Car battery test in Rotterdam: avoid a breakdown this winter

A weak battery sometimes gives signs before the car stops starting. These are the signs we often see:

The engine turns over slowly and heavily. This can be the first sign that the starting power is dropping. A worn starter motor, a poor earth connection or green deposits on the battery terminals can give the same picture. That is why measuring is still needed.

You hear a click or a rapid ticking sound. The starter motor may be getting a start signal, but the voltage drops too far or not enough current gets through. A poor connection or a problem with the starter motor can also cause this.

The lights dim and the electronics falter. Headlights that clearly dim, slow electric windows, a weaker fan or a screen that restarts can point to a low on-board voltage.

After a cold night the car will not start. The cold often shows that the battery had been getting weaker for some time. The battery did not necessarily fail that same night.

The charging system warning light stays on while you drive. This light does not necessarily mean the battery is faulty. The cause can also be the alternator, the voltage regulator, a slipping auxiliary belt or a poor charging cable. If the battery is not charged enough, the engine can eventually cut out. Switch off anything you do not need and have the charging system checked soon. Read more about a battery light that is on and the alternator.

Is another warning light on as well? Then have that included in the check.

At low temperatures a battery can deliver less current, while a cold engine needs more power to start. In winter you also use the lights, fan, rear window heater and seat heating more often. A battery that was still coping in summer may then have too little in reserve.

On a diesel, the glow plugs also play a part in the cold. Read more about a diesel that starts badly.

Lots of short trips also work against you. On a short trip a relatively large share of the energy goes into starting and heating. There is often little time and energy left to recharge the battery properly. On modern cars the battery and energy management also decides for itself when and how strongly the battery is charged.

One trip is therefore often not enough to fully charge a deeply flat battery.

A car battery often lasts several years. How long depends on the type of battery, the vehicle, how it is used and the conditions. Lots of short trips, long periods standing still, heat and repeated deep discharging can shorten its life.

We look beyond the voltage. First we measure the state of charge and the starting power and assess the condition of the battery. Then, if needed, we check the charging voltage of the alternator, the battery terminals, the cables and the earth connections. If the symptoms point that way, we also check the starter motor and measure whether there is a parasitic drain.

This way we avoid replacing a battery when the cause lies somewhere else.

If the picture points towards the electronics, we read the fault codes with our car diagnostics (in Dutch). If a new battery is needed, we discuss the options with you first. You hear in advance what the work costs. If your car has an AGM or EFB battery, we fit a battery of the same type with the right capacity.

On many modern cars a new battery then has to be registered in the battery management system or the on-board computer. That way the charging system can control the new battery correctly.

You book an appointment by phone.

Before starting, switch off anything you do not need, such as the seat heating, rear window heater, radio and fan. Do not keep trying to start the car for a long time. That drains the battery further and the starter motor can overheat.

Jump leads or a jump starter help for a while, but they do not fix a worn-out battery. Only use jump leads as described in your car’s manual. The order and the connection points differ by model. On modern cars the battery and the designated jump-start points are often not in the same place.

Will the car not start? Then have your breakdown service bring it to us. Outside opening hours the car can be parked in front of the garage at your own risk, with the key in an envelope in our letterbox. Read more about a car that will not start and how dropping off works in case of a breakdown.

Not sure? Call us on +31 10 479 00 00 and we will help you think it through. Want certainty about advice you got elsewhere? Then come to us for a second opinion.

Is your car due for a service or an APK anyway? Then combine the battery test with a service, or have the work planned around your APK appointment. That way you only need to come in once.

We work on cars, on vans and motorhomes up to 3,500 kg and on hybrid and electric cars. Work on high-voltage systems is carried out by mechanics who are trained for it. Our mechanics hold the GMTO certificate (the Dutch qualification for working on high-voltage systems).

You will find us at Boterdiep 11 in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord. From the A16, take exit 24 Rotterdam-Feijenoord. The A15 is quick to reach from our garage. By public transport, take tram line 3 to the Stadion Feijenoord stop. You can park for free in front of the garage if there is space.

We are also easy to reach from Barendrecht, Ridderkerk, Capelle aan den IJssel, Krimpen aan den IJssel, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht and Zwijndrecht. We are open Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 17.30 and on Saturday from 9.00 to 15.00. We are closed on Sundays.