What to do? Low battery with 12 day wait for new cam belt

[Nick04]

Volvo V50 has been parked on the driveway for 6 weeks whilst awaiting registration. That came through a couple of days ago, been on some short trips, but battery is low. Currently booked in for a cam belt change in 12 days time. Don't have a battery charging pack or anything. Was going to keep the vehicle in light use but having second thoughts now. Mileage is only 50k but 3 years over the recommended 10 years for cam belt change.

Should I do some short runs to keep the battery ticking over?

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by Nick04

Volvo V50 has been parked on the driveway for 6 weeks whilst awaiting registration. That came through a couple of days ago, been on some short trips, but battery is low. Currently booked in for a cam belt change in 12 days time. Don't have a battery charging pack or anything. Was going to keep the vehicle in light use but having second thoughts now. Mileage is only 50k but 3 years over the recommended 10 years for cam belt change.

Should I do some short runs to keep the battery ticking over?

Good morning, Nick, I would invest in a battery charger if I was you - mine was c£30 from Aldi a while ago. Good value against the price of a new battery, and you have it by you for future use. I would offer to lend you mine if I was in the N.E.

Regards, John.

[Bob Meadows]

YES:~ A must for standing/underused batteries.
Bob.

[jasons6930]

I had an Audi S4 years ago that didn't get used much and kept draining the battery.

In the end i bought a Ctek with the hard wired fly lead that bolts to the battery and then just plugs into the charge unit.

I paid about 70 odd quid for it, but it's gone up a bit now...

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/ba...650791021.html

[andy_d]

Originally Posted by Nick04

Volvo V50 has been parked on the driveway for 6 weeks whilst awaiting registration. That came through a couple of days ago, been on some short trips, but battery is low. Currently booked in for a cam belt change in 12 days time. Don't have a battery charging pack or anything. Was going to keep the vehicle in light use but having second thoughts now. Mileage is only 50k but 3 years over the recommended 10 years for cam belt change.

Should I do some short runs to keep the battery ticking over?

if the battery is low now,, its time for a replacement
V50/s20/c30 etc platform do "sulk" and throw gremlins when the battery is low/near end of life
and if your spending the £ on the car to keep it well maintained,, gen volvo battery - worth it (8+years life span)

[Nick04]

Originally Posted by andy_d

if the battery is low now,, its time for a replacement
V50/s20/c30 etc platform do "sulk" and throw gremlins when the battery is low/near end of life
and if your spending the £ on the car to keep it well maintained,, gen volvo battery - worth it (8+years life span)

Is it still worth replacing even if there is nothing wrong with it? Or does the fact that it has gone low compromise it in some way?

I guess my initial dilemma was having no power when it comes to dropping the car off in 12 days or using it in the meantime and possibly risking the cam belt going.

[Simmy]

buy or borrow a battery charger always handy to have in just in case of emergency in the future

[scbamber]

Nobody can afford not to have a battery charger. CTEK are certainly one of the best but are priced accordingly.

STOP PRESS!!! Also have a charger this week for £12.99 ( online only, plus postage, link here https://www.aldi.co.uk/auto-xs-car-b...13260585046300). A cambelt makes a CTEK look cheap, and the Aldi one crazily cheap

[john.wigley]

Originally Posted by scbamber

Nobody can afford not to have a battery charger. CTEK are certainly one of the best but are priced accordingly.

STOP PRESS!!! Also have a charger this week for £12.99 ( online only, plus postage, link here https://www.aldi.co.uk/auto-xs-car-b...13260585046300). A cambelt makes a CTEK look cheap, and the Aldi one crazily cheap

That's incredible value. Mine was c£30 although there was a less powerful similar model with fewer features for c£20, but that was over a year ago.

Regards, John.

[Tannaton]

If you can still start the car, I would do that and leave it ticking over for about 20 mins. Very low stress on the cambelt, should keep the battery with some charge.

But leaving a battery substantially discharged does increase the risk of it deteriorating, and on these cars when you have a low battery, using the car is not the best way of getting it back to a good charge - you really should use a battery charge to saturate the battery again.