FIFO Worker? Car Battery Flat After Your Swing

Fly-in fly-out work is hard on a car. It sits for two, three or four weeks at a time, starts once, does a single drive, then sits again. That pattern wears a battery down faster than normal daily driving, and it usually fails at the worst moment: when you've just landed after a long swing and want to get home.

Why Swing Rosters Kill Batteries

Every modern car draws a small amount of power while it's parked, to run the alarm, keyless entry and the computers' memory. A healthy battery handles that for two to three weeks. Past that point, or with an older battery, there may not be enough left to crank the engine.

Then there's the recharge problem. After sitting for weeks, the battery needs a good long drive to recover. If your drive home from the airport is short, it never fully recharges before the next swing, so each cycle starts a little lower. Add a Brisbane summer, and heat speeds up battery wear on top of it all.

Where FIFO Workers Leave Their Cars

Brisbane Airport AIRPARK

Brisbane Airport's own long-term option is AIRPARK on Nancy Bird Way, with a free shuttle to both terminals that runs 24/7. It's mostly open-air, with some undercover spaces available when booked online. Open-air parking for weeks at a time means a lot of sun on the car. If you're stuck at AIRPARK, tell us which section and row you're in when you call.

Off-airport parking

Several private operators near the airport offer long-term parking with shuttles, and some market directly to FIFO workers. If your car is in one of these, let us know the operator and address. Some are fenced, secure yards, so you may need to let staff know we're coming.

At home

Plenty of FIFO workers get a lift to the airport and leave the car in the garage or driveway. It's the same story when you get back: weeks of sitting, then nothing when you turn the key. We come to your home anywhere across our service areas.

How to Stop It Happening Every Swing

• Get the battery tested. If it's over three years old, a free test tells you whether it will survive another swing. A battery that's already weak won't last a month parked.
• Consider an AGM battery. AGM batteries hold their charge better while sitting than standard batteries. Read our AGM vs EFB guide to see whether one suits your car.
• Use a battery maintainer at home. If the car is in a garage with power, a smart maintainer keeps the battery topped up while you're away.
• Unplug accessories. Dash cams, GPS trackers and fridges wired into utes can drain a battery much faster than normal.
• Take the long way home. A decent drive of 30 minutes or more after you get back helps the battery recover.

Utes and 4WDs

A lot of FIFO workers drive utes and 4WDs, often with a dual battery setup, fridge and extra lights. These vehicles need a heavy-duty starting battery. We carry heavy-duty and 4WD batteries, starting from $330 installed. Our 4WD battery guide covers what to look for.

What You Pay

Standard batteries start from $240 installed, including testing, fitting and recycling the old one. Every battery comes with a 2+ year warranty. You pay once the job is done, by card, cash or EFTPOS, with no after-hours surcharge. See pricing for more. Terms and conditions apply.

There's no call-out fee when we replace your battery. A call-out fee only applies if you book us out to replace the battery and then decide not to go ahead once we've arrived.

Frequently Asked Questions

Just Landed and It Won't Start?

Call 0423 845 744 any time, day or night. You can also read our guide to battery trouble at Brisbane Airport.