Flat again?
Battery, alternator and starting.
A flat battery is a symptom, not a diagnosis. We test the battery, the charging system and the drain separately, so you replace the one that actually failed instead of buying three parts in sequence. Burnside workshop, Christchurch wide, money back guarantee on the job.
Six signs it is the charging side.
If you recognise more than one of these, the battery is probably not the whole story.
- Slow, laboured cranking first thing on a cold morning
- Dash lights dim while the starter turns over
- Battery goes flat after the car sits two or three days
- A new battery that went flat again within weeks
- Charge light flickers or stays on while driving
- A click from the starter and nothing else
What is included.
Battery diagnostics and testing
Conductance and load testing, so a battery that reads fine sitting still is judged on the current it can actually deliver.
Charging system testing
Alternator output checked at idle and under full electrical load, plus voltage drop across the charging wiring and earth straps.
Parasitic drain testing
Current measured with the vehicle asleep, then circuits pulled one at a time until the draw disappears. Aftermarket gear is the usual culprit.
Starter motor and solenoid
Diagnose, repair, supply and install on starter motors, solenoids and ignition switches.
Before you buy another battery.
My battery is new but the car still goes flat. Why?
A new battery does not fix a charging fault or a parasitic drain. If the alternator is not holding voltage the battery never fully recharges, and if something keeps drawing power after the car is locked it will drain overnight. Both are measurable in under an hour.
How long does a battery and charging test take?
Usually well under an hour for the battery, alternator and voltage drop checks. A parasitic drain test takes longer because the vehicle has to be allowed to go to sleep before current is measured.
Do you supply batteries, starters and alternators?
Yes. We diagnose, repair, supply and install starter motors, solenoids, ignition and battery components. We test first so you buy the part that failed rather than the one the symptom pointed at.
Get it tested.
One test tells you whether it is the battery, the charging system or something still drawing power overnight.
Book online- Workshop
- 516 Wairakei Road, Burnside, Christchurch
- Contact
- Jono on 021 136 2742