new battery dead.. after only two months..??

[red]

Have a 1995 fto...battery is only in it two or three mths.and its dead,wont even charge any ideas what could be draining it? Thanks

[goz_83]

I would say make sure the boot light is switching off. Climb in and have a (trusted) friend close the boot and you'll soon find out. Happened in two bravas I had and my 1st fto. the connectors are sometimes too dirty to register that the light should be turned off.

[red]

Thanks goz_83. ...ill send my other half in to check..lol. Because theres no way im having anyone close me into the boot...knowing my luck the lock would go..

[colm_mcm]

I'd be checking the alternator

[Kace]

I'd be checking the alternator

+1

[red]

Thanks colm but, It has a new alternator...i think its just being not be driven enough.. It only gets driven for a hour or so each week..??

[goz_83]

If its a spurious alternator, that could be the issue. It's possible, although unlikely that you got a dud battery. Are you using a bigger battery, or do you still have the tiny micra battery in there?

[CJ]

Disconnect the negative battery terminal with the engine running, if the car cuts out, the alternator is at fault. Safety first etc.

[red]

Thanks cj...but the car wont start battery dead..but even when the battery went in it never read full on the dail on the dash...and the battery wont charge...it has to be the battery..!!

[CJ]

Try to re-energise with a plug-in battery charger, see if it holds charge. Put back into car and try to start. if it starts, pull the negative terminal. if engine dies alternator is fault. Alternatively, test the battery electrolyte levels, pick up a tester at the motor factors for this purpose.

[Kace]

I would be VERY surprised if your battery is at fault here - still feel it's the alternator. I hear you asking why..... ?

I replaced my alternator just before Christmas with a brand new shiny unit - mechanic told me when he installed that the output appeared less than he would have expected. Volt meter in the car read between 12-13v when newly installed. A proper OEM FTO alternator will run the meter up to nearly 14v.

5 months later my new alternator failed. My battery was also pretty poor as it was 4-5 years old so I decided to replace. I drove the car for 2-3 days without a fully working alternator that wasn't charging my battery. As a result my new battery voltage dropped to between 8-10v (while driving) and if I drove for a bit more I'm sure that it would have gone to zero within a couple more days.

Everything will drain your battery to zero while driving if it's not being charged, e.g. wipers, lights, radio, heater etc. etc. - it will die within days when using these things.

I have since replaced my alternator with an old OEM one from Dan - all sorted now with 14v on the meter.

[Johnk]

I got a new battery put in the father 4x4 after 2 or 3 months if was fecked . Took it back to where I got it and it happen to be a faulty 1, handed me out another and fine since then.

[optical illusion]

Bring the battery back? If it wasn't registering when you first got it why do you still have it?

If it's Halfords they have a 2 year guarantee.

[goz_83]

yeah....if you still have a receipt