Battery life?

[madasafrog666]

Hi guys, I have a boxtser S 03 plate. I have not used the car for a couple of weeks, it has been in the garage but not alarmed. I have had the top up and down a few times while cleaning,stereo on and boot and bonnet lights on. The battery was new in March this year.
Went to take her for a run today and no engine turnover, clock reset,all lights on dash flashing on and off,rear spoiler opened, etc. I was told by Lancaster at Colchester that the cause is a flat battery.
1,Should the battery be flat after only a couple of weeks of non use?
2,If so do you guys use a trickle charger on yours?
3,What happens if you go away for a couple of weeks and leave the car at the airport?
4,I am also told it would need 48 hours on a home charger to get back to normal

Thanks madasafrog

[madasafrog666]

Any help from anyone?

[uknick]

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Don't
4. Can't help on this one

[Martian O]

1. No, my car (Porsche) has gone months without a problem. My Ferrari not so!
2. I do use a CTEK anyway.
3. I use my snotter for this, how do you get two weeks worth of clobber into a Boxster?
4. Sounds about right, but I've never had to do this. A CTEK should revive a duff/discharged battery anyway.

[Bumble SV]

I would get a replacement battery if it is over 5 years old - after trying to keep a battery going last year and the inconvienience it caused when it gave up, its not worth messing about IMHO.

I would also recommend the trickle charger if the car will be stood for more than a few weeks.

Good luck.

[Martian O]

madasafrog666 said:

.....The battery was new in March this year.....

Bumble SV said:

I would get a replacement battery if it is over 5 years old.....

[RobIpswichUK]

Surprising how quickly having the stereo or lights on will drain the battery below the level needed to turn the engine over, so defo battery fecked IMHO.

If the car's garages and you have power available a Ctek or similar is well worth the 40 quid.

[RichB]

Same has happened to my wifes 2009 Boxster so yes it sounds typical. As regards batteries, in my experience once they been drained they never fully recover and will always be susceptible to dying. If it's only 6 months old take it back and get them to replace it. Assuming you kept the receipt!

[Bumble SV]

Martian O said:

madasafrog666 said:

.....The battery was new in March this year.....

Bumble SV said:

I would get a replacement battery if it is over 5 years old.....

D'oh.

[Martian O]

[saracen02]

1,Should the battery be flat after only a couple of weeks of non use?
Yes it will be flat. Car alarm will drain.

2,If so do you guys use a trickle charger on yours?
Yes, I've had the same battery for 8 years.

3,What happens if you go away for a couple of weeks and leave the car at the airport?
Airport staff usually carry a 'car park trolley battery' to help people with flat battery.

4,I am also told it would need 48 hours on a home charger to get back to normal.
Depends on the quality of the charger.

[madasafrog666]

Thanks for all of the replies, the car has been on charge for 36 hours and everything seems OK.
I will be buying a trickle charger this week to avoid future mishaps.


Thanks Madasafrog

[threespins]

You can get one from Lidl for about £12.

[Magic919]

saracen02 said:

1,Should the battery be flat after only a couple of weeks of non use?
Yes it will be flat. Car alarm will drain.

This has not been my experience. I can happily leave the car a couple of weeks, even in cold weather. Car won't open on the remote, but that's a power-saving feature of the car.

[Changedmyname]

I have ten years out of my battery on the golf ,I know I will have to change at sometime, proberly this winter if the weather does what they say it's going to do.

[Henry-F]

As has already been said the problem here isn't leaving the car, it's operating the roof and having the lights and stereo on for a few hours whilst you clean it that's done the damage. The uprated sound systems in particular have quite a significant power drain when you include power amps.

Henry

[madasafrog666]

Thanks for all the replies guys. Got myself a battery conditioner and all is well!! My fault for playing around with it in the garage without knowing that I was draining the battery.
Trouble is I treat it like a baby, bieng a second car it only comes out when the sun shines and the roads are dry.

Madasafrog

[Trev450]

madasafrog666 said:

Trouble is I treat it like a baby, bieng a second car it only comes out when the sun shines and the roads are dry.

Madasafrog

Not very often then!

Glad you got it sorted.

[mankey]

I had a nasty surprise in the summer when I started playing around with the SatNav for a little longer than I should, with the engine turned off. It really didn't take very long.

Meant that I ended up jump starting from a Fiesta. Embarrassing time.

[nickfrog]

madasafrog666 said:

4,I am also told it would need 48 hours on a home charger to get back to normal

My cheapo Halfords charger/conditioner did the job in 8 hours from almost empty.