Battery tell-tale
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Discussion

snowy white

Original Poster:

26 posts

285 months

Tuesday 4th November 2003
quotequote all
Quickfit supplied a battery for my 400SE back in April this year, the tell-tale or condition indicator, I'm sure was green at that time & so have any other low maintenence batteries I've seen, it is now clear. Quickfit say that the tell-tale has lost its colour, (yeh right) & the battery is fine.
I have no starting issues with the car, even after a few weeks of inactivity.
Any ideas folks, or should I be hounding them for a new battery?
Hank.

.Mark

11,104 posts

304 months

Tuesday 4th November 2003
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Well if the tell-tale has gone clear, how are you supposed to keep a watch on the battery condition?

In my book the battery is faulty and you should be entitled to a replacement under warranty, after all it's not fit for purpose is it?

GreenV8S

31,008 posts

312 months

Tuesday 4th November 2003
quotequote all
I think the tell-tale is simply a built-in hydrometer, just like those syphon things you can get at Halfwits. If the battery is well charged then the ball floats on top of the water, otherwise it sinks. If the water level is high enough and the ball is floating, you can see it (it looks bright green). If you can't see it, either the water level is running low, or the battery isn't fully charged, or it's become sulphated. There's nothing clever going on inside the battery and absolutely no chance the ball has lost its colour! I think for a maintenance-free battery your only option is to charge it, and if that doesn't fix it then replace it.