A failing battery rarely gives much notice. The car turns over a little more slowly for a week or two, and then one cold morning it doesn't start at all. NRH Autoworks tests and replaces 12-volt car batteries at our garage on Windsor Road in Bray, serving Maidenhead and the local area.
Enter your registration on the enquiry form so we can identify the correct battery for your vehicle, and tell us what has been happening: slow starting, a flat battery after standing, a warning light. We'll get back to you by phone or email to advise and arrange a time.
What we can help with
- Battery health testing
- Charging system and alternator output checks
- Replacement batteries supplied and fitted
- Correct battery type for stop-start vehicles
- Terminal and connection checks
- Investigation of batteries that keep going flat
Signs your battery is on its way out
- The engine turns over slowly, especially on cold mornings
- A clicking sound when you turn the key or press the start button
- The car needed a jump start recently
- The battery warning light is on
- Stop-start has stopped working
- Dim headlights or electrics behaving oddly
- The battery is several years old and the car is used for short trips
Testing before replacing
A flat battery isn't always a faulty battery. It may simply have been drained by an interior light, or it may not be getting charged properly because of an alternator or wiring fault. Something on the car may also be drawing current when everything should be switched off. Fitting a new battery in those cases only hides the problem for a few weeks.
That's why we test first. We check the battery's condition and the charging system's output so we know whether the battery has genuinely reached the end of its life. If it has, we'll recommend a replacement; if the cause lies elsewhere, we'll explain what we've found and what we'd suggest doing about it.
Getting the right battery
Batteries aren't interchangeable. They differ in physical size, terminal layout, capacity and starting power, and cars with stop-start systems need a specific type (usually marked AGM or EFB) designed to cope with frequent restarts. Fitting a standard battery to one of those cars leads to an early failure. Some vehicles also need to be told that a new battery has been fitted. Your registration lets us identify what your car requires, and we'll advise on anything specific to your model.
Batteries: common questions
How long does a car battery last?
It varies with the battery, the car and how it's used. Several years is typical, but lots of short journeys, long periods standing unused and very cold weather all shorten a battery's life. If yours is getting on and has started turning the engine over slowly, it's worth having it tested before winter.
My battery keeps going flat. Do I need a new one?
Possibly, but not necessarily. An old battery that no longer holds charge is one cause; a charging fault or something draining power while the car is parked are others. We test the battery and the charging system first so that you don't replace a battery that wasn't the problem.
Does my stop-start car need a special battery?
Yes. Stop-start vehicles use AGM or EFB batteries built to handle many more engine starts and deeper discharge than a conventional battery. They need to be replaced like for like. Give us your registration and we'll identify the correct type for your car.
My car won't start at all. What should I do?
If a jump start or a booster pack gets it going, the battery or charging system is the likely cause, and it's worth having both tested soon rather than relying on it. Send us an enquiry with your registration and a description of what happened, and we'll advise on the best next step.