Flat battery

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 1:55 pm

I've been out to my Minor today (it's off the road at present but started occasionally) and find battery is 100% flat.
Nothing seems to have been left on and fluid level it full so am a little surprised as normally it starts the car easilly even if left for months.
I've put the battery on charge but think it might still be under guarantee (Halfords own make) so will have to hunt out the receipts given me by previous owner.
In future I'm going to disconnect the battery but wonder if a completley flat battery (multimeter showed less than 6v) will recover after charging or should i concentrate on finding the receipt ?

Thanks.

Paul Humphries.

Post by **DaveC** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 2:08 pm

I'd have though it would recharge OK. Starting takes a fair chunk out of the battery, and would take a long time to recharge especially on a dynamo. Cold and damp will flatten a battery especially if already quite discharged (I usually spray the top with WD40 to displace moisture). Do you have a radio? When mine is off it still uses a bit of current to work the clock and memory.
Cheers
Dave

Post by **Orkney** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 2:08 pm

Find the reciept - once that hapens its not worth trusting - besides better to get a new one for free whilst you can

Post by **DaveC** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 2:10 pm

Well yes, good point. If you can get a new one go for it

Post by **paulhumphries** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 2:51 pm

On reflection I have had to charge it up a few times - even when it was being used regulary so reckon I'll dig out receipt and see what Halford say.

Paul Humphries

Post by **dalebrignall** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 3:16 pm

we had a halfords battery on my dads car they are guarenteed for 4 years.it died at 3years and 11 months they replaced the battery

Post by **Willie** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:47 pm

You can be unlucky with any battery from anywhere but,if it is still under guarantee you have no worries. My Halfords battery lasted eight and a half years! If,in wintertime especially, you do very little daytime running then the battery, any battery, will benefit from regular trickle
charging. If you suspect there is a continuous drain on the battery then disconnect one battery lead and connect an ammeter between it and the now unconnected battery terminal and see if it reads a current drain
with the doors fully closed.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:21 pm

Something must have drained it - but yes if you can get a new one - go for it!

Post by **Kevin** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:53 pm

see if it reads a current drain
with the doors fully closed .

Well I was going to ask what the doors had to do with but then the courtesy light penny dropped

Post by **Orkney** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:07 pm

A courtesy ligth !!! now thats what i call luxury !!!! Mines either a torch if ive remembered it and if there are working batteries in it - or the ever faithful lighter - if theres gas in it !!!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 7:34 pm

Wot - no Northern Lights ?

Post by **Robins** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:04 pm

Might not be the end of the world. If it's got 6 volts then it's not 100% flat is it. I wanted to use the battery in my traveller the other day to run my lead light, not used the car for at least 4 months and I had forgotten to disconect it!, bearing in mind this was a '2 year' garuntee battery about 7 year ago! The alarm/immboliser had reduced it to nothing, I mean the volt meter did not move at all. A trickle charge has vevived it to 13 volt. So don't give up just yet, it's not the first time i've done that either.