Seeking Advice on Dim Lights and Weak Battery Issues in 2009 Nissan Vanette

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2007 Nissan NV200. I have some experience with cars but I'm no expert. I took it to my local workshop where they did some diagnostic tests and figured out that the emergency battery was completely drained. They got it replaced for me, and it cost me around 110 Euro. Sounds like you could be dealing with a similar issue. Could you possibly share more information about the frequency of this problem and your driving habits? More details would be useful to suggest something more specific. Hope this helps!

(Translated from German)

Hey, thanks for the response! I really appreciate it. This problem is pretty frequent and seems to occur every morning during cold start-ups but it's progressively getting worse. I drive my Vanette about 50km daily for my catering business, mostly stop-and-go city traffic. It was last serviced about a month back when the mileage was around 70463 km. Their checks didn't flag any battery issues then. I guess it's time for a battery replacement as you say. Making a workshop stop next week. This issue's just been a bit of a bummer. Thanks again for the insight!

(Translated from German)

No problem at all! Glad to lend a helping hand. Your symptoms definitely sound like a classic case of a dying battery. Especially if the problem seems to be getting worse each time, it's likely the battery just can't hold a charge anymore. The cold weather doesn't help either - that's always tough on batteries. Given the age of your Vanette and the daily stop-and-go driving, it does eat into the battery life. And sometimes these things just miss getting picked up during servicing. So yeah, getting the battery checked and possibly replaced is probably a good idea. Remember though, the pricing could vary, my repair cost was just a ballpark. But don't worry too much. It's a pretty straightforward fix and should give you some peace of mind on those morning start-ups! Hope your workshop visit goes smoothly and your Vanette gets back to its reliable self. Keep us updated if you can, always good to learn from each other’s experiences. Drive safe!

(Translated from German)

Really can't thank you enough for all your advice! It's totally put my mind at ease. I was stressing way too much thinking it could've been some major engine issue. I agree, batteries can be so fickle with the cold and my driving pattern isn't making it any easier either. I'll definitely get it checked and most likely replaced at the workshop. Thanks for giving me a realistic idea of the repair cost too. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it doesn't go beyond my budget. I'll share updates once it's all sorted, you never know who else might be going through the same thing. You guys are a lifesaver. Take care and happy driving!

(Translated from German)