

    Service adviser lied, how odd.

    Battery is 4 years old, replace it.

    • ShortyX on 27/11/2019 - 19:53

      👍🏻

    • User210686 on 28/11/2019 - 08:08

      I thought they would last longer than 6 years… of course it depends on the battery type though. Mine is 5 years old and while jump start hasn’t been necessary so far, dashboard displays a warning message now. I went to SCA and had them do the battery health test and it passed. I also have a dashcam connected to the battery and only drive the car once a week for half an hour, so that’s not helping. Both SCA and the dealer told me to drive for an hour to recharge.

      • brad1-8tsi on 28/11/2019 - 09:48

        get a smart trickle charger like a CTEK. Around 5 amp should be enough for battery maintenance.

        These days, with stop/start tech 4 years is about as good as it gets. Anything beyond that is a bonus.

      • 0FoxGiven on 28/11/2019 - 14:45

        Mine is also 5 years old with no issue thus far. The last time i got it serviced the guy did say it was kinda low on health so "keep an eye out"

  • [Deactivated] on 27/11/2019 - 21:03

    Just replace it.

    I put in a Li battery and gained 50 horse powers.

    • brendanm on 27/11/2019 - 21:15
      +1

      Did you put the sticker that came in the box on your back window? I don't think you did, otherwise it would have been 60 horse powers.

      • [Deactivated] on 27/11/2019 - 21:40

        I still have the box and found the sticker.

        Can confirm that the engine sounds like a 95 percentile power output after putting the sticker on. I have so many horses now my exhaust snap, crackles and neighs.

        • brendanm on 27/11/2019 - 21:51

          Thats excellent news, enjoy the extra shetlands.

  • Euphemistic on 28/11/2019 - 05:29
    +3

    Dealer servicing is not typically a quality service. They do the minimum to keep you coming back. I’m not surprised they jump started and didn’t tell you they did this. It is an indicator of poor service and attitude. a better dealer would have let you know and tried to get you to instal a new battery at their ‘premium’ rates.

    Get a new battery. Never go back there, find a new service centre.

    • Ugly on 28/11/2019 - 08:11

      This. If they couldn't be bothered to mention that they had to jump start it at all, then I'd be finding somewhere else next time.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/11/2019 - 08:56
    +1

    Did the service manager personally service your vechile, probably not. They rely on apprentices and sometimes fully qualified mechanics to complete basic services, the information might not have been passed on correctly. In that case put in a complaint to the dealership and go elsewhere.

  • brad1-8tsi on 28/11/2019 - 09:50

    My last 2 batteries (and a few before that) have gone from fantastic to dead overnight.

    Service manager BS'd you and it sounds like the battery was stuffed when you arrived at the workshop. Find somewhere that cares.

  • OzHunterNSW on 28/11/2019 - 09:56

    Usually batteries will fail during the colder winter months.
    Just buy a new battery. There are pocket jump starters, that charge your phone as well.
    But just go and buy a new battery

  • Lastchancetosee on 28/11/2019 - 10:28

    You'd have thought the service team would have mentioned it so that they could sell you a new battery. Poor service on every kevel.

  • HeWhoKnows on 28/11/2019 - 10:59

    Has nothing to do with the dealership or the dashcam
    Besides count yourself lucky the dealership did not replace the battery.
    Cost would have been horrendous and you would be back here complaining about being overcharged.

    Id say OP is the problem and not the battery considering how many times OP has flattened it by leaving doors and lights on.
    It cannot be good for the battery. I think OP killed it.

    • Euphemistic on 28/11/2019 - 11:54

      Don’t know where you get that idea. The OP only had trouble with the battery after being with the dealer. It is more likely the battery was on its last legs and the dealer ran it low which just finished it off.

      • ShortyX on 28/11/2019 - 14:40

        The OP only had trouble with the battery after being with the dealer.

        Actually, a question below reminded me of when I installed the dashcam in July and the battery went flat after the doors were left open. It had been fine ever since but had completely forgotten. It sounds like the battery was on its last legs anyway.

    • LFO on 28/11/2019 - 14:07

      It is a strange situation here.

      Most cars will switch off the interior light after a few minutes.
      And in any case it is a relatively low power consumption; high beams, sound system or a fan left on will be a problem.

      May be the repetitive jump staring is damaging further and further the battery?
      How many times was done before?

      I personally don't even have equipment for a jump start.
      And I am guessing "jump start" refers to applying another source of 12VDC rather than pushing the car and then starting the engine (manual only).

      • ShortyX on 28/11/2019 - 14:37

        And I am guessing "jump start" refers to applying another source of 12VDC

        Correct, just using jumper leads from our other car.

        How many times was done before?

        Good question. I remembered that back in July when I was installing the dashcam, the battery went flat after leaving the doors open. After a jump start, it has been fine since so it has probably been on its last legs for a while.

  • LFO on 28/11/2019 - 13:58

    Mmmmmm … perhaps the dashcam is the culprit draining the battery?

  • SnoozeAndLose on 28/11/2019 - 14:40

    i think your battery is just no good, 4 years and got drain few times.

    It is time to get a replacement.

    If you have NRMA roadside assistant, you can call them to test your battery.

    Buy a new battery from SCA when it is 30% sale.

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