Battery not holding charge

[tef89]

I know it's the season for it and I have a good idea what's causing the problem but wanted to get the views of some better informed people:-

Got a Rover 214sli K reg (not by choice lol). Replaced the battery exactly a year ago. about a month or so the battery went flat (only use the car every couple of days and only for short journeys etc) charged it up and it lasted a month. Wasn't too surprised, afterall the cars getting on and with me only using it for short journeys in this weather. So I charge it again, used it for 1 short journey and then garaged it for a 4 days - went back to it and the battery was flat again.

I have noticed previously (and now I've charged the battery again) that the battery warning light is coming on very dimly on the dash which then mementarily disappears when I rev the engine - the headlights also get very slightly brighter and then return to normal when I rev the engine.

I'm obviously thinking it's the alternator - any ideas ?

[beekae]

Not an expert M8,but have u tried topping up battery with water

[tef89]

Yeh I made sure all the cells were full - it didn't need topping up at all

thx tho beekae

[wonkyfox]

If your battery charges up and holds a charge but wares down after a while , i`d look at he alternator , or if thats ok, it maybe the fan belt/alternator belt, ie. too slack and not charging the battery properly.. but it does sound like the alternator, to me!!

hope this helps, last thing you want is your car pegging out in the middle of nowhere in this weather mate.

[tef89]

I agree completely Wonky m8 - cheers for that

tef

[wonkyfox]

Glad to be of help...

[beekae]

If u drive it into Kwik-Fit etc.,they stick a thingy on the battery which tells u whats causing the problem,get a price,tell them your off home to get the cash,and then get it fixed somewhere else.

[panther]

Ideally you need a meter to determine if it's battery or alternator but I would also do a leakage test to see if something's draining the battery when the cars parked up. It might be something simple like a faulty boot/bonnet light switch staying on. I've got one of those Gunson diagnostic multimeters from Halfrauds about 15 years ago and it's been brilliant for diagnosing electrical & charging faults, more than paid for itself over the years.

[tef89]

Thanks Panther - A mechanic friend is gonna check it with a meter on Monday

[tef89]

Just remembered the first time I charged the battery (when it lasted a full month) I set the charger to rapid charge and this time (when it died after a few days) it was on a slow charge overnight - could that be responsible ? The charger is just a cheap £13 one from Argos.

[fe_man2000]

I have almost exactly the same problem with my missus 1990 fiesta. I dont know if this is a valid test but here goes.

I start the car OK and whiles its running carefully disconnect the batttery - the car dies instantly. Does this point to the alternator not creating enough charge to power the car and hence its using the battery all the time and runnging it down ??

Any thoughts ?

tef89 >> It might be something you can try but I an unsure what it means excalty.

cheers
Ironman

[tef89]

Thanks for the info fe_man