Bosch Car Service - Battery Guide

What are the points to watch when buying a battery?

The constantly increasing amount of electrical equipment in cars and new technologies such as start/stop systems or braking energy recovery demand high-performance batteries. Conventional sources of power for example are soon overtaxed by frequent engine starting.

By contrast, special battery models such as the S6 AGM and S5 EFB from Bosch provide far more power and can withstand a great number of charging cycles. The experts at your workshop will be pleased to advise you further, as the cheapest battery is not always the best choice. It should also be remembered that, for safety reasons, batteries fitted in the passenger compartment must be explosion-proof.

To find out more about the differences between the two battery models EFB and AGM and the full range of Bosch batteries, click here.

Why is the battery check so important?

Have you any idea about the current state of your battery? Most drivers probably do not give it a thought until they have a breakdown or their vehicle refuses to start. The best solution is to have a regular battery check performed at a Bosch Car Service workshop. It makes more sense to spend a few minutes in the workshop than to wait around for hours for a breakdown service to turn up.

You can also perform this check yourself with the C3 or C7 battery charger from Bosch. This ensures that the battery is always ready for action and fully charged – quickly, easily and completely without risk. With the C7 it is even possible to re-charge exhaustively discharged batteries - at the press of a button.

What is the main cause of breakdowns?

Would you have known that one in three breakdowns is the result of a defective battery? But it is not always the actual battery that is the problem. Other components may also be the cause of failure. In other words: Replacing the battery will not automatically solve the problem if your vehicle refuses to start. So it is advisable to look into other possible causes to avoid yet another trip to the workshop – this saves time, money and any amount of bother.

What are the most common causes of failure?

In addition to excessive storage times, one of the main reasons for battery failure is so-called exhaustive discharge. In this process the entire capacity is drawn off at once. The damage to the battery in this condition may be considerable depending on the length of time for which the vehicle is not driven. Consequences: Loss of power, re-charging not possible, substantial curtailment of service life.

Why does the winter present particular problems?

You would be surprised: batteries like it cold. During the hot summer time abrasion is far higher than in cold winter months. However, due to viscid, cold engine oil the battery has to overcome higher demands which then leads to defects.

How can you give your battery a helping hand?

The Bosch C3 and C7 battery chargers bring batteries back to life quickly and easily. The C7 is even capable of effortlessly re-charging exhaustively discharged batteries. So you can get through the winter without any problems. For further information on battery chargers from Bosch, useful accessories and charging car batteries, visit: Battery Chargers website.

How safe is it to re-charge batteries?

No need to worry! The electronic charging system of the Bosch C3 and C7 battery chargers automatically checks how much charge your car battery actually needs or can take – irrespective of the type of battery concerned. But re-charging is entirely safe in any case: One-button operation makes incorrect use virtually impossible and the terminals remain de-energized if they are not or are incorrectly connected to the posts. This means you can charge your car battery without any risk and, if required, without removing it from the vehicle.