I got the AA out last week as my battery had gone flat as I'd not used
the car for two weeks. They did a proper computer test and declared it
demic. However the test was done on an almost flat batt, as the car
had only been ticking over a couple of minutes.
I questioned whether it was showing as demic just because the batt
wasn't yet properly charged, but they said no, the batt was knackered.
I didn't really believe them, as it was a brand new heavy duty one. So
I took car for a good drive to fully charge it, then got Kwik Fit to
do a batt test. They said there was nothing wrong with it at all!

Quite annoyed, as the AA say I now can't call them out for a flat batt
as I've not bought a new one. I would have to provide a receipt for a
new batt, or evidence from Kwik Fit, which they wouldn't give.

So I guess it's impossible to properly test a batt until it's fully
charged then, despite the AA being adamant that they had tested it
sufficiently?

Kiteflyer wrote:
> I got the AA out last week as my battery had gone flat as I'd not used
> the car for two weeks. They did a proper computer test and declared it
> demic. However the test was done on an almost flat batt, as the car
> had only been ticking over a couple of minutes.
> I questioned whether it was showing as demic just because the batt
> wasn't yet properly charged, but they said no, the batt was knackered.
> I didn't really believe them, as it was a brand new heavy duty one. So
> I took car for a good drive to fully charge it, then got Kwik Fit to
> do a batt test. They said there was nothing wrong with it at all!
> 
> Quite annoyed, as the AA say I now can't call them out for a flat batt
> as I've not bought a new one. I would have to provide a receipt for a
> new batt, or evidence from Kwik Fit, which they wouldn't give.
> 
> So I guess it's impossible to properly test a batt until it's fully
> charged then, despite the AA being adamant that they had tested it
> sufficiently?

I think that's a well known ploy of the AA. They 
normally carry spare batteries and try to persuade 
you to buy one of their ones.
I remember seeing that on the tele a few years back.

Bod

Kiteflyer  gurgled happily, sounding much
like they were saying:

> I got the AA out last week as my battery had gone flat as I'd not used
> the car for two weeks. They did a proper computer test and declared it
> demic.

Demic?

Anyway, a good battery won't "go flat" solely because you've not used the 
car for two weeks.

On 19 Nov, 13:34, Adrian  wrote:
> Kiteflyer  gurgled happily, sounding much
> like they were saying:
>
> > I got the AA out last week as my battery had gone flat as I'd not used
> > the car for two weeks. They did a proper computer test and declared it
> > demic.
>
> Demic?

Fucked.
>
> Anyway, a good battery won't "go flat" solely because you've not used the
> car for two weeks.

It was a bit longer than two weeks actually, but was totally properly
flat.

Kiteflyer wrote:
> On 19 Nov, 13:34, Adrian  wrote:
>> Kiteflyer  gurgled happily, sounding much
>> like they were saying:
>>
>>> I got the AA out last week as my battery had gone flat as I'd not used
>>> the car for two weeks. They did a proper computer test and declared it
>>> demic.
>> Demic?
> 
> Fucked.
>> Anyway, a good battery won't "go flat" solely because you've not used the
>> car for two weeks.
> 
> It was a bit longer than two weeks actually, but was totally properly
> flat.
> 

As opposed to improperly flat?

Bod

Kiteflyer  gurgled happily, sounding much
like they were saying:

>> > I got the AA out last week as my battery had gone flat as I'd not
>> > used the car for two weeks. They did a proper computer test and
>> > declared it demic.

>> Demic?

> Fucked.

Now why didn't you just say that...? <g>

>> Anyway, a good battery won't "go flat" solely because you've not used
>> the car for two weeks.

> It was a bit longer than two weeks actually

Hmm. How long? Assuming it's something reasonably modern, with stereo 
memory, alarm, remote locking - you'd still expect it to have SOME life 
(albeit possibly a slowish churn or even clicking) after a month or more. 
TOTALLY not-lighting-lights flat takes a reasonably long while, with a 
good battery.

> but was totally properly flat.

Which, in itself, really doesn't do batteries a lot of good.

On 19 Nov, 13:27, Bod  wrote:
> Kiteflyer wrote:
> > I got the AA out last week as my battery had gone flat as I'd not used
> > the car for two weeks. They did a proper computer test and declared it
> > demic. However the test was done on an almost flat batt, as the car
> > had only been ticking over a couple of minutes.
> > I questioned whether it was showing as demic just because the batt
> > wasn't yet properly charged, but they said no, the batt was knackered.
> > I didn't really believe them, as it was a brand new heavy duty one. So
> > I took car for a good drive to fully charge it, then got Kwik Fit to
> > do a batt test. They said there was nothing wrong with it at all!
>
> > Quite annoyed, as the AA say I now can't call them out for a flat batt
> > as I've not bought a new one. I would have to provide a receipt for a
> > new batt, or evidence from Kwik Fit, which they wouldn't give.
>
> > So I guess it's impossible to properly test a batt until it's fully
> > charged then, despite the AA being adamant that they had tested it
> > sufficiently?
>
> I think that's a well known ploy of the AA. They
> normally carry spare batteries and try to persuade
> you to buy one of their ones.
> I remember seeing that on the tele a few years back.

ISTR that was the RAC, not the AA who were doing that trick. I've
driven many shitheaps and called the AA a few times over the years.
The only time they ever took money off me was when a failed sender led
to me running out of fuel and I paid for the gallon they gave me.

Mike P

Adrian wrote:
> Kiteflyer  gurgled happily, sounding much
> like they were saying:
> 
>>>> I got the AA out last week as my battery had gone flat as I'd not
>>>> used the car for two weeks. They did a proper computer test and
>>>> declared it demic.
> 
>>> Demic?
> 
>> Fucked.
> 
> Now why didn't you just say that...? <g>
> 
>>> Anyway, a good battery won't "go flat" solely because you've not used
>>> the car for two weeks.
> 
>> It was a bit longer than two weeks actually
> 
> Hmm. How long? Assuming it's something reasonably modern, with stereo 
> memory, alarm, remote locking - you'd still expect it to have SOME life 
> (albeit possibly a slowish churn or even clicking) after a month or more. 
> TOTALLY not-lighting-lights flat takes a reasonably long while, with a 
> good battery.
> 
>> but was totally properly flat.
> 
> Which, in itself, really doesn't do batteries a lot of good.

Anyway  "demic"?   > The Demics were a Canadian 
punk rock band, active in the late 1970s.

Bod

Mike P wrote:
> On 19 Nov, 13:27, Bod  wrote:
>> Kiteflyer wrote:
>>> I got the AA out last week as my battery had gone flat as I'd not used
>>> the car for two weeks. They did a proper computer test and declared it
>>> demic. However the test was done on an almost flat batt, as the car
>>> had only been ticking over a couple of minutes.
>>> I questioned whether it was showing as demic just because the batt
>>> wasn't yet properly charged, but they said no, the batt was knackered.
>>> I didn't really believe them, as it was a brand new heavy duty one. So
>>> I took car for a good drive to fully charge it, then got Kwik Fit to
>>> do a batt test. They said there was nothing wrong with it at all!
>>> Quite annoyed, as the AA say I now can't call them out for a flat batt
>>> as I've not bought a new one. I would have to provide a receipt for a
>>> new batt, or evidence from Kwik Fit, which they wouldn't give.
>>> So I guess it's impossible to properly test a batt until it's fully
>>> charged then, despite the AA being adamant that they had tested it
>>> sufficiently?
>> I think that's a well known ploy of the AA. They
>> normally carry spare batteries and try to persuade
>> you to buy one of their ones.
>> I remember seeing that on the tele a few years back.
> 
> ISTR that was the RAC, not the AA who were doing that trick. I've
> driven many shitheaps and called the AA a few times over the years.
> The only time they ever took money off me was when a failed sender led
> to me running out of fuel and I paid for the gallon they gave me.
> 
> Mike P
> 

I stand corrected.

Bod

Adrian  wrote:

> Kiteflyer  gurgled happily, sounding much
> like they were saying:
> 
> > I got the AA out last week as my battery had gone flat as I'd not used
> > the car for two weeks. They did a proper computer test and declared it
> > demic.
> 
> Demic?

I suspect someone is Mancunian, it's the only place I've heard the term
used. However it's not being used in the correct context IMO, since its
usually applied as a derogatory term for anyone with mental health
issues.
 
> Anyway, a good battery won't "go flat" solely because you've not used the
> car for two weeks.

Nope, I leave the tractor battery unattended for up to three months at a
time. It still holds a full charge at the end of that period - good
enough to start the engine without any priming or fiddling about.

Steve Firth wrote:
> Adrian  wrote:
> 
>> Kiteflyer  gurgled happily, sounding much
>> like they were saying:
>>
>>> I got the AA out last week as my battery had gone flat as I'd not used
>>> the car for two weeks. They did a proper computer test and declared it
>>> demic.
>> Demic?
> 
> I suspect someone is Mancunian, it's the only place I've heard the term
> used. However it's not being used in the correct context IMO, since its
> usually applied as a derogatory term for anyone with mental health
> issues.
>  
>> Anyway, a good battery won't "go flat" solely because you've not used the
>> car for two weeks.
> 
> Nope, I leave the tractor battery unattended for up to three months at a
> time. It still holds a full charge at the end of that period - good
> enough to start the engine without any priming or fiddling about.


The term was used correctly, albeit slang:


http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=demic

Bod

%steve%@malloc.co.uk (Steve Firth) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying:

>> Anyway, a good battery won't "go flat" solely because you've not used
>> the car for two weeks.

> Nope, I leave the tractor battery unattended for up to three months at a
> time. It still holds a full charge at the end of that period - good
> enough to start the engine without any priming or fiddling about.

I rather suspect your tractor doesn't have an alarm, stereo memory or 
remote locking, though.