Aftermarket October 2022

OCTOBER 2022 AFTERMARKET 45 vehicle registration into a novel number plate shaped window and the search facility does the rest. The search results not only display the relevant battery for the particular vehicle in question, they detail additional information in the form of the relevant part number, capacity, power rating and suggested selling price (SSP), including VAT.” To use Banner’s battery finder, visit: www.bannerbatteryfinder.co.uk Auxiliary batteries Vehicles are now often routinely equipped with two batteries, which can cause confusion for workshops when there is a problem. Ecobat Batteries Training Manager Christopher Jones commented: “As workshops appreciate, the days of the simple car battery are long gone. The most recent change is the increasing use of auxiliary batteries to complement the main battery, usually in larger Stop/Start equipped vehicles. Although they were initially thought to be fitted to provide back-up power to support the main battery or to support separate systems within the vehicle, research from Ecobat Battery has revealed that they often fulfil a more collaborative role in the vehicle’s power storage system. “As a proactive business with good working relationships with our customers, we like to cooperate closely with them, which is why when we were approached by one of our dealers, that had an ongoing issue with the Stop/Start system in a Land Rover Discovery that was fitted with an 019 AGM battery, we were more than willing to help. I explained that after four years, the battery could well need to be replaced because it is unable to hold sufficient charge and so had caused the Stop/Start function to stop working and the ECU to move the vehicles battery management system to battery save mode. Having subsequently tested the battery with our EBT780 battery tester the battery’s state of health (SOH) was down to 70%, a level that prevents the Stop/Start from working, in order to help reserve power, hence the light being on. “As a result, the battery was replaced, and importantly, the correct installation process followed, and was assimilated into the system using a EBT420 battery validation tool. At this point, having changed and validated the battery, the light should have gone off and the fault cleared, but instead, it came back on. Further investigation was therefore needed, which lead us to check the auxiliary battery located on the opposite side of the engine. Its reading was just 11.80 volts, so revealing an obvious problem. “Due to its SOH and also because it was of the same age as the original main battery, the auxiliary battery was then also changed and when we went back to validate the battery again, we found a question in the sub menu about both batteries being changed. After selecting this option, the warning light then when off and the Stop/Start function began operating normally. This experience demonstrates that rather than simply being an auxiliary battery, both batteries contribute to the Stop/Start system and due to the condition of the auxiliary battery in this example, the fault code could not be cleared and the Stop/Start system wouldn’t reactivate. This situation also highlights two valuable lessons for workshops; First find out whether the vehicle has an auxiliary battery; Second, check that battery when they test the starting battery.” For more information, visit: www.ecobatbattery.com