Original Battery?

[Talleyman]

I haven't used the car for a couple of weeks, went to take her for a spin today and the battery is just managing to power the central locking, not much else. This has happened before and I have used a CTEK charger to get it going again no problem but I'm beginning to think that I should change the battery.
Is there any way of knowing if the battery in there is the original one? Its a Varta and I can't see any dates on it. Battery itself looks pretty mint. I'd be interested to know if its the original. Nothing in the vast array of paperwork to say that it has been changed.

[HPsauce]

I think you'll find the date code is in those embossed characters in the plastic partly hidden under the DANGER/POISON label, top right of picture.
Looks like possibly 0331, which would be week 31 2003, does that make any sense? What is your build date?

If its lasted that long that's pretty good, time to get a new one.

[Talleyman]

That makes sense - build date was 11/04. Looks like i'll get a new battery then....

[Talleyman]

Cheers for the info HPsauce

[ahoooga]

You may find a date Sticker on the side of the battery when you get it out of the well

[Shoppinit]

Pretty impressive life for an original battery. CTEK rock.

[alexc]

Depending on the Ctek unit you have, most are just designed to maintain the battery and not bring them back to life, if your Ctek unit is a proper charger as opposed to a trickle charger/conditioner it should be upto the job. If not the battery would benefit from a proper recharge to bring it back to life. Saying that, if yours is from 03/04 it's probably time to replace it anyway as you've had your money's worth.