Flat Battery

[James Fisher]

Hi everyone

 

Now had flat battery on 1.8 k series twice , after only 10 days of no use in between

Never had the problem last year

 

Guess most people trickle charge the battery , not an option as no power to garage

 

Question

 

1 What could the fault / problem be

2 Anyone recommend a good compact battery booster / starter pack I can charge at home & take with me when I get the car out

 

Many Thanks

 

James

Ps roll on cold clear frosty blatting mornings!

[Gingerbread Man]

What using power while the car stands unused? Immobiliser (can't use much surely!?)

 

If you disconnect the battery, does it still carry charge 10 days on or is the fault with the battery?

[Rattie]

Hi James

 

I know its an answer to a different question, but could you not screw a solar panel to the roof and charge using that?

e.g.

12W

1.5W

Just a thought.

Martyn

^{_{R300GRR SV on stands waiting to be built}}

 

Edited by - Rattie on 1 Dec 2009 21:27:09

[Doug]

Hi James

 

I too had this problem shortly after buying my car and it became more than irritating on several occasions when the car barely made it home.

 

Having replaced the battery, thinking it was no longer holding charge and then leaving the battery disconnected whenever I wasn't using the car, I finally bought an Oxford Oximiser charger (great by the way). When fully charged, the car went like a dream but on longer journeys the car would begin to misfire and the ignition light would begin to glow.

 

Ah, I thought it must be the alternator. So £65 later and a reconditioned one from a reputable local motor factor and I thought that would be that. At the beginning of the next year I was running the car during cool weather and all seemed well. Once the weather became hot and after a great trip to the Lakes, the ignition light started to glow on the M6 near Wolverhampton (60 miles from home). It seemed to go out if I blipped the throttle though so wasn't overly concerned. By the time I was home the light was glowing permanently. Bu$$er, I thought.

 

To cut a long story, it turned out that the new alt wasn't right and that the regulator was frying in the heat under the bonnet. An excellent recommendation from BC put me onto Burghfield Starter & Alternator Centre, RG7 3BL - 0118 983 2284, who have been plying their trade since time imemorial. They found that the quality of the first reconditioning was not good and that the fan had been left off the front under the pulley. They reconditioned two for me for £65!

 

No problems this year so, I hope it's problem solved.

 

 

 

'Have you any idea what it's like to have the wind rushing through your hair!' (Quote:Sq Cdr the Lord Flashheart)

[Stationary M25 Traveller]

The immobiliser will drain a battery in a few weeks. Is the car run for a decent length of time once started ... it can take quite a few miles to recharge a battery after a cold start. Are the liquid levels ok in all cells of the battery ? Are all cable connections tight - on the battery and the engine/chassis earths ?

 

 

[Jason Plato]

you could fit a discarnect from svc

 

this isolated the battery and provides security

 

 

here is my Duratec R .... C7 TOP

Taffia AO

[James Fisher]

Hi Guys

 

 

Sorry for the delay been working too much

 

Will try all your suggestions tommorrow weather permitting !!!

 

Thanks

 

 

James

[Myles]

See also a similar thread running at the moment. Kill all parasitic loads and consider a red-top (Odyssey/Powervamp or similar) battery as they keep their charge much better than conventionals - assuming you've killed the parasitics...

 

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Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com

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[elie boone]

Just a note if you use a starter pack on a battery with low voltage, if you connect the sarter pack direct to the battery you can bend the lead plates in the battery .

The result is loss of capacity.

 

You should connect the negative of the starter pack to the chassis of the car.

[bigfoot]

I have similar problems to the OP as i don't have power in my garage either. I found that my battery goes flat if i leave for a couple of weeks in the winter. I saw that Maplins were selling the 1.5W solar chargers for £10 so bought one and have just fitted this morning. To combat the elements i've left the solar panel in the plastic tray it came in and applied silicon bathroom sealer where the lead exits. The two halves of the plastic packaging are a snug fit but i stapled these together to keep most of the moisture out. My only concern is that UV light will degrade the clear plastic over time but i'll keep checking to see how it fairs. The whole ensemble is weighted down by a couple of housebricks so won't be going anywhere. Fingers crossed it works

 

Graeme

 

[Golf Juliet Tango]

Hi James.

This happens on my 21 which has a K series.

Firstly fit an isolator. Quick and simple. If you are not going to use it on track, I would fit this to break the earth to chassis (but don't use it to kill the engine, only after you have powered down).

This should mean that your battery is OK when left and sorting out the underlying problem can be done at leisure.

In the fullness of time, you can poke around with a clamp meter and find out where current is draining.

I have done step 1 but have yet to do step 2. In my case it is not the immobiliser (not used now I have an Emerald) nor is it likely to be the ECU as it happens with both Emerald and with the old MEMS unit.