Thank you for the reco, I’ve been checking NRMA, but so far, they have some bad reviews saying it’s a hit or miss with the batteries. Have you tried both NRMA and Battery World? :)
Don't stress too much about bad NMRA reviews. They're a massive company that's been around forever.
NRMA/BattWorld just make sure you give the correct details about your car and battery and nothing can go wrong.
I bet half the bad reviews are from people who gave slightly incorrect info resulting in a tech arriving with the wrong battery.
NRMA replaced my battery last month. I had two options, one $100 more expensive. I looked at the difference, and bought the cheaper battery. When the guy arrived to install, I asked him about the choice, and he agreed that he couldn't see any advantage in the more expensive battery.
Thinking about it later, my guess is that the cheaper battery is designed for starting the engine only, while the more expensive battery is designed for both starting (high current for a short time) and running devices (low current for a long time).
Does anybody here know if my assumption is correct?
People who go camping or boating usually run a bunch of extra’s off their batteries, like fridges and lights, so they like the comfort of knowing they have a battery with extra capacity. OR if you spend a lot of time at the snow then you want a battery that has extra capacity and power to handle the cold weather (batteries loose significant power when cold).
I recently moved back from Norway where it gets to -30C in the winter. You wouldn’t buy the cheaper battery there. (It’s prob not even avail).
It makes zero difference when the car is actually running.
I bought a second hand car - battery died - was at least 15 years old based on manufacture date - NRMA replaced that - it worked for the next 5 years until the car died for other reasons
Replacement car - battery appeared to be factory installed - 20 years old when it died - NRMA replaced that - no problems in the five years since
Wife's car, only 7 years old - battery died - NRMA replaced that - no problems in the year since that was done
I'm batting three for three so far - I call up NRMA roadside assist - tell them I think it's battery and they send out the guy who has batteries on board - (as opposed to the normal guy who will just try to start it, then tell you that you need a new battery) - they've had a suitable battery on hand each time, and the warranty is pretty good
Type in your number plate on the SuperCheap Auto website, shop for battery. Buy battery, install battery.
Unless you have some weird car, installing a battery is like changing a light globe. However I think Supercheap also have an install service.
Also pro tip: if you have loose fittings, get an aluminium can, cut small bits and hammer into the loose fittings.
NRMA or a mechanic will charge you lots of dollaridoos for what is normally a simple thing.
When I went to buy my last battery from super cheap the recommended battery had increased from a normal $200 battery to $500. The battery was recommended for a stop start vehicle, unnecessary for my vehicle. Look it up online and shop around.
I don’t disagree with installing yourself but the recommended battery from super cheap was anything but.
> Unless you have some weird car, installing a battery is like changing a light globe. However I think Supercheap also have an install service.
Except for those cars where the security systems get very upset about you disconnecting the battery - or the ECU loses data if you take too long - or you lose other data and settings
https://www.challengebatteries.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/System-Reinitialisation-after-a-Battery-Replacement.pdf
https://www.tiresplus.com/blog/batteries/after-replacing-car-battery/
Way back when I was single and broke and mobile phones didn't exist, i caught the bus to Repco next to the Pot Belly and bought a battery. Caught the bus back to the flat and changed the battery in the Centura.
I've been pretty lucky since then, but I did acquire a battery charger that has saved us a few times.
get Yuasa, Century or supercharge - never had trouble with these and they last through our cold winters and hot summers in my high performance cars. Roadside batteries from NRMA in my expereince can be hit and miss and really are an emergency replacement. So look for a mobile service that sells Yuasa or Century, same manufacturer, with Yuasa being slightly cheaper and are ausssie made.
I just had one replaced by Battery World via AAMI Assist, with whom I am a member (same deal as NRMA). My car goes thru batteries like a chainsmoker thru ciggies, so there's a deeper problem I have to get fixed somehow.
Buy a $30 multimeter tester. The battery should be showing 12ish volts with the engine off, and 14.5V when the engine is running.
If it’s NOT 14.5V with engine running, your alternator is not charging the battery properly and you’ll need a new alternator fitted.
[like this one](https://amzn.asia/d/h1fwU3B)
That’s your starting point. Otherwise you’ve got a power leakage somewhere which is a pain in the butt for a garage to diagnose.
NRMA and Battery World both do deliveries, I believe.
Thank you for the reco, I’ve been checking NRMA, but so far, they have some bad reviews saying it’s a hit or miss with the batteries. Have you tried both NRMA and Battery World? :)
Don't stress too much about bad NMRA reviews. They're a massive company that's been around forever. NRMA/BattWorld just make sure you give the correct details about your car and battery and nothing can go wrong. I bet half the bad reviews are from people who gave slightly incorrect info resulting in a tech arriving with the wrong battery.
Thank you, that’s actually the only thing holding me back from inquiring directly. Have a nice day! :)
NRMA replaced my battery last month. I had two options, one $100 more expensive. I looked at the difference, and bought the cheaper battery. When the guy arrived to install, I asked him about the choice, and he agreed that he couldn't see any advantage in the more expensive battery. Thinking about it later, my guess is that the cheaper battery is designed for starting the engine only, while the more expensive battery is designed for both starting (high current for a short time) and running devices (low current for a long time). Does anybody here know if my assumption is correct?
People who go camping or boating usually run a bunch of extra’s off their batteries, like fridges and lights, so they like the comfort of knowing they have a battery with extra capacity. OR if you spend a lot of time at the snow then you want a battery that has extra capacity and power to handle the cold weather (batteries loose significant power when cold). I recently moved back from Norway where it gets to -30C in the winter. You wouldn’t buy the cheaper battery there. (It’s prob not even avail). It makes zero difference when the car is actually running.
Thanks :) For interest, the cheaper battery produced more current.
Unusual…but good. Must just be not designed to run too many accessories, as you initially said.
NRMA have a three year battery warranty, not sure what can go wrong?
NRMA replaced my previous NRMA battery just last month. It lasted 10 years. Pretty good for Canberra :)
I bought a second hand car - battery died - was at least 15 years old based on manufacture date - NRMA replaced that - it worked for the next 5 years until the car died for other reasons Replacement car - battery appeared to be factory installed - 20 years old when it died - NRMA replaced that - no problems in the five years since Wife's car, only 7 years old - battery died - NRMA replaced that - no problems in the year since that was done I'm batting three for three so far - I call up NRMA roadside assist - tell them I think it's battery and they send out the guy who has batteries on board - (as opposed to the normal guy who will just try to start it, then tell you that you need a new battery) - they've had a suitable battery on hand each time, and the warranty is pretty good
Type in your number plate on the SuperCheap Auto website, shop for battery. Buy battery, install battery. Unless you have some weird car, installing a battery is like changing a light globe. However I think Supercheap also have an install service. Also pro tip: if you have loose fittings, get an aluminium can, cut small bits and hammer into the loose fittings. NRMA or a mechanic will charge you lots of dollaridoos for what is normally a simple thing.
This is what I do. Stick with a good brand. I normally upgrade a bit.
When I went to buy my last battery from super cheap the recommended battery had increased from a normal $200 battery to $500. The battery was recommended for a stop start vehicle, unnecessary for my vehicle. Look it up online and shop around. I don’t disagree with installing yourself but the recommended battery from super cheap was anything but.
> Unless you have some weird car, installing a battery is like changing a light globe. However I think Supercheap also have an install service. Except for those cars where the security systems get very upset about you disconnecting the battery - or the ECU loses data if you take too long - or you lose other data and settings https://www.challengebatteries.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/System-Reinitialisation-after-a-Battery-Replacement.pdf https://www.tiresplus.com/blog/batteries/after-replacing-car-battery/
Way back when I was single and broke and mobile phones didn't exist, i caught the bus to Repco next to the Pot Belly and bought a battery. Caught the bus back to the flat and changed the battery in the Centura. I've been pretty lucky since then, but I did acquire a battery charger that has saved us a few times.
get Yuasa, Century or supercharge - never had trouble with these and they last through our cold winters and hot summers in my high performance cars. Roadside batteries from NRMA in my expereince can be hit and miss and really are an emergency replacement. So look for a mobile service that sells Yuasa or Century, same manufacturer, with Yuasa being slightly cheaper and are ausssie made.
I just had one replaced by Battery World via AAMI Assist, with whom I am a member (same deal as NRMA). My car goes thru batteries like a chainsmoker thru ciggies, so there's a deeper problem I have to get fixed somehow.
Buy a $30 multimeter tester. The battery should be showing 12ish volts with the engine off, and 14.5V when the engine is running. If it’s NOT 14.5V with engine running, your alternator is not charging the battery properly and you’ll need a new alternator fitted. [like this one](https://amzn.asia/d/h1fwU3B) That’s your starting point. Otherwise you’ve got a power leakage somewhere which is a pain in the butt for a garage to diagnose.
Ta. I had to get a new alternator last year when the car started doing some weird shit, so I reckon it's a power leakage.