October 2021

22 AFTERMARKET OCTOBER 2021 TOP TECHNICIAN AND TOP GARAGE/TECHNICAL www.toptechnicianonline.co.uk BATTERY FAILURE SURGE Don’t let batteries become a drain on your garage this winter W inter is already the busiest time of year for battery servicing. Cold weather is notorious for bringing existing faults to the surface, and increases the chances of failure. This year, that’s not the whole story. After three lockdowns in 18 months, battery lifecycles have been permanently damaged through lack of use. Couple this with an unusually warm summer – by UK standards – which has increased the chances of additional problems like warped plates, and we can expect to see record levels of battery failures over the coming weeks. Garages must be prepared for an influx of demand that significantly exceeds peaks experienced in previous years. Cars are designed to cover longer distances on a regular basis – that’s key to getting the best out of them and maximising their battery’s lifespan. However, with new working and travel patterns here to stay, many people won’t be using their vehicles as the manufacturer intended, which means a permanent increase in battery servicing requirements all year round. Test to earn The more time a vehicle has spent idle during the coronavirus pandemic, the faster its battery will have been breaking down inside. This is known as battery stratification – when the acid in the electrolyte separates from the water, and sinks to the bottom of the battery, reducing its charge and capacity. The resulting damage is irreversible – as is any warping caused by the heatwave earlier this summer. As temperatures drop in the weeks ahead, problems will rise. We’re urging garages to get ahead of this by offering a battery service to every customer that comes through their doors. This represents a huge opportunity to boost profits. Typically taking no more than ten minutes, conducting health checks allows you to detect hidden problems early. The stats speak for themselves. Three out of every four customers will purchase a replacement battery on the same day, if a test shows it to be weak or damaged. It’s also important to stress that the age of the vehicle doesn’t matter; All vehicles are at heightened risk at the moment. Diagnostics and education Long-term, the key consideration will be to diagnose probable causes of battery failure accurately, after a period of non-use, which means recognising how problems begin to manifest themselves. Issues such as a battery reaching the end of its lifespan, abnormal or increased draws, or incorrect charging can all present different symptoms that may not immediately point to a problem with the battery. A vehicle’s heart is its battery, and its primary response is to protect it if something goes wrong. But this means that it can start to cut out power-draining components, such as the radio, air con or electric windows. It’s easy to mistake this for an electrical fault or a blown fuse, when actually it’s the vehicle telling you that the battery needs help. Conversely, a vehicle that experiences a non-start after a period of non-use may be wrongly diagnosed has having a battery at the end of its lifespan. In fact, the true cause may be undiagnosed internal faults preventing the vehicle from shutting down. So, even if the battery is replaced, it will still run flat again within a matter of days, which can be a costly mistake for garages. Ensuring you have the right kit to hand, and that technicians are up to date with the latest training and skills, can help to overcome this. By conducting thorough diagnostics, garages can ensure that no customer drives away from a garage with a battery that is susceptible to running flat or developing further faults again within just a few weeks. Sponsored by: BY Colin Cottrell, Marketing Director at LKQ Euro Car Parts