It is hard to imagine that only a purchased battery can break, because it is at least 2-3 thousand rubles and a lot of wasted time. However, do not rush to part with the money and get it in order to start the engine. A failed battery can be replaced under warranty. Of course, not always. Just about what breakdowns are, what causes them, and whether it is possible to count on replacing the battery, we will discuss further.
So, problems with a new battery can be caused by two main reasons. The first of them is incorrect installation or operation, the second is a manufacturing defect. Of course, it is possible to change the battery under warranty only in the second case, namely under such circumstances:
- When a defect is found, which is called a "cold junction". In fact, this is an open circuit, as a result of which the battery becomes inoperative. In order to explain the features of this process, we will have to recall the information about the design and principle of operation of lead-acid batteries. You probably know that all positive electrodes or plates are interconnected in series with a so-called bridge. On older batteries, it is located on top and looks like lead jumpers; on modern batteries, the bridge is hidden in the case. The positive electrode, together with the negatively charged plate, alternates and forms one block with a voltage of 2 Volts (there are 6 such cans in a 12-volt battery). To separate the electrodes from each other, special plates or separators are used. In the manufacturing process of automotive and in the factory, sometimes there is no reliable contact between the jumper and the plate due to marriage. As a result, the contact is oxidized and the lead is melted under the influence of high temperature, which has arisen due to the increased resistance in the oxidized place. That is, the chain is broken. This phenomenon is called the cold junction.
- Due to a short circuit resulting from the distortion of the electrodes inside the case. It is known that the plates or electrodes of the battery are separated by separators, which often look like envelopes. During the production of the battery, the plate is lowered into the separator, and sometimes it is skewed. Having a sharp corner shape, the electrode can damage the "envelope" that serves as an insulator. As a result - short circuit and breakdown of the battery.
In conclusion, it is worth talking about another manufacturing defect, which is considered a good reason for replacing the battery under warranty. This is a short circuit that occurs due to improper operation of process equipment. Automated lines operating in battery factories sometimes make “mistakes” due to incorrect adjustment. It is this circumstance that often causes the appearance of a factory defect in the form of too much shrinkage of an overly stretched separator film and exposure of the plate, causing a short circuit.
Not always the manufacturer manages to keep track of the quality of each unit of its product. In the event of such technical control errors, there is a guarantee, thanks to which a defective item can be exchanged for a similar one, only without structural defects. And what is the warranty case when it comes to car batteries? The battery warranty covers, according to GOST 2008, the following battery factory faults:
Lack of tightness of the lid
If there is no visible damage on the cover, but wet dirt is visible on the sides, at the junction with the cases, it is worth checking whether the battery cover is well fixed. To do this, you need to tilt the battery 45 degrees. Electrolyte oozes, which means that the battery is defective and must be replaced.
Cans not sealed
Each battery consists of 6 two-volt cans, which are separated from each other by sealed plastic plates. If the walls of two separate cans from the factory leak for some reason, they form, in fact, a single large can. The voltage at the terminals drops to 10 V and the battery "does not pull".
Short circuit
A short circuit of the battery can also occur from a long service, when the active mass is shed and the separator is damaged. However, down conductors can be "short-circuited" during assembly. Then the voltage at the battery terminals will be more than 1.5 V below the set value. You can find out that one of the cans is closed using a hydrometer. The density of the electrolyte in it will be less than 1.15. If you put a battery with a short circuit on charge, active gas evolution will begin in a defective bank.
chain break
The battery contains six cans. If the electrical conductivity between one of the pairs disappears, a "break" occurs - a sharp increase in resistance in the circuit under load. Simply put, a battery with a break when checked with a voltmeter will show normal voltage at the terminals. But the load fork will bring the marriage to clean water. A load of 0.2 A sharply lowers the voltage in the network (less than 5 V).
As you can see, the sellers are not cunning at all when they say that warranty helps to replace defective goods. And marriage, alas, does not include damage to goods through negligence and / or ignorance. So, the short service life of the goods, and especially those dependent on the serviceability of the car's systems and the directness of the driver's hands, is not always a characteristic of its quality.
Therefore, first of all, you need to honestly and without emotion determine whether your battery is really covered by the warranty case. If not, then don’t even try: unscrupulous sellers can start to “dynamize” a real case of marriage, but no one will definitely accept a battery split by the negligence of a buyer.
If you are convinced that the battery was defective from the very moment of purchase, follow this plan:
- If you are still not sure if the battery is damaged during operation, or was defective from the factory, it can be diagnosed at a major dealership. It is important that the center has the widest possible range of batteries of different brands, in which case its employees will not have an interest in deceiving you and passing off a marriage as a thing that you have damaged. It is best to buy a battery in order to achieve fairness under the guarantee in the same dealership. Official dealers are willing to meet the needs of the client, given that dealer agreements most often state that the cost of replacing defective batteries is borne by the manufacturer. However, you should not carry the ruined battery to official dealers yourself: representatives of experienced companies will easily reveal the deception and look at you, to put it mildly, with disapproval.
- If you are completely sure of the marriage, and the seller continues to "go into unconsciousness", it is worth make a formal complaint. The act must indicate the transparency of the electrolyte, its density in each bank, the voltage at the terminals and the date of manufacture of the battery. It is necessary that the conclusion on the examination is issued by a competing organization. It is important that the dealer whom you entrust to carry out the examination does not work with your offenders in one bundle. Often, the same Russian battery brands on the shelves talk about such an implicit partnership.
If the result does not appear within a week, it is necessary to file a lawsuit in the world court. Representatives of the store that sold you the marriage will try to hush up the matter if the battery is really subject to replacement under warranty. After all, in the case of the start of office work, a negligent dealer will have to pay a state duty and a fine for not resolving the dispute out of court.
"Tyumen Battery Plant"
e-mail: *****@***ru
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WARRANTY CARD
for a lead-acid starter battery
Warranty obligations terminate in the following cases:
In the absence of a company warranty card or in the absence of the date of sale and the stamp of the trading organization;
If the buyer does not follow these operating instructions (overcharging, undercharging, incorrect adjustment of the electrolyte level, deep discharge, freezing of the battery, dirt on the surface, etc.), resulting in a black electrolyte, low level, electrolyte density below 1.20 g / cm3 or above 1.30 g/cm3, etc.;
The battery has mechanical damage or has been opened;
4.4 At least once a quarter (in the cold season - at least once a month) check the density of the electrolyte, which must correspond to the value of 3.1.1. If the density of the electrolyte is lower by 0.03 g/cm3 from the norm or more, recharge the battery in accordance with clause 3.3.
4.5 On batteries equipped with a screw plug indicator, the electrolyte level and the degree of charge can be determined by the following color schemes:
1 - low electrolyte level, add distilled water;
2 - low charge, recharge the battery;
3 - normal battery condition.
Before checking the battery status, gently knock on the indicator plug. When tapping, do not make great efforts.
4.6 On batteries equipped with an electronic indicator, the degree of charge can be determined by the color of the flashing light:
5 MANUFACTURER WARRANTY
5.1 If these instructions are followed and the electrical equipment of the vehicle is in good condition, the company guarantees the normal operation of the batteries for 24 months with a warranty operating time of not more than 75 thousand km of run within the warranty period.
5.2 For batteries with a capacity of less than 30 Ah, the warranty period is 12 months.
5.3 The warranty period of operation of dry-charged batteries is calculated from the date of sale through a retail network specified in the warranty card by the trading organization or from the day the consumer receives batteries for off-market consumption.
5.4 The warranty period of operation of batteries filled with electrolyte is calculated from the date of manufacture.
5.5 Claims regarding the quality of batteries should be sent to the trade organization that sold the battery, or to the manufacturer (tel. (3452) 43-47-63). Claims are accepted during the warranty period. Warranty repair or battery replacement continues the original warranty period.
do not throw in the general waste bin |
To date, there are a large number of car batteries of various manufacturers and brands on sale. Technologically, they almost do not differ from each other. In order to distinguish their product from others, manufacturers and dealers are trying to stand out with the length of the warranty period for batteries, which does not always correspond to the declared one. In order not to fall for a tempting offer, and not to get into a mess, you need to know what guarantees for car batteries are provided by law. It is on official documents that sellers will rely when deciding on non-working equipment.
Warranty is the dealer's obligation to repair or replace equipment with factory defects during the warranty period. If, for some reason, the product does not meet the generally established criteria, the manufacturer assumes the obligation to repair or replace it.
As for car batteries, the guarantee is provided purely for the elimination of manufacturing defects. Only in this case can we hope for a replacement unit or a refund. True, this is preceded by an examination. But in case of battery wear, you should not even think about the warranty, even if, for example, you “killed” it in a year, and it has a two-year warranty. In the vast majority of cases, the seller will simply refer to the deterioration of the battery, and in this case the warranty does not apply.
Does the new car warranty cover the battery?
Often motorists wonder if the car is new, is there a warranty on the battery? Yes, if the car is new, then the obligations for the return and repair also apply to its components. At the same time, the conditions for the provision of services are the same as when buying a new battery.
Battery maintenance, as you know, takes place in service centers. However, most people turn to the store or salon where they bought this car. If the car is under warranty, then most dealers take all the necessary steps without any problems, because defective products are subject to return, repair or exchange. Reputable firms, therefore, care about their reputation. For them, replacing a couple of such components is a trifle.
But returning the battery to a small shop or salon can cause a lot of protests and problems. Sellers may cleverly point out to you that your defect is due to improper operation. However, it is not so easy to convince them. Usually business income to "conversation on raised tones". It shouldn't come to that. Just take your battery for examination to an independent service center or a specialized service station. What is the use of this? You will receive a true assessment of the condition of your battery. Based on it, decide whether it can be returned under warranty.
How to return the battery under warranty?
Returning a battery under warranty usually causes a lot of conflicts. Neither the manufacturer nor the seller wants to lose the money they have earned. Because of this, the townsfolk often have to resort to extreme measures, turning to the competent authorities, and defend their demands. The federal consumer law states that if a manufacturing defect is discovered, the consumer may return the product to the point of sale.
In the case of car batteries, the buyer has the following rights:
- replace the defective unit with the same, but high-quality;
- change the battery under warranty for another model, taking into account the cost;
- require the elimination of defects;
- return a defective product with a refund.
If the battery does not fit for any parameters, then within 14 days the buyer can return the product to the seller, even if it is in good order.
It should be remembered that according to the same law, if you have lost the warranty card for the product and cannot provide it to the seller, then he must still check its quality.
Summing up, it should be noted once again that a battery replacement under a car warranty is possible only if the examination establishes that it was initially defective.
How long is the car battery warranty
As mentioned above, the manufacturer provides a guarantee only for defects made as a result of production and unnoticed by technical control. In most cases, such problems are identified within six months of work. If the motorist began to use the purchased unit not immediately, the period can be doubled. The total is one year. As long as we think the battery warranty should last.
But you are unlikely to find at least one company that has indicated such a warranty period for its product. This is due to the marketing policy of manufacturers seeking to sell their product. More often figures appear in two, three and even four years. All this is just an advertising game designed to distinguish your product from others. Even if the warranty period for the battery is specified as three years, if you contact the service center during this period of time, they will refuse to carry out warranty repairs or maintenance. They will simply conduct an examination and indicate the deterioration of the battery or improper use. And you will not be able to prove anything, since there will be no manufacturing defects on the battery.
Battery faults and defects covered under warranty
What damage is covered by the battery warranty? There are two indisputable cases: an open circuit and a short circuit. Let's consider them in more detail.
Chain break. The internal cells of the car's battery are connected to the output on its cover. During the assembly process, these joints can be welded loosely, but only slightly seized. When using batteries, a strong voltage passes through these paths, oxidizing and thinning them. After a certain time they break off. As a result, the battery is completely disabled. This damage is covered under warranty.
Short circuit. Occurs due to the small gap between the plates. The defect is manifested by a significant decrease in battery power. He's constantly breaking down. Another sign of a short circuit is the boiling of the electrolyte when charging in the bank where it happened. If this manufacturing defect is found, you can return the battery, or replace it with a new one. As you wish.
Less common defects include:
- unformed active mass;
- breaks of some electrodes in blocks from the bridge;
- electrolyte leakage through the battery case connections (in the absence of mechanical damage).
These defects are also covered under warranty, but you will most likely have to fight with the dealer, who can attribute these failures to damage that occurred during operation.
Battery examination under warranty
What if the seller refuses to provide warranty service? First of all, you need to make sure that this is the case with a manufacturing defect. To do this, you need to conduct an examination of the battery.
The battery is handed over for examination together with a fully completed warranty card and owner's comments, oral or written (preferably the last option), regarding the mode of use and the problem that has arisen.
The examination takes place in several stages:
- Verification of the data of the warranty card with the information on the labels of the device.
- Inspection of the device for mechanical damage.
- The following indicators are measured (if there are plugs on the lids of the cans):
- Density, temperature, electrolyte level;
- The transparency of the electrolyte in each bank;
- The condition of the vents.
- In the absence of plugs, the indicator is removed and the level of density and EMF in this bank is measured.
- Based on the results obtained, a decision is made: put the battery on charge or open it to check for damage.
- After removing from charging, you should determine by touch whether one of the poles has warmed up. This indicates damage.
- After opening the battery, a conclusion is made about its condition.
The examination takes no more than two weeks.
What to do after receiving the results of the examination
Having received the results of the examination, if the factory defect is confirmed, you can safely go to the dealer and demand a replacement battery under warranty. Most sellers will accommodate your request. Otherwise, you can apply to the world court, you have documentary evidence of the violation. The case will be considered within 14 days. But it is unlikely to come to this: the seller will not want to pay both the court fee and the fine for breach of warranty.
Sample warranty card
You see in front of you a sample of a correctly completed warranty card. The most important data is written in it by hand:
- name and model of the product;
- date of purchase;
- guarantee period;
- end date of the warranty period;
- Name of the organization;
- name and signature of the seller.
Below are all warranty obligations and a list of work on warranty service for the product. It is in this form that you should receive the form in the store.
In this article, we have tried to describe the main aspects of battery warranty service. We hope that the information provided by us will help you to correctly orient yourself in the event of a similar situation. Describe your battery return experience. Is the game worth the candle, or is it easier to buy a new battery?
Perky cell phone dealers are often convinced that they shouldn't be taking a given product back because of a battery failure. They do not agree to other options - to replace or repair. The store employees are trying to lay all the responsibility on the buyers of phones, who in such a situation are left without money and without a mobile phone.
To justify their actions, the sellers claim that the battery is different, and the latter expires much earlier. Some stores set the expiration date arbitrarily, at their own discretion. However, consumer rights law answers the question of whether the manufacturer's warranty covers a "dead" phone battery in a different way.
What the law says
If the warranty period for the battery has already expired, and the device itself is still valid, then in the event of a battery malfunction, the store must fulfill one of the requirements of the buyer:
- at your own expense to repair a mobile phone by replacing the battery;
- change the device to the same or similar model (with an additional payment or a refund of part of the funds);
- pick up the faulty device and return the money to the citizen.
When communicating with representatives of the store, one should refer to the provisions of two laws - on consumer rights and the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. Thus, Article 477 of the Civil Code unambiguously states: if a lesser guarantee is established for some part of the product than for the entire product, the buyer, upon detection of a defect in the component, has the right to demand its elimination within a longer warranty period. That is, if the warranty for the batteries is six months, and for the phone - two years, you can return the device that is not working due to the battery within two years.
A similar provision is contained in the law on consumer rights - article 19. But a reservation has already been made here: "unless otherwise provided by the contract." This clarification can complicate communication with the store if he enterprisingly wrote in the contract an impossibility clause with a broken battery outside the warranty period.
Seeing him, it is better to refer to the Civil Code in the claim. When buying a phone, especially an expensive one, such details must be clarified and the information received must be verified at the stage of signing the contract. You should buy a mobile device in stores that take into account the interests of the consumer as much as possible.
What to write in a claim
The claim addressed to the store manager indicates the date and place of purchase, as well as the model of the defective phone. Further, it is reported that it cannot be used due to a defective battery and explains what it specifically consists of. Then the buyer, referring to the norms of the laws, asks either to replace the battery or return the money for the purchase.
Copies are attached to the application:
- cash receipt:
- issued warranty card;
- conclusion of the service department (if it was made).
The claim is delivered by the buyer personally or sent by registered mail. He must have in his hands either a postal receipt for sending the application, or its second copy, endorsed by the store, as well as the original documents. If the seller does not respond within 10 days, the consumer has the right to defend his interests in court.
How to extend the life of a phone battery
The seller of a phone with low-quality batteries can be called to account. However, during the examination, without which the dispute is unlikely to do, the buyer will have to prove that the failure of the battery did not happen due to improper operation of the device. In order not to really become the culprit of a battery failure, sellers and manufacturers of mobile phones recommend that you follow the following rules:
- Do not overheat your phone battery. Temperatures above 40 degrees contribute to its rapid aging and failure.
- The first charge of a new phone should last at least 6 hours.
- You don't have to wait until the battery is completely discharged. The device should be recharged when the phone starts to "ask" for it.
- Do not work for a long time with an almost discharged mobile phone without connecting it to a power source, or charging it just a little (for example, from 3% to 10%). It is advisable to first charge the gadget by 50%, and only then continue using it.
Ignoring these rules may entail not only legal difficulties with the return or exchange of goods. Sometimes it causes the phone battery to detonate.
A defective battery makes it impossible to use the phone, which sometimes has to be saved for more than one month. Therefore, when purchasing a device, it is necessary to carefully study the warranty document, the content of the purchase and sale agreement, and choose a seller who is loyal to the rights and interests of buyers.
