Was there a fault?

[XK140]

Last Sunday went out at about 10 am to start the car to go to the Chatsworth do.
I wasn't totally certain about the state of the battery but was confident it should have had enough charge in it.
Anyway turned the key and...nothing,but the clock was still going although no fuel pump noise,I think.
Tried again,still nothing and I observed that on turning the key the voltmeter went right down to the bottom stop.
I was pissed off to say the least since I was looking forward going to Chatsworth...in desperation I put the battery on a fast(10amp) charge for half an hour and tried again.Car started fine,all was well and off I went for an enjoyable day.
So the question is...was the battery just in a very low state or have I got an intermittent earthing fault or another issue?

[XK140]

The problem is ,like most of these cars,it's rarely used so you don't get to trace faults as easily as with a car used everyday.
I suppose I'll have to get another of those battery conditioner things (the last one met a sad end) and leave it on all the time so that eliminates the battery issue and then see if anything else crops up.

[XK140]

OK,agreed it's either the battery or poor connections in the starter circuit.
Many thanks,Glen,for the invite to the Chequers,I'll see what the Boss says.
I remember that pub from the old days when it used to sell Wards beer.
It will increase my desire to attend if you can assure me it's not become a posh gastro pub frequented by Porsche owners

[XK140]

greymrj said:

It seems to be more common on grp than on steel cars for there to be some 'leakage' of battery power while standing. Mine shows a tiny and irregular demand we have failed to trace. I use a cut off switch next to the battery, the type used on competition cars. It serves to protect the battery and as a security device. If I cut the swith the battery lasts for many weeks, if not it lasts for less than a week. That is with a new battery this year.

Good point about battery leakage,my car has one of the old immobilisers,next to the ignition switch,which you need to touch each time otherwise the fuel pump is cut off.it has a red warning light which is on all the time so this may not help.

[XK140]

greymrj said:

It seems to be more common on grp than on steel cars for there to be some 'leakage' of battery power while standing. Mine shows a tiny and irregular demand we have failed to trace. I use a cut off switch next to the battery, the type used on competition cars. It serves to protect the battery and as a security device. If I cut the swith the battery lasts for many weeks, if not it lasts for less than a week. That is with a new battery this year.

Good point about battery leakage,my car has one of the old immobilisers,next to the ignition switch,which you need to touch each time otherwise the fuel pump is cut off.it has a red warning light which is on all the time so this may not help.