Batteries
Battery testing and replacement, because a battery that starts the car today can still fail tomorrow.
Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm. Sunday closed.
When to book it in
The engine turns over slowly when starting, worst on cold mornings.
The battery warning light comes on.
Headlights dim at idle, or electric windows move slowly.
The car has needed a jump start.
The battery is more than four or five years old.
Worth knowing before you book
Most car batteries last between three and five years. Short journeys and cold weather shorten that.
Cars with stop-start need a battery built for it, and some need the new battery registered with the car’s computer.
A battery that will not hold charge can be an alternator problem, so a proper test looks at what the alternator is delivering as well.
What the MOT does and does not cover
Battery and electrical wiring rules are part of the MOT. They sit in the section covering lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, alongside the lighting itself.
DVSA MOT inspection manual
What is being tested is roadworthiness and safety: a vehicle that cannot start, and an electrical fault that takes a light off the road, are both in scope.
DVSA MOT inspection manual
What is not tested is how much life is left in the battery. Nothing in the MOT measures remaining capacity.
DVSA MOT inspection manual
Remaining capacity comes from a load test, which is a workshop measurement and not a statutory one. A car can pass its MOT and still fail to start the next morning.
DVSA MOT inspection manual
Where this shows up in the MOT test
The MOT inspects these areas. Each link goes to the section of the test that covers it.
Book it in, or ask us first
We are at 19 Dane Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK1 1JQ.