Car Battery replacement & repair in the Scottish Highlands and Islands made easy

• Mechanic will inspect the electrical system.
• If necessary the battery is replaced
• Mechanic makes sure the battery's cables have not corroded or damaged before putting them back.
• Mechanic tests the battery charging system to confirm it is working as it should be.

Unless you are a qualified mechanic with the required skills, training and equipment to do the job, we strongly recommend a car battery replacement is only carried out by a professional mechanic. ClickMechanic can help get you a vetted and local mechanic to carry out the work. Just enter your postcode and your car's registration number at the top of this page and select the work needed to get an instant fixed price up front.

• You may initially find that when you unlock the vehicle, the central locking doesn’t work.
• When you turn the key in the ignition, you have no lights on the dashboard.
• When you attempt to start the engine, you get a very slow turn over, nothing at all or just a rapid clicking.

A car battery replacement usually takes under 1 hour, but can take more time. Ultimately, the time that the job will take will depend on a number of factors, like your vehicle's make and model, year, as well as other factors. Select your car at the top of this page for information on job time and cost for your vehicle through ClickMechanic.

Every battery will eventually lose its ability to provide the power for your car and all its electrical parts need to keep working. The problem is that the warning signs might give you very little notice that your car’s battery is about to fail completely.

Battery problems are the most common cause of callouts to vehicle recovery services, accounting for 1 in 5 faults, according to one major motoring organisation.

However, a lot of issues can be caused by incorrect battery replacement sequences. These days it's not always as simple as undoing the old one and popping the new one in its place. Some vehicles require the new battery to be registered and coded to the vehicles computer system for example or windows to be reset etc.

Every time a battery goes “flat”, it can damage the cells in the unit and whilst it may show 12v the actual power of the battery is reduced. Therefore if you are having to get assistance to start a vehicle due to the battery, then you should really consider changing it.

With the newer batteries having higher demands on them, the lifespan has reduced and these batteries may only last 3 years. If you are buying a second hand car for instance, that has an automatic stop/start system, it's worth taking into consideration the cost of buying a new battery and replacing the one installed if it hasn’t been recently done.

If you suspect there is any issue with your battery or there are concerns about its age or condition, book an inspection with a professional mechanic immediate effect. Driving with a dying or faulty battery can leave you stranded.

Fixing a dead car battery may require replacement of the battery. Average cost for the replacement is £130. Battery prices for vehicles with a stop/start system are usually a bit higher.

You can't technically service a car battery, if it is faulty it is commonly replaced. Cost for a battery replacement will vary between between £100 and £300, if your vehicle has a stop/start system the price could be a little higher.

Your vehicle's manual will have guidance on the correct battery needed for the car. If you are unsure which battery is required, check with a professional mechanic, they will be able to help to identify which battery is needed for the car. Our in-house mechanic team can help find the right battery for you.

Whether you need to replace or charge the battery will depend on the condition of the battery. If the battery is faulty then charging it will not help. If you're unsure whether you can still try charge your battery or if you need a new battery book an inspection wih a professional mechanic, they can check and advise on next steps.

Yes, batteries are checked as part of an MOT and hence your car can fail on an issue with the battery that is considered a major issue. For example it might be flagged that your car battery is mounted insecurely or that the battery is leaking.

A car battery is responsible for starting the car, as well as powering other electrical systems in the car. It provides power to the starter motor, ignition system, and other electrical systems such as the stereo.

If you notice that the engine starts but dies soon after, then the alternator probably isn't keeping the battery charged. When you start up the car and notice that the interior lights are slowly fading, it could also indicate an issue with the alternator.

If you try jump starting the car and it works, it could imply an issue with the battery. However, it is important to note that a dead battery can also be caused by a failing alternator.

To test the starter, put on the headlights, if they don't come on, then the battery is probably flat or dead and may need to be recharged or replaced. If the headlights do come on, then try starting the car. If it still won't start, then the starter motor may be the problem.

If the battery is flat (for reasons such as leaving headlights on) then you can jump leads to jump start it. If the battery is dead, then you will need to replace the battery completely.

Before attempting to jump start your car, first check that the battery is not leaking any acid as it could be a safety hazard. You'll need another person with a car to help as the process of jump starting is a two person job.

• Find the positive and negative terminals on the battery and attach the jump leads.
• The positive terminal will usually be marked with a "+" sign, while the negative terminal will usually be marked with a "-" sign.
• Have the other person start their car and let it run for a few minutes which should help charge up your battery.
• Once your car starts, drive around for 30 mins or so to fully charge up the battery.

If jump starting doesn't work, the problem could be something else and you'll need to seek professional help from a mechanic or technician.

Yes, a bad alternator can damage a new battery if it does not provide a consistent charge, it can also shorten the battery's lifespan.

No, you don't need to in all circumstances. However, it depends on the initial fault and if the battery was also affected by the issue that led to the alternator replacement. If the battery is old or more than 5 years, then it may be worth replacing the battery as well.

30 minutes of driving should be an adequate time to charge the battery on most modern cars. However, this time can depend on a number of factors. For example, driving 30 minutes on a motorway may be enough to charge the battery while if you're driving around town, it may take 1-3 hours to charge it up.

Most car batteries come with a warranty of 3-5 years, but this can differ based on the manufacturer and the individual warranty conditions.

Battery is considered a "wear and tear" component so it's not always the case that the manufacturer's warranty will apply. With some manufacturer's the battery will be covered for the first year, however, so the best thing to do is check with the dealership or manufacturer.

Typically, a car battery can last for up to 2 to 4 weeks without charging. In the case of relatively new and well-maintained car batteries, they can even last 2 months without a charge.