The Garage 356
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NEWS<br />
Unlocking profit<br />
opportunities in winter:<br />
Why car battery failures matter for automotive<br />
aftermarket professionals<br />
Banner is a founding member of the Original Equipment Suppliers<br />
Aftermarket Association (OESAA). One of the key factors behind<br />
joining was the organisation’s determination and strategy to educate<br />
today’s and tomorrow’s industry professionals – and it achieved<br />
exactly that with regular participation at AutoInform and OESAA<br />
Academy Live.<br />
In this final collaboration in the<br />
three-article series, Banner Business<br />
Development Manager, Russell Shea,<br />
explores the rational reasons behind battery<br />
failure and replacing it with a premium<br />
battery is vital, particular as temperatures<br />
plummet. This also represents opportunities<br />
for independent workshops and motor<br />
factors:<br />
As automotive professionals serving the<br />
automotive aftermarket, we know this time<br />
of year marks the start of more and more<br />
panicky customers telling you that their car<br />
won’t start! While we know more batteries<br />
fail this time of year, do you know why?<br />
Do you also know how these failures can<br />
create profit opportunities and bolster your<br />
customer service?<br />
<strong>The</strong> causes of battery failure:<br />
Wear and tear: Battery wear and tear is a<br />
natural occurrence over time. Each cycle<br />
reduces a battery’s ability to supply current<br />
(CCA). Even in a discharged state, a battery<br />
in good condition can supply the specified<br />
levels of CCA when fully charged; however,<br />
a battery in poor condition will struggle to<br />
do so while still indicating a fully charged<br />
state.<br />
Blowing hot and cold:<br />
Weather conditions play a significant<br />
role in battery performance. Cold<br />
weather affects battery plate aging and<br />
deterioration, reduces chemical reaction<br />
speeds, and increases starter motor power<br />
requirements. Charging system efficiency<br />
is also reduced. In contrast, hot ambient<br />
and under-bonnet temperatures accelerate<br />
battery aging, plate corrosion, selfdischarge<br />
rates, and electrolyte use.<br />
Plate sulphation:<br />
A natural element of battery discharge, this<br />
process coats the battery’s plates in lead<br />
sulphate when it reaches 12.4V or below.<br />
Battery discharge leads to the accumulation<br />
of lead sulphate on the plates. If a battery<br />
is not quickly recharged, these deposits can<br />
crystallise and harden, reducing battery<br />
performance. Poor stock control, recharge<br />
procedures, and undercharging conditions<br />
contribute to plate sulphation.<br />
10 THE GARAGE<br />
B<br />
10,11,News Banner Batts 2.indd 1 30/10/2023 11:41
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