Car battery question

[Spinney]

I would have expected the rescue service to check the battery, after all if they could sell you a battery .....

He did put a meter on it to check that it was recharging (so maybe that indicates that it probably is the battery and not the alternator). He was just a chap from a local garage, via one of the cheaper rescue services (i.e. not AA or RAC). Not sure if there's anything else he could have done at the roadside? But I'll get it checked...

 

[I like Skol]

I can recommend www.tayna.co.uk batteries as a reliable internet supplier and I purchased from them just before Christmas for my Landrover and was given a discount code that may still be valid - FACEBOOK45

 

[Piemaster]

Car use pattern will effect life of it. If it's used for short journeys to the shops it probably won't get to a fully charged state on the way there, before being drained a bit again when starting it for the journey back.
I had an irate phone call from my wife complaining the car wouldn't start one snowy winter, she'd gone to pick daughter up from a late school event. A couple of questions revealed she'd been waiting sat with lights, radio (needs ignition on) and interior light on for reading the paper...

 

[gavroche]

Check that the alternator is working properly. This is what charges your battery.

 

[mybike]

Car use pattern will effect life of it. If it's used for short journeys to the shops it probably won't get to a fully charged state on the way there, before being drained a bit again when starting it for the journey back.
I had an irate phone call from my wife complaining the car wouldn't start one snowy winter, she'd gone to pick daughter up from a late school event. A couple of questions revealed she'd been waiting sat with lights, radio (needs ignition on) and interior light on for reading the paper...

And of course the modern fashion for using headlights even in brightly lit built up areas will tend to reduce the power for charging.

 

[Over The Hill]

I have got two batteries for our cars from these people
https://advancedbatterysupplies.co.uk
£50 or so for a good battery and it arrived very quickly. About half the price of shops. I got a big one for my diesel merc and saved a fortune.
5 years sounds about right to replace it. Better start there and then work on any other issues. Sounds like the radio bit just highlighted the issue.