JonL

So I went to take my car for an MOT this morning and the battery was completely flat.

I quickly took a multimeter to it and it was 1 volt!

I only drove the car 2-3 weeks ago, so it's not like it's been sitting for a long time to get down to that level from not being used.

I've got 2 questions:

- Any ideas as to what may have caused it to drop so dramatically? (I have a tracker, but surely it can't draw that must power)

- Will it be possible to charge the battery up from 1 volt? (was thinking of getting one of the Ring Smart Chargers?) Or shall I just buy a new battery?

Thanks in advance for any help!

opposite lock

iTrader: (3)

Maybe a boot light or interior light was left on ? slowly charge her back up if its a good battery.

JonL

Thanks - Couldn't find anything switched on when I looked after I found it was flat, but will have a further look later.

Will give the battery charging a go, hopefully it will be ok, have read about issues with chargers having problems with batteries with such a low voltage.

JonL

Can't get the charger to recognise it, just seems to flash 0's when it's connected to it (doesn't say what this means in the charger manual)

Do I assume that battery is completely dead?

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

If the battery is totally flat then no, most chargers will not bring it back to life. Some chargers will pulse charge to try and bring it back up but I doubt it will work if you are only reading 1v.

I'd think it has a drain on the system somewhere, just a knackered battery will not drop as low as 1v, they will normally stay pretty constant until you put it under load, which is when it will drop off.

RSLUBBY

iTrader: (19)

Mines the same and after two weeks flat I just leave a ceetek trickle on it. If battery on its way out surely alarm and other things would then drain it to flat.

ajamesc

Two to three weeks is a long time if your alarm is armed and pulling half an amp or so!

JonL

Thanks guys, replaced battery and have left on trickle charge, will have a look for drain when I have a bit more time.

Strange thing is, now the old battery is removed, it's reading 6 volts - weird...