Yuasa: Why test batteries?
A vehicle’s battery is rarely checked by workshops unless a problem is reported, so its health is unknown to the driver or technician. There may be no obvious signs, but if it is heavily discharged or defective it will fail when the weather gets colder.
When a non-start situation occurs it causes considerable distress for the driver. A replacement battery is likely to be purchased at the roadside or from the nearest retail supplier. Most customers expect their workshop to check and maintain all elements of their vehicle. If the battery fails shortly after a service or repair work, customers may question the quality of the work carried out and the reliability of the workshop.
By checking the battery on all vehicles entering your workshop you can significantly improve the customer service you offer, enhance your reputation and prevent battery failure distress. You will also unlock significant potential year-round battery recharging and replacement revenue.
Make battery testing part of your everyday workshop regime
Test every vehicle that comes into your workshop immediately before starting work or an MOT test. This will give you time to call the customer, order and fit a replacement or recharge the battery if required.
1 Check Specification
Using Yuasa’s battery lookup tool fit.yuasa.co.uk check the battery fitted is of the correct specification and technology for the vehicle. If it is not of the correct specification or technology it may fail prematurely and could cause electrical problems.
- X Battery is incorrect specification or technology
- √ Battery is correct specification
2 Check Health
Check the health of the battery using a battery conductance tester. Attach the tester to the terminals of the battery and then follow the prompts on your device. Typically the battery will be diagnosed as:
- Good: Good state of health
- Recharge: Recharging required
- Replace: Replace immediately
The tester may advise to recharge and retest. In this case recharge the battery before retesting.
3 Communicate
Call the customer to advise them of the test result. It is a good idea to check replacement options using fit.yuasa.co.uk first so you have the correct information to hand.
- X If the customer does not agree or you cannot get hold of them use a Yuasa mirror hanger to communicate that action is required.
- √ If the customer agrees to a replacement or recharge
4 Resolve
If the customer has agreed, fit a replacement battery with a voltage in excess of 12.50 Volts or recharge the battery and recheck its state of health as in step 2. Once this has been done use a mirror hanger to communicate that the vehicle’s battery is now serviceable.
