Mines playing up, not the lights flashing stuff not working sort of playing up, just won't turn the car over after being left a few days sort of playing up. It's on the CTEK now and it'll start after an hour or so.

Is there anything I need to check before pressing "buy" on the Europarts website, this purchase has the full approval of SWMBO because in her Hyacinth Bouquet way she's worried the neighbours might see me connecting the charger - again

This will be it's third battery in 5 years, from reading on here that's not unusual, one other thing would I be showing my age and making a complete of myself if I considered topping up the electrolyte level

helpful advice, unhelpful advice, opinionated tosh, abuse and jokes at my expense all welcome  Geoff

mine usually lasts long enough for the fbh cycle to finish

supershuttle wrote:

... in her Hyacinth Bouquet way she's worried the neighbours might see me connecting the charger - again

I had to google Hyacinth Bucket.

Lucky for me, I can get the vehicle in the garage and close the door.
Although a couple of the neighbors have seen me mucking about with the cars in the summer when I leave the garage door open, and now they come over and ask me for help with their cars. Jim
2000 NAS HSE
2005 NAS HSE

Just make sure you've seen the battery offers on Europarts (unlike me )

details here

one of mine is on its 3rd battery in 5 years, and that battery is not 100%

Tell Hyacinth, only vehicles costing serious cash, have battery problems. A guy I know well, in the USA, asked Rolls Royce to disable some options, as battery problems were driving him nuts.My Defender TD5, still has it 's original battery from 2001.My FFRR, is connected to a CTek 10 amp, after every usage.(Stands outside in minus temps in Winter.)
I read in a technical book published by Mercedes Benz, that in the USA, in some of the cold climates, they advise that the big interstate transport trucks, keep ticking over 24hours daily, to save starters motors and batteries.The bottom line is that a battery life is complicated by a multitude of factors .It's impossible to give an "average " lifespan 2002 Vogue TD6
2001 Defender 90 TD5
Range Rover Classic 1994
Mercedes Benz 220 S Sedan 1959.

I think my 2005 is still on its original battery and its still OK.

Probably shouldnt have said that!......

supershuttle wrote:

This will be it's third battery in 5 years, from reading on here that's not unusual

That's why I went for the Bosch Battery - 5 Year Guarantee

So new battery it is, I read on here that the Bosch S5 is difficult to fit but it seems the obvious one to go for. With that in mind someone must have fitted one, is it really a problem? Geoff

I fitted one - was a bit fiddly, but not too bad as long as you have the bonnet in the service position

Got to say, it transformed the car - everything seemed to work better. Money well spent.

Super I have the Bosch S5 in my TDV8 it is a tight fit but doable . You will need a 10mm spanner. Just make sure you put bonnet in service mode as this makes it much easier when fitting battery . Present :2008 TDV8 HSE
Gone Audi A5 2.7TDI
Gone Discovery 3 HSE
Gone Mercedes CLK
Gone Range Rover 2.5 DSE

I also have the bosch s5 in mine - was a b ch to fit, took a lot of prising to get it in and then you start with the issue of getting the +ve terminal connected back on. Its a very tight fit but it does go in

Click image to enlarge

dont forget a stool to stand on, unless you're about 7 foot tall...

Is "service mode" for the bonnet covered in the handbook? Geoff

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"Open Mike Night " sounded like a lot of fun until i found out i was going to an Autopsy