Imagine this scenario: you hop into your car, buckle up, turn the ignition key, and nothing happens — your battery is dead. This situation often leads to a frantic hunt for jump leads, a helpful neighbour, or even worse, a call to your breakdown service followed by a long wait.
An unexpected flat car battery can be a nuisance, so it’s worth investing in one that offers reliability and longevity to avoid such inconveniences. Halfords boasts an extensive selection of batteries at its retail stores and garages, catering to virtually every car model on the road.
All you need is your vehicle registration number, and Halfords’ database will pinpoint the exact battery you require. They also offer different warranty options. The warranties extend for three, four, or five years, and their premium batteries even come with lifetime guarantees.
It’s important to note that ‘lifetime’ refers to the lifespan of your vehicle and cannot be transferred between cars. Batteries used in commercial or professional vehicles — such as taxis, emergency service vehicles, or driving instruction cars — are only eligible for a six-month guarantee, reports the Mirror.
If you’re uncertain whether you need a new battery, you can avail of a free battery check at your local Halfords garage. They also offer same-day fitting services in-store or at a Halfords garage.
From February 20th, customers can get a price reduction on a broad selection of battery options. These include the Yuasa Lead-Acid 12V Car Battery with a 5-year Guarantee currently priced at £98.69, the Halfords Lead-Acid 12V Car Battery with a 4-year Guarantee for £86.09, and the Halfords Lead-Acid 12V Car Battery with a 3-year Guarantee for £69.99.
You should use the reg checker to ensure you’re purchasing the correct type or visit a store for assistance with the more complex aspects.
There are plenty of reasons why a car battery might cough its last unexpectedly, and you can get ahead of the game by being mindful of the following:
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Leaving your lights on is a classic mistake. Always ensure your lights are off when you switch off your engine, as they may continue running through the night and sap your battery’s juice.
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Extreme weather —both hot and cold temperatures can ruin your battery. Extremely hot weather can cause the liquids in your battery to evaporate and potentially damage the internal plates, wrecking their ability to hold a solid charge. Extremely cold weather, on the other hand, slows down the reactions going on inside the battery, making recharging difficult and harder for the battery to hold its charge.
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Excessive loading —If you use all the electrical components of your car, such as the 12V outlet, this puts additional strain on your battery. You can compensate for this by getting a high-end battery, like a Yuasa, which has a higher capacity.
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Loose or corroded battery terminals — with poor connections, your battery won’t be able to transfer power properly. Dodgy terminals can be dangerous, too, especially by causing sparks. Ensure your terminals are clean and well-connected, but be sure to wait until your car has gone cold before mucking around under the bonnet.
- Frequent short journeys and stop-start driving — your car needs a fair bit of energy to get started, so frequent short journeys are inefficient for battery life. Your alternator needs a relatively long journey to recharge the battery too, so you’re missing out on that if you’re rarely driving for very long. Try to get out for a long drive now and then to give your alternator the time it needs to charge your battery.
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A worn alternator — an alternator is an essential component that charges your battery as you drive, converting mechanical energy into an electrical charge. If your alternator is wearing out, it will struggle to charge your battery, and you may struggle to start the car. Have you ever heard that high-pitched whistling coming from people’s cars? It’s a good chance their alternator belt needs replacing.
The Yuasa batteries available at Halfords have earned a solid reputation among drivers. The Yuasa Lead Acid 12V Car Battery received an impressive rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars after over 600 reviews.
One five-star review praised the battery’s performance in cold weather, stating: “It seems good. We have had some minus temperatures, and it’s started within seconds.” Another satisfied customer who utilised the in-store fitting service shared: “They had the battery in stock, the fitter checked it was the correct one, and they had it fitted in 10 minutes.”
However, one customer found their Yuasa battery struggled in colder conditions, commenting: “Not one for the cold. This battery will not start in the cold winter mornings, and I had to jump-start it every day.” Yet another pleased customer remarked: “Good product and guarantee for a reasonable price.”
Other battery and fitting options are available at KwikFit and Euro Car Parts. KwikFit’s cheapest is £91, whereas the most expensive is £231. Meanwhile, Euro Car Parts has batteries ranging from £42.49 to £162.99.
However, Halfords’ selection of batteries is also worth considering. Additionally, joining the Halfords Motoring Club could provide you with a variety of discounts both in-store and online.