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Hi guys just wondered if anyone had had the same problem as us.

We brought a new van last month and went straight off to a cl site with no ehu, we used our 110 amp batterywhich we took off our old van ( only 10 months old) which was fully charged. we had the tv on for a couple of hours but where careful with the lights and other stuff, next morning the battery was flat. we plugged it into the car and run the engine for a while which put some life back in it but i didnt last long.

We thought we had a problem with our new van but borrowed our mate spare battery which was fine. so when we got back we took the battery back to the shop, the guy said he would charge it and test it, he phoned a week later to say there wasnt a problem with the battery as he had tested it.

We picked the battery up and the guy showed us the battery with a drop test on it.

After i got the battery home it was put on charge for a couple of days and i took it to kwick fit to have it tested, they told me that the battery was advisary, basically it wasnt scrap but wasnt working properly under load, he also said that a drop test doesn't really test the battery propery!

Anyway we thought we would try the battery again this week on another cl and low and behold after the second day the red light was flashing to say the battery was flat!

So weve got to make another trip to take the battery back then he will send it away to be tested!!!

From past experiences i know these drop testers dont really workso why use them.

Kwikfit use electronic ones

Mark

I went to get mine tested, and was told there is no test for leisure batteries, other than to see if it holds it charge, ie trotters test.

this can still show the battery as OK, but not able to give its full rating, ie holds the 12.8V fine under no use, but doesnt have the capacity under load.

IIRC the drop test simulates a cold crank, ie for starter batteries, not for leiure batts, wouldnt trust kwik ft anyway.

Took it back yesterday and have to wait for it to br sent off to manufacterers to be tested. Cant really say to much to the dealers as i can't find the reciept.

Just a bit annoyed that even though we know the battery isn't  lasting very long and having it tested elsewhere some salesman puts a useless test on it.

Hopefully the battery will come back with a true reading saying its faulty and we will get a replacement battery. We have been told that if it does come back faulty they will issue a new one but only put the remainder of the original guarantee (6 months rather than a two year one) which seems a bit strange!

Mark

Yes i agree, but thats what i was told.

Surely the battery manufacturers give a full warranty with all new batteries.

Mark

I think under your consumer rights they unfortunately are allowed to do this, since it is a replacement and they are honouring the original warranty.

If you go to the Office Of Fair Trading, you can get info there and can also call a helpline for advice.

Hope this helps.

I would get advice on this, I am of your thinking, for example if a washer breaks down, and is replaced, you get an entire new receipt, and the warrently starts for the time of the new one, not the old one, and parts have a 12 months warrenty, even if fitted in months 11 of the original.

the EU warrenty legislation allows up to a 5 year statutory warrenty, if the normal life expectancy of a product is this long.

I would argue a new battery is just that, wather a replacement for an original, or bought as new.

be aware though, alot of batteries, especially those with a 5 year, only have a 1 or 2 year full replacement, then the remaining is a gradual, ir in year 5  they replace 20% of the cost, not full replacement.

The dealer phoned me yesterday and said they are still waiting for it to be tested but would give me a replacement anyway (suspect it came back faulty really!) But cant really complain.

Not sure what warranty they're giving me yet though.

It is a bit of a rip off if they are only giving the remaining warranty as they could keep giving you dud batteries till the warranty expired!

Mark