Hi guys and girls, after only about 4 days of not running the car the battery dies, even the alarm light does not work its that dead, apparantly the battery is quite new, I charged it for 24 hours and it was fine, but after a few days it was dead again, the battery does hold its charge once ive taken it for a spin so I dont think its the alternator, could it just be that the battery is useless now as its run flat a few times?

 

Thanks

Leigh

Its easily tested at any tyre and exhaust or motor facotrs but from what you have said yes it sounds like the battery.

Worth checking that nothing is left on in the car (boot light staying on etc). An easy way to prove would be to take one side of the battery connectors off each time the car is left for some time.

I have the same problem with my van. It has what it called a parasitic drain when left for three or four days. I checked the battery circuit with a multi tester and when connected in series it was showing 135 milliamps with everything switched off. The most the system can stand is 60 milliamps before draining the battery. I even pulled every fuse while the meter was connected and the 135 milliamp drain was still there. It goes to an Auto sparks next week.Get the garage to check both the battery under load and the drain at rest.

 

Good luck.

i remember when me mums car battery kept draining the AA bloke had some gizmo meter with like a crabs claw which when clamped over the live showed any drain from the battery.

 

dan.:D

Alarm systems can cause a bit of drain too. Maybe also alarm back up nicads that are past their best and draining main battery charge to help keep them charged.

funnily enough mine died on Tuesday. when leave it over the weekend and start on Monday its a little slow to turn over but once going she's fine. I left it for three days over this weekend and when I went to her on Tuesday she was almost flat - barely had the strength to unlock the doors but not enough to fire the starter. i always keep a spare for these occasions so i swapped it over (a REAL pita :rant:) - i'll have to get into the habit of hookin up the maintenance charger over weekends :(

i think due to my electronics (RSM, SAFC2, EBC, turbo timer, CD) that I reckon all need a sliver of charge to keep settings, and the alarm/immob, plus i have reverse indiglo dials and an illuminated rear panel which perhaps reduces what charge the battery gets while im driving at night - are all probably the cause.

i think i should spend some time with an ammeter hooked up to the battery and methodically remove some fuses to see what impact it all has.

a duff diode in an alternator can drain a battery. I had one in my escort was fine when running but if you left it for a bit would go flat(started off a few days to go flat but eventually a few hours at the the end of it's life). Was a new battery on there too and as is said above if I left the battery disconnected on parking up it would not go flat.

When I start getting more use out of it (cant drive at mo) I will take it to my mechanic and he can tell me if its the battery or altenator as im going to be having a service done any way. Thanks for all your replies guys, much appreciated.