Topping up a maintenance-free Varta battery?

[TridentTested]

My motorbike has just had its annual service and MoT. My mechanic, Alec, had to change the relatively new battery because several cells had run dry - my fault for not checking. Alec said he often sees this when customers use battery conditioners because they dry out the cells.

So I immediately had a look at the QP's (also relatively new) battery, as it too is on a conditioner, to discover that, yes, one cell is below Min.

Took it out of the car and couldn't find any way to prise off the cap. A quick google and Varta's instructions are very clear "Do Not Open The Battery".

Has anyone topped up a "maintenance-free" battery - or am I looking at buying a new one?

 

[mjheathcote]

I've topped up maintenance free batteries before.
Usually after removing a foil sticker across the top of the cells.
The only 'dry' batteries are the 'gel' ones that can be mounted in any orientation.

 

[TridentTested]

Usually after removing a foil sticker across the top of the cells.

Thanks. We tried that but there was no access under the sticker just a one piece continuous cap which seems to be designed to prevent prising off; no matter which tool we tried on it, all they did was chew its edge.

 

[jluis]

Usually that one piece plastic at the top can be prised off with a screwdriver but you will be braking bits of plastic and might end up with a battery that you can no longer seal.