Hey everyone, just wanted to share a warning about Austral Honda in Newstead so you don't get ripped off during your next logbook service.

During a service last year, I was advised my battery test showed **63% health.** For anyone who knows car physics, 13.06V is a massive "surface charge" from an engine that was just running. You are supposed to clear that charge before testing, otherwise, it chokes the scanner and artificially lowers the health reading.

The technician knew this. In the photo they sent me this year when this thing kicked off, **their finger is firmly pressed over the top of the screen** to block out the scanner's automatic message.

Fast forward to my service last month. The Service Advisor tells me in writing that the battery is now critical at **32% health** and I need a new battery urgently. Check the yellow meter reading with the duct tape holding the machine together.

I agreed to do it. Then, the dealership completely ghosted me. They ignored three consecutive emails over two weeks trying to book it in. I had to lodge a complaint with Honda Australia HQ just to get a reply. Old mate finally emailed back claiming he just "missed my email by mistake"—all three of them.

Sick of the delays, I took the car to an independent specialist for a second opinion. Their meter showed my battery is actually at **100% Health**, pushing out **437 CCA** (well above its 370 rated capacity). To be fair I had just driven there.

A car battery cannot magically regenerate its health to 100% over a year. The dealership has been using hot engine surface charges to generate fake failing reports for two years straight. When I confronted them with the 100% reading, they stone-walled me. When I escalated to Honda Australia corporate, they sent a generic brush-off email saying dealers are independently owned franchises and they won't intervene, but the Service Manager will definitely call me. It has been 4 weeks. I posted a Google Review today with the pics. 

I know this issue is not uncommon, but the issue is not upselling or overcharging, this is actual systemic deceptive sales tactics with proof.

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Caught red-handed: How a Brisbane dealer tried to scam me into an unnecessary battery replacement (With Visual Proof)