My car has had issues with getting a good charge from the battery for quite a while. Only ever showed about 12.7v on the SECs and lasted a max of 4 days before battery went flat.

The battery is less than 9 months old and has been tested and is OK. I had the old alarm ripped out and all the wiring, as it played up a lot and I had a new Toad fitted and then the SECs showed 12.9v-13v.

I hadn't driven the car for about 4 weeks, but had it on a trickle charger all that time, but on Sunday, I went to start it and battery was totally flat. The car started with jumper leads though. Put the car away Sunday night with proper battery charger on it, left that on until Tuesday night and went to start it again and nothing! So assumed that the charger was fubar'd. Borrowed a heavy duty charger on Weds night and then started the car yesterday and all was fine with SECs showing 13v. Took the car out to get petrol and take it for a good run, started each time fine.

Came back home and put the heavy duty charger overnight, went to start it this morning and nothing.... dead as a dodo.

Put the charger back on and car turned over ok while the charger was connected but wouldn't fire up. I am seriously pissed off, as I was meant to be taking the car to Cheshire today to have some new parts fitted and this charge issue / alternator[?] investigated.

What can drain a 'fully' charged battery overnight and now also cause it not to start?

 

I had similar issues with an Astra Turbo i had, i would try to start it in the mornings and it wouldn't go, so left it on charge all day and then it started, left it for a few hours and again nothing, not even a click !

Tried new batteries and alternator and then discovered it was the electric aerial causing the problems.

Try taking the positive off the battery when fully charged and then just touch the terminal on the battery to see if that gives you any signs, my aerial started clicking and then i knew that was the fault..

 

Cheers..... but I don't have an electric aerial LOL

I am trailoring the car to someone tomorrow for them to sort it out, it was booked in with them anyway for today to have some things replaced - springs, charge cooler pump, hoses, belts etc

I am fed up trying to sort this frigging issue out ourselves.

 

I didn't think you would but just trying to think of what it may be, even if you do that, you may find something else clicking, but if your taking it somewhere, you'll sort it, stick to the Evo !

 

if the battery is fooked it won't hold charge - even if its being charged.... how old is it?

i found though a lengthy investigation that ifi left my car unlocked in the garage the factory fit ford alarm/central locking unit pulled over 100ma at rest, if i locked the doors (ie alarm armed) this droped to about 7ma.

 

Good point about Ford alarm as during these issues, the car has been unlocked

I had the Ford immobilser ripped out though incl. wiring not long after I had the car but left the Ford alarm in.

I also have Tracker fitted and have read somewhere that the back-up battery can cause draining issues.

Richie Russ
There's a lot to be said about having a more modern car Haven't had reason to swear at it once yet!

 

the doors left unlocked will do it

an old tracker backup battery may well pull it down aswell, when was the last time it was audited by tracker, they say every 5 years even if it hasnt changed hands...

 

It would be 5yrs this July for the Tracker.

 

Back to basics , put an ammeter on it to see if there is excessive drain first.

 

Had that done 4 months ago at A1 Rallysport and nothing showed up.

 

If there's no drain then I'd say the battery has had it.