simpsons !

Firstly my partner hates it, The look the noise everything, She feels embarressed (SP) being seen in it, Luckily her 8 year son loves it!!!! But once again i have had to jump start it, It's on it's third battery, they have done all the checks with the alternator and the like and the say it's A1, But i drive at most 3 miles to work and back an i think this is the problem it dosn't get chance to charge, The girlfriend has said just get rid of it. Not a chance.. Answers please i'm desperate as i might buckle..

Simpsons!

RSLEG1

hi mate,

How long have you had the car to manage killing 3 batteries?

i think you've answered your own question "i drive at most 3 miles to work and back an i think this is the problem it dosn't get chance to charge"

Do you work night-shift i.e running headlights all the time and running heavy i.c.e.?

If you do any of the above on a 3 mile round trip then it's gonna need a good long stretch every now n then!!

(plus winter is notoriously bad on batteries!!)

scooby_will

if this is the case with only small journeys and if you have a garage, invest in a battery optimiser, put it on this maybe once a week on a trickle charge and all will be fine, alternativly give it a good long blast like on a sunday, maybe with your 8 year old then your taking him and and he loves it and your enjoying it as well

simpsons !

What sensible replys so far! I have owned the car from new and the first two years was not a problem as i was doing around 30 miles a day i have since moved a lot closer to work and do at most 6 miles around trip, And yes i run some ice in the car, Just a sub and an amp.

Simpsons!

RLE

iTrader: (2)

I had the same problem with mine (03 plate) when I got it 3 years ago

Binned the crap battery and went with a Calcium one from Halfords (4 year warranty - code HCB005)

Due to the smart alternator always run mine with the side lights on which has helped.

Never had any problems since.

Your other half sounds like mine............shame they dont have batterys that go dead after a few hours

M444GY

iTrader: (72)

IT SOUNDS AS IF IT HAS A BATTERY DRAIN sorry caps lock off now lol

id get it checked out before u buy any more batteries .

could be volumetric sensors faulty or something is staying on when you turn the car off eg radio etc .

Red Rocket 11166

Get yourself a trickle charger.

Either a mains one in the garage or a solar one if the car is parked outside. I have used a Draper (mains) one for many years and have had no probs.

Infact the battery on my old classic lasted 6 years

Rgds Red.

simpsons !

I aint sure what it is, I thought it might be the tracker as the radio i'm sure is off, It can be the only thing??????

simpsons !

Trickle charger seems the way then. Oh she's gonna me happy about that! Driving her Honda Civic 2.2 Diesel as a rep!

Simpsons!

martwrxsl

You could always get up for work early and drive it 20 miles before you get to work. Keeping within the speed limits of course. I always leave my side light's permanently on like a volvo driver because of the smart (not so smart alternator). Could never work than one out.

53

iTrader: (41)

Just buy a jump pack or trickle charger. BUT remember the lighter is dead when ignition is off so you can't use the solar ones that sit on the dash.

Microstar

Doing three mile journeys day-in, day-out, is not doing the car any good. Accelerated bore wear, acid residues in the oil and in the exhaust. You'd be better off (in lots of ways) walking to work and just using the car for longer runs at the weekend.

Fuzz

Take the scenic route or walk you lazy git.

B0DSKI

iTrader: (17)

OR Get a bike

simpsons !

I have had to come on my bike this morning as it wouldn't start again

jd5217

always drive with the sidelights on, the alternators are "intelligent" and will not charge if there is no load.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

'Intelligent' enough not to put enough charge through the battery to allow you to start the next morning?

There is obviously a fault there somewhere.

jd5217

is there is no load they will not charge, hence why i drive with sidelights on.

GazTheHat

Leave the fan on #1 and be prepared to run it every 3 or 4 days.

Failing that, get a decent battery. I'm on #4, all done under warranty though.

ShyTot

You want a Ctek or an Accumate charger.

The Ctek is even approved for outdoor use.

You can rig both of them up to have a accessible connector (with the correct accessories in the case of the Ctek) on the outside of the car for easy connection. Mine has a waterproof connector in the corner of the front grill, and connects up in 2 seconds.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

But that isn't fixing the problem is it?

jd5217

there is no quick fix to the problem unless you remove the tracker as this is what is draining the battery when parked up.

redwards

iTrader: (6)

I bought my MY04 from a dealer, when I went for a test drive the battery was flat. Decided to buy the car anyway and when I picked it up they told me the factory fitted alarm was causing the drain. A new alarm and battery later and everything is OK.

I only take the car out on the weekends (150 miles on average) and it is sat on the drive Mon - Fri.

It might be worth getting the alarm checked.
Hope this helps.

sti master

Hi all,another reason not on hear yet,is your alarms back-up siren battery.
If the rechargable battery is dead,the alarm will keep pulling power
trying to charge it!

sti master

Ha ha, beaten to it.

T5NYW

iTrader: (4)

8 years and 4 Scoobs never had a flat battery yet work is less than 1/4 mile away

Tony

deangtiuk

iTrader: (3)

I had this problem I put the voltmeter on the alternator and sure enough the alternator doesn't start working unless there is a load detected and sent to it, As prevoiusly stated put yr sidelights on when running the car and the alternator will charge at 14.5V instead of 12.5V.
Hope this helps.

simpsons !

OK Rac have been out tonight and have confirmed that unless I put a load upon the battery after starting it, It does not charge, I do not have a drain on my battery, So side lights, fan heater, Rear window, put something on! Without any load it's charging at 12.6 put the side lights on and it's 14.5v. So I hope that ends the argument!

Simpsons!

deangtiuk

iTrader: (3)

Kool hope you get yr problem sorted.

bossurk

its your tracker fella the same thing happend to my mate in the end my mate had to have a new tracker. the chap came to fit the tracker and told him that that it is not the side lights that charge your battery its the back demister that charges your battery