Battery advice
Straight answers to the battery questions we hear every day at our Goodwood workshop, from a team that has been fitting batteries since 2003.
How long does a car battery last in Cape Town?
Most car batteries in Cape Town last about 3 to 5 years. Summer heat under the bonnet, lots of short trips, cars that stand for weeks and modern electronics all shorten that. Once your battery is three years old, have it tested before winter. The test is free and takes a few minutes.
5 signs your car battery won't survive winter
Watch for five signs: a slower crank in the morning, a battery older than three years, a recent jump start, dim lights or dash warnings, and corrosion on the terminals. Any one of these means it's worth a free test in March or April, before the first cold mornings arrive.
AGM, EFB or standard: which battery does a start-stop car need?
A start-stop car needs an EFB or AGM battery, not a standard one. Basic start-stop systems use EFB, while cars with energy recovery or lots of electronics use AGM. Always replace like with like or go up a level. Downgrading to save money usually means the battery fails early.