I went to the car today which has been stood since Weds afternoon and it wouldn't start. The doors opened ok and everything lit up and it tried to turn over but there wasn't enough juice. I tried my booster but the clips won't fit on the terminals so I out the charge on it but after 10 hours it still won't turn over. I think I may need a bigger / better charger!

I've had no problems before and it's been stood over weekend before without problems so I'm guessing the cold snap last night has caused the problem.

I'll have to have another go in the morning.

How long would you expect it to take to charge?

thanks

There are simple ways to prove the starter at fault or bad connection or bad battery. Try a start up with headlights on, If your headlights go way dim when you try and crank, it's not likely the starter, you have no 'whack '' in the battery... fi still bright-ish it's likely the starter. If battery not taking charge after 6 hrs, suspect battery or charger. Make sure your terminals are tight, and not getting too hot to hold finger on, just after cranking. -bad connection. Can you jump start from another car? Often a battery will go total bad on one cell and its toast. -if you can use a digital voltmeter, you want to see at least 12.6v dc, not 12.5v or less. There are plenty of readers posts on here, relating to correct battery voltage, after a charge. You should use the posts on suspension turret to connect jump leads to.

Thanks,

I wasn't aware of the jump posts, thats a big help. I put my battery charger on and left it but it still wont start, it almost did but not quite. I left it again overnight but this morning it almost immediately started cliccing and the lights on the dash went off.

I already ordered a CTEK MXS 7.0 which should be here today so i will try that. I dont think my charger has enough juice.

I will have to check the paperwork, I think there may still be some warranty on the battery.

Thanks for the help.

Well it's been on charge all day again with the old charger but no improvement. The new ctek has arrived and been connected now. When I plugged it in the indicator showed it completely flat and when I check just now it had moved to the next one up so hopefully that's a good sign. Maybe the old one wasn't working properly.

Just checked and the battery is a Bosch installed earlier this year.

Fingers crossed for the morning.

Have you checked the battery terminals and the +ve jump post terminals are all tight?
The Ctek charger should indicate the state of charge of the battery as it progressively charges.

Fish fill in your car profile bits

I'm not far away if you want any help or a good new/unused 110ah Varta battery that I've had sat in my garage for a while

Checked it a few times recently and it's holding a pretty good charge 😄😄 FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

Thanks guys.

The battery indicator was increasing last night. I checked it before going to bed and it was on the 3rd level showing it should be enough to start, I'm going to try it in a minute or two then I'm going to put the meter on and check the voltage.

I tried to set my profile but when I open it the email address changes to my username and when I change it back it tells me it's already in use. I'm in Bolton by the way.

Well, good(ish) news. Checked the battery and it was indicating fully charged and it started first time. When I put the multimeter on with the engine running it was only showing around 11.9v. Is this because it's been flat or it's on tickover? It should be 14.2v or more shouldn't it?

Does this perhaps point to an alternator fault? I am sure this was replaced at the same time as the battery earlier in the year.

I'm going to call and get the battery tested today but I'm am bothered they will automatically say it needs replacing

Update:
Just given it a run on the way to work (took a long way round). Its so good to be in it again. I like driving the wifes Alfa but despite the problems I know I had a smile on my face driving to work.

I checked the voltage again and it is now 14.39v with the engine running.

When I was packing the equipment away I noticed the side lights flash once each alternately - is this some kind of test.

You may have LED's in the sidelights which flash occasionally due to the cold/hot monitoring. Mine flash at the same time though.

Please complete your car profile so we know which year/model we are dealing with  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

From what you describe I doubt there is anything wrong with either your battery or alternator.
However if your battery drained in approx 3-4 days you have a significant drain somewhere, unless of course you left something switched on by mistake.

Sorry guys, I tried to set my profile earlier on the ipad but it wouldnt let me. I ve done it now though on the laptop. I have a 2007 TDV8 Vogue.

Joe - I do have led's in the sidelights, perhaps I've just never noticed them flash before.

I tried the car again a couple of hours after parking at work and it fired first time, I will keep checking it but hopefully its ok now.

nicedayforit - I'm not aware of anything left on, all lights were off and there is nothing plugged in inside that isn't on an ignition feed. Perhaps its just the cumulation of a couple of weeks with very short journeys with heaters, lights etc on all the time.

Thanks for the imput guys

Just a thought, is the cover where the diagnostics plug into closed? I read on one thread here that if it is left open it can cause a drain on the battery, or was I dreaming?

And hey Fish! you have a red one  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Yes Joe, I like to be different, none of this silver / grey malarkey

Thanks Paul, Ill have a look at that - now you mention it that rings a bell with me too.

my kids leave the roof spotlights on sometimes...