Dead 3.5t battery

[TreeDog]

My 3.5t van failed its MOT about 5 months ago on a couple things that should be fixable without too much trouble, but long story short life got in the way so I am only just now managing to get it booked for repairs and re-MOT. Occasionally I have left it standing for up to a couple months at a time but always started easily, 5 months has obviously been too long though as unfortunately the electrics are dead MOT failure was for unrelated issue.

I have read that if a battery sits dead for a while it is probably not worth trying to save as even if I can jump start it, it is likely to have problems holding charge. I don't know how old the battery is as it came with the van when I bought it a couple years ago. Am I right the best thing is to just buy a new one? I don't have a battery charger at home otherwise I'd try that, could buy one but think I may as well spend the money on a new battery at this point.

I did a quick search on a couple websites and prices range from £64 to £305... I've never had to buy a vehicle battery before, is there any reason not to get the cheapest? I'm considering selling the van once it's back running as I hardly use it now, even if it hadn't failed the MOT! Is there anything I need to check in the battery spec to match against current one to make sure I get the right one, or can I trust the website knows from my reg number?

ETA - is it easy enough to change myself or do I need to get someone who knows what they're doing/has tools for the job to come to the yard?

 

[Keith_Beef]

I recently had to have the battery on OH's car changed... It wouldn't even unlock the doors with the electronic fob.

It wasn't too hard to take out the battery and carry it to the house to charge it (it turned out that it wouldn't hold a charge), and needed no special tools, but reaching into the engine compartment and undoing the bolts was a bit of a hassle... I can imagine that with a heavier battery and a bigger and higher-up engine compartment in a 3.5t, removing the battery could be very difficult.

In the end, I got the roadside recovery service to come out and replace the battery... Something like €85 for the battery.

 

[dotty1]

I have just had a new battery for my Movano, it was £150. You can probably get cheaper online and if you’re going to sell it anyway don’t get an expensive one. You will just need some spanner’s, if you can’t find anyone to help, watch you tube and it will explain what order to take off and put back on the cables.
The battery in the Vauxhalls/Renaults is in the cab under the floor

 

[Lady Jane]

Why don't you take it to a garage where they can test the battery to see if you need a new one - they don't last forever. I was looking for myself and the price depends on the size you need, whether it needs to support stop/start technology and the guarantee period. If you need a new one I'd pay to have it done to make sure you get an appropriate battery and save you hassle. The labour shouldn't be much as its an easy job

 

[TreeDog]

I have just had a new battery for my Movano, it was £150. You can probably get cheaper online and if you’re going to sell it anyway don’t get an expensive one. You will just need some spanner’s, if you can’t find anyone to help, watch you tube and it will explain what order to take off and put back on the cables.
The battery in the Vauxhalls/Renaults is in the cab under the floor

Mine is also a movano - should have a few spanners somewhere at home, will maybe have a go at taking the old one out tomorrow

Why don't you take it to a garage where they can test the battery to see if you need a new one - they don't last forever. I was looking for myself and the price depends on the size you need, whether it needs to support stop/start technology and the guarantee period. If you need a new one I'd pay to have it done to make sure you get an appropriate battery and save you hassle. The labour shouldn't be much as its an easy job

I looked up options for mobile fitters and seems it would be just over £130 for the cheapest option, it is tempting to spend the extra and save the hassle but also with it needing some repairs for MOT I'm trying not to spend more if I can avoid it!

 

[TreeDog]

I recently had to have the battery on OH's car changed... It wouldn't even unlock the doors with the electronic fob.

It wasn't too hard to take out the battery and carry it to the house to charge it (it turned out that it wouldn't hold a charge), and needed no special tools, but reaching into the engine compartment and undoing the bolts was a bit of a hassle... I can imagine that with a heavier battery and a bigger and higher-up engine compartment in a 3.5t, removing the battery could be very difficult.

In the end, I got the roadside recovery service to come out and replace the battery... Something like €85 for the battery.

I noticed about a month ago the key fob wasn't working well and just bought a new battery for that too (before realising the van battery was dead), had not realised the key also relies on the vehicle electronics to work... though thinking about it now that should have been obvious!

 

[HopOnTrot]

What happens if you jump start it?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would jump start it to get it to the garage it might absolutely fine then.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I noticed about a month ago the key fob wasn't working well and just bought a new battery for that too (before realising the van battery was dead), had not realised the key also relies on the vehicle electronics to work... though thinking about it now that should have been obvious!

If you can see the battery, you might be able to read a manufacturing date; I was surprised (as I wrote in this post) to find out that car batteries only have an expected life of around 3 to 5 years.

 

[TreeDog]

What happens if you jump start it?

I don't have jump leads so would have to buy or borrow some, but I'm nervous it might die on the way to the garage and I'll be stranded, garage is about half an hour drive away. Or it might work for now but if battery is damaged from being dead a while (after more googling I think this is likely given how long its been sat) think I'll want to replace before I go anywhere with a horse on board anyway.

Also my car is a small petrol, not sure if that would be fine to jump start a diesel van from? Googling gives mixed answers and not sure I want to take the risk and end up with two dead vehicles

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

My battery on 3.5t went dead flat over this winter. Wasn’t used for a couple of months. I have home start on my rescue package and so they started it and could tell whether the battery was likely to hold a charge. After a good charge off their van and taking it for a good run it’s been fine since.