Is there any way of checking whether I've got a battery or alternator problem?

I had to jump start my S1 last Sunday and I left it running for best part of an hour, I then took it for a 15 minute drive before letting it tick over for a further 30 minutes, as soon as I turned it off it wouldn't start again. There wasn't even enough power for the alarm to beep and the indicators to flash, and the remote locking/unlocking wouldn't work either.

So battery or alternator? Easiest way to find out?

Thanks in advance.

CheeRS

 

sounds like the battery to me,i had the same on my mondy last week
if you take the battery into a spares shop they can test it there anyway

 

as above sounds like batt to me

 

my mondy did excatley the same,dead batt,jumped it and ran it for half an hour,turn it off,would start again,charged battery over night and it still didnt have any guts in it so got a new battery and jobs a good'un

 

Thanks guys, it looks like a pretty cheap old battery to be honest.

What's a decent one to get? How much?

 

halfords,think there about 50 nicker for one the size you want

 

multi meter 10-12volts when engine off 12-14.4volts when on.

 

Cheers Popeye.

Thanks Paul I'll give it a go.

 

Fook me £50! I can get the biggest flat post battery that are available in Bosch Silver for £25!!!

Don't ask me to get you one though.....

 

please??????

 

Tested it yesterday.

3.5 volts when engine off! It's so dead even the interior light and clock have stopped working!

A new battery it is then!

Thanks guys.