Car battery

[Name Taken]

Has anyone had problems with their car/truck battery going dead prematurely? I just recently had to have mine replaced and it was only about 2 years old, I think it has to do with the heat and humidity here in Thailand.

[HHTel]

2 to 3 years is about right here. Mine always needs replacing in that time. I've had batteries in the uk last well in excess of 5 years but not here I'm afraid.

[chelsea]

Name Taken
When you get problem not being able to start your car, the battery is always the 1st thing people replace without checking all avenues 1st.

If you can take the battery to get it checked, take it to a garage or Auto Spares shop and get them to check what cranking amps are present in the battery and/or if it has a dead cell.

The Cranking Amps (CCA) is normally on the label on the top of the battery. When tested, it should be somewhere near what is shows as the CCA. Also when they test it, it should also show if you have a faulty cell in the battery. If that is the case, then then battery will need to be replaced.

If it is just low on cranking amps, try charging the battery as if the car is not used a lot, the battery will loose CCA while the car is sitting idle.

If the CCA is OK and no faulty cell, then there may be problems with the alternator and/or charging circuit dragging charge from the battery or could possibly be a fault with the starter motor and/or fault in the starting circuits.

Most of the batteries we get returned to our shop as "Faulty" turn out to be OK, but have the faults happening as I have described above.

If you have a Diesel 4WD/Pick Up, most CCA will be at least 600, so also make sure you have a big enough capacity battery in the vehicle to be able to operate the starting system.

If you are not sure, pm me the details of your vehicle and I can give you some sort of idea of the type of battery you should be using.

[Name Taken]

2 to 3 years is about right here. Mine always needs replacing in that time. I've had batteries in the uk last well in excess of 5 years but not here I'm afraid.

Yeah, My vehicle batteries always lasted well in excess of 5 years in the U.S. to.

[Name Taken]

Name Taken
When you get problem not being able to start your car, the battery is always the 1st thing people replace without checking all avenues 1st.

If you can take the battery to get it checked, take it to a garage or Auto Spares shop and get them to check what cranking amps are present in the battery and/or if it has a dead cell.

The Cranking Amps (CCA) is normally on the label on the top of the battery. When tested, it should be somewhere near what is shows as the CCA. Also when they test it, it should also show if you have a faulty cell in the battery. If that is the case, then then battery will need to be replaced.

If it is just low on cranking amps, try charging the battery as if the car is not used a lot, the battery will loose CCA while the car is sitting idle.

If the CCA is OK and no faulty cell, then there may be problems with the alternator and/or charging circuit dragging charge from the battery or could possibly be a fault with the starter motor and/or fault in the starting circuits.

Most of the batteries we get returned to our shop as "Faulty" turn out to be OK, but have the faults happening as I have described above.

If you have a Diesel 4WD/Pick Up, most CCA will be at least 600, so also make sure you have a big enough capacity battery in the vehicle to be able to operate the starting system.

If you are not sure, pm me the details of your vehicle and I can give you some sort of idea of the type of battery you should be using.

They did test the battery and it just said 'Replace Battery' on the battery testing device, which is what I had done at the shop.

[Pagey]

They obviously had sophisticated testing equipment then.

[HHCanuck]

I read somewhere that there are restrictions on batteries in Thailand to protect local producers. High quality imported batteries are not available except OEM batteries. 2-3 years is the norm here for common lead-acid batteries.

[Dannie Boy]

Are batteries really that bad here - our Pajero Sport is nearly 4 years old and has never given any hint of a problem and the wife's Honda PCX is 5.1/2 years old on the original battery.

[Nereus]

I read somewhere that there are restrictions on batteries in Thailand to protect local producers. High quality imported batteries are not available except OEM batteries. 2-3 years is the norm here for common lead-acid batteries.

Not strickly true. Imported "Optima" AGM batteries are available in Bangkok. They are expensive but will outlast a Thai manufactured battery at least 3 times.

[Name Taken]

I read somewhere that there are restrictions on batteries in Thailand to protect local producers. High quality imported batteries are not available except OEM batteries.

That must be why it cost me 4,000 baht($120 U.S. Dollars) to buy a new replacement battery, in the U.S. a new battery would have cost about half that price.

[HHTel]

Most stores will give you a few hundred baht for the old one.

[Bristolian]

My company leases all their company cars. The leasing company replace the Tyres and battery every 24 months irrespective of mileage. I do no more than 20,000km annually and after 2 years the tyres look good. When they do the replacement they always leave the old battery in the boot. The tyres are never seen again but I guess that the shop resells them.

Usually I give the battery to my BIL and he gets at least another 2 years use out of it.

[Name Taken]

Are batteries really that bad here - our Pajero Sport is nearly 4 years old and has never given any hint of a problem and the wife's Honda PCX is 5.1/2 years old on the original battery.

That must be why it cost me 4,000 baht($120 U.S. Dollars) to buy a new replacement battery, in the U.S. a new battery would have cost about half that price.
But, overall it was a small price to pay because everything else is extremely cheap here in Thailand when compared to the U.S. and I was very pleased with the quality of service that I received at the shop.
Anyways,

[chelsea]

I read somewhere that there are restrictions on batteries in Thailand to protect local producers. High quality imported batteries are not available except OEM batteries. 2-3 years is the norm here for common lead-acid batteries.

Not strickly true. Imported "Optima" AGM batteries are available in Bangkok. They are expensive but will outlast a Thai manufactured battery at least 3 times.

In Australia if you are looking at a decent battery to suit a Landcruiser/Prado/Hilux Diesel for a normal price you would be paying around then $200 to $220AUD mark. The Optima type of battery from about $380AUD upwards dependent on what sort you wanted, but they are a superior quality battery

[Takiap]

I'm not sure about car batteries here, but motorbike batteries don't seem to be problem. My Honda wave is 12 years old and replaced the battery for the first time at the beginning of last year.