Battery question

Post by **ani** » Mon May 18, 2009 9:02 pm

Just wondered if I need to replace the battery. Apart from a couple of longish runs i.e.30 miles most trips have been just 2 - 3 miles over the last couple of months. Would this in itself be good enough reason for the battery to go flat. Was quite strange - firing up first turn of the key until Sunday when I noticed a slight hesitation then it started but this morning battery totally discharged. Thoughts please and before you ask nothing has been left on!!

Post by **8009STEVE** » Mon May 18, 2009 9:09 pm

2-3 mles is not enough.

Post by **ani** » Mon May 18, 2009 9:12 pm

So you mean that more charge would be used than put back? So what is the break even point? If you know what I mean .......

Post by **dalebrignall** » Mon May 18, 2009 9:22 pm

have you got a dinamo or alternator,an alternator is more efficent at charging the battery,it takes about 7 miles of driving to replace the power taken starting the car.

Post by **ani** » Mon May 18, 2009 9:27 pm

Cheers for that - it's a dynamo. Just have to make sure I go to the shop in the next village then

Now fully charged with the battery charger and ready to go.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon May 18, 2009 11:22 pm

I would say 2 miles IS enough - provided the dynamo is working ok and the fan belt is tight enough - not slipping ? Could be marginal if you have all lights + heater fan + wipers going constantly though!

Post by **mike.perry** » Tue May 19, 2009 12:43 am

Give it a top up once a week with the charger. Normally the problems arise during the winter when the oil is thicker and the engine takes more turning over, and the lights, heater, wipers etc are used more frequently
If all else fails there is always the starting handle!

Post by **ani** » Tue May 19, 2009 9:18 am

Thanks all - now I've charged it up I'll see how it behaves over the next couple of weeks. I suppose there is always the possibility that the battery is coming to the end of its life? I've no idea how old it is as it was in situ when I purchased.

Obviously a good idea to top it up every week or so but as for the starting handle - you should have been there when I tried that one!:o A quick bump start was was easier

Post by **aupickup** » Tue May 19, 2009 6:11 pm

should not really need to top up the battery charge, especially in the summer

possibly your battery is on the way out, you can get them checked

Post by **Squiggle** » Tue May 19, 2009 6:23 pm

aupickup wrote:should not really need to top up the battery charge, especially in the summer

possibly your battery is on the way out, you can get them checked

Local garage tested my battery and said it was fine. Nice honest folk. Was ready to order a new battery.

As far as I remember, it was the regulator box! Replaced and no new battery needed.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Tue May 19, 2009 7:24 pm

Have you checked the fan belt tightness?

Post by **ani** » Tue May 19, 2009 8:28 pm

Fan belt all ok as Dennis tighten it up last time he was up this way

I will get it tested just to make sure.

Thanks again all

Post by **les** » Tue May 19, 2009 9:43 pm

If I leave mine any length of time the battery goes flat, but if I disconnect for that period and then try to start, it's ok. I put it down to the memory on the radio.
It's a bit of a hassle every time, but you can buy isolator switches that fit on the battery. It sounds like you use yours every day though, in which case it could be another issue.

Post by **ani** » Tue May 19, 2009 10:06 pm

Sometimes I use it every day but sometime just one a week or if the weather is bad not even that often

I'm not that sure what you mean about your radio's memory

Does i remember things that you've forgotton

Post by **d_harris** » Tue May 19, 2009 10:12 pm

I think he is referring to the radio drawing current, even if it appears to be off

Post by **ani** » Tue May 19, 2009 10:14 pm

I did think it was probably something sensible! and my radio does have a red light on all the time even when you take the front off.

Post by **les** » Tue May 19, 2009 10:22 pm

Yes the memory draws a small current to maintain the pre-tuned stations, well that's my understanding of it! I've always thought that it was too small to drain the battery, but maybe over a period of time. Perhaps the electrical types will have a view on this.

Post by **MarkyB** » Wed May 20, 2009 7:32 am

I fitted an isolator switch to solve this as Les says.
The radio only has a flashing LED, no memory, but it was enough to drain a good battery in about a week.

Post by **ASL642** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:44 pm

Mine's wired through the ignition, so when it's "off" it's off! Got sick of dead batteries on the other car