February 2021

FEBRUARY 2021 AFTERMARKET 27 that the battery is in working order, or advising that it might be time for a replacement. By doing this you’re ensuring they have a functioning battery and will not be left stuck out in the cold due to battery failure.” Batteries face greater demands than ever before, as they have to serve increasingly complex and power-hungry car electronics. “Whereas digital dashboards, inbuilt screens and parking cameras used to be limited to luxury vehicles,” said Andy, “they are now commonplace on even entry- level models, all placing additional strain on the battery. “Many drivers are also plugging in their mobile devices to charge them while on-the-move, again drawing power from the vehicle. This is why it’s paramount to ensure the battery is in a condition to support all the comfort and safety features; it’s the heart of the car.” Back to Better As recently emphasised by GiPA, the UK is seeing an increasingly ageing car parc. There is now a greater number of cars over 13 years old on UK roads, in which the battery has either never been changed or was changed a long time ago. On the challenge, Andy commented: “VARTA have been highlighting as part of their Back To Better campaign that now is the time for a workshop to implement a test- every-battery process if they haven’t before. It’s been a challenging year for batteries, so there is an opportunity for garages to generate revenue by ensuring batteries that need replacing are done so, while also keeping customers happy the service they received was thorough and keeps them on the road.” He added: “Testing batteries isn’t all about profiteering. It’s about offering great customer satisfaction and ensuring their car will start when they most need to. This then adds to customer retention.” Visit the VARTA Partner Portal for OE information to help identify the correct battery for every vehicle, and step-by-step fitting instructions: www.varta-automotive.com/en- gb/varta-partner-portal/log-in ECOBAT EBT780 battery test tool ECOBAT says its multi-purpose EBT780 battery analyser and test tool enables technicians to fully assess 12 and 24-volt batteries. “The EBT780 is a specialist tool designed to help workshops fully evaluate the battery in order for them to make the correct decisions during the repair process,” explained ECOBAT Marketing Manager Laura Jones. Due to the fact that the majority of vehicle breakdowns remain battery related, assessing its condition is of paramount importance. As important as this is for a vehicle fitted with a traditional starter, lights and ignition (SLI) battery, it is absolutely crucial in a Stop/Start-equipped micro hybrid, which will rely on either an AGM or EFB for its power supply. Laura continued: “In addition to its function as a voltmeter, the EBT780, which can be personalised for up to four technicians, provides users with multiple test options, the first being the battery test, a procedure that can be carried out with the battery in or out of the vehicle. This yields one of five results from ‘Good’, the battery is in good condition, to ‘Bad Cell Replace’, the battery has a faulty cell, replace battery. “One of the invaluable features of this vital piece of equipment is that it allows users to print the onscreen result, which can be given to the vehicle owner so that they too can understand the true condition of the battery. This makes it easy for technicians to demonstrate whether it needs to be replaced or is still fit for purpose.” Laura added: “Battery testing is a principle that ECOBAT recommends technicians conduct on every vehicle that enters the workshop. Therefore, irrespective of what the vehicle is originally booked in for or whether it is or isn’t equipped with a Stop/Start function, testing provides an instant sales opportunity. in addition to its problem solving diagnostic capabilities, the EBT780 is the ideal tool to use.” For further details, visit www.ecobat.tech Our advice is to test batteries as standard whenever any vehicle is brought in ”