Normally the Zed is super good at being a weekend only car. But in the past two weeks, it is p"ssing me off. Basically, the battery is draining itself dead in two days. Its just started all of a sudden over Christmas, and now I am having to jump start every two days, just to keep its alarmed. Something has changed, and it may be due to the excessive rain possibly.Once charged it runs ok.

My thoughts are a failing alternator or a dead battery (although its less than 2 years old and its a Bosch). Anyone got any thoughts on how to diagnose what may be causing this loss of charge in the battery?

If it was a dead alternator surely if it was left off for a couple of days, the alternator wouldn't drain the battery, it would only drain when the car is running as it is not topping up the battery.

Maybe wrong but that's my logic

 

If your car is running and you hook it up to a multimeter, if the alternator is working it should rise to about 14v.

 

There could be a short somewhere which is draining the battery (maybe)

 

Just some possibilities, i'm not a mechanic lol

My money would be on the battery. Get it tested, even if it's ok that's that put out the way.

My money would be on the battery. Get it tested, even if it's ok that's that put out the way.

 

And mine, they can just fail :(.

Bosh doesn't last more than 2 years so my bet is battery

Test the battery, mine failed in 8 months.

Could be the diode pack on the alternator, when they go wonky it allows current back the wrong way and will drain the battery.

Check the voltage of the battery with a multimeter.

Get yourself a new battery and a trickle charger.

Three things could be wrong

 

Alternator not charging- I doubt it this as once it's running its fine

Dead battery- as most people say I guess it's this- cold weather kills batteries- is it still under guarantee?

Current drain- connect a multi meter in series with the battery and see how much current is flowing.