Electrics query - Battery draining

K

kiltyarse

New Member
Hi,
I recently took my 2000TC for MoT. It had been standing for around a month without starting. When I tried it started after a couple of attempts. No trouble re-starting at garage, where it was moved around several times. Since returning home and not using for one full day, the battery was completely flat. Viewing window showing black, when it was usually green. I put it on charge, and after a few hours I could see the faintest glimmer of green through the window, so I tried it and it started. As I had other things to attend to, I disconnected it thinking all would be well and I could fully charge it next day. When I tried the following day, nothing again, not even the ignition light is glowing. All electrical components are in the OFF position. Can`t help thinking the MoT bloke disturbed something :angry:
 
What about the pesky boot light?

You need a small child to place in the boot..........i'm sure health and safety would have something to say about that......damn that PC stuff.

The PC version.
Get a video camera and place it in the boot on record. Open boot and replay tape.
 
Sounds to me as if the battery has an internal short. Unfortunately for classic car owners lead acid batteries don't like standing around not being used. So despite an apparently easy life they are likely to expire much more quickly than the one in your daily user. Obviously the first thing to do is to try properly charging it up with a good couple of days trickle charge and then see what happens. Voltage across the terminals when charged is also a good clue and if you can get at the individual cells then an old fashioned gravity float is an essential (you are looking primarily for variations between the cells). You may find you can buy a discharge tester from your local Halfords or w.h.y., but their use is not for the faint hearted. You are putting a dead short across the battery to see what current it can deliver and things do get red hot!

But do be prepared to be looking at a dead battery! You may find the best long term strategy is to buy a cheapy and plan to replace it every 18 months (say).

Chris
 
Well I left it on charge overnight, until 11am exactly, when I put it back on the car. It started first time, ignition light went out straight away, and it`s now at the MoT tester getting the rear pads done. I`m picking it up tomorrow. Strangely the viewing window was only showing a very dim green, when previously it was bright. I might ask them to test it tomorrow. ???
 
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