Battery flate after a week :-(

[MikeGF]

Hi everyone

For 1 reason or another I haven't been out in the Monaro for just over a week.

Went to start it today and the battery was flat as a pancake, only got a loud ticking on turnover, then flashed up that the ABS was not working, then traction control.

Bit surprised it drained so fast, is this normal? or is there another reason? The battery power gauge didn't even move..

It's on 05 6L VXR, garaged.

Any comments welcome

Cheers
MikeGF

edited to add, the title should say the battery was FLAT. Damn my fat finers.

Edited by MikeGF on Thursday 18th January 11:08

[silentmonkey]

Mines been left on the drive for over 2 weeks before without losing power.

Sounds like you've got a drain on the battery or maybe one that won't hold its charge. Could be that some of the electrics is not shutting down.

I've for one had the headlights (when switched to auto) stay on even after I've locked and alarmed the car.

Did you leave the radio on?

Aftermarket alarms can also cause excessive drain.

Just some ramblings......

[Raggyman]

Mine, leaves the map light on even when you locked it up.. Could it have been that?

[wjmarsh]

I've had the glove box light staying on. You have to mess around with the switch to get it to operate. Could be because it's still quite new.

[Paul.H.]

Hi Mike - Maybe just a faulty battery...I've left mine for 8 weeks at one point & it started no problem on my return, however, it did take the battery a full 150 miles to get back to 'full' again! Since then (and being as I'm away for 13 weeks now!) I've bought a trickle charger from Halfords for approx £30 which I use to keep the alarm & tracker from emptying the battery!

[redbarron84]

Paul.H. said:

Hi Mike - Maybe just a faulty battery...I've left mine for 8 weeks at one point & it started no problem on my return, however, it did take the battery a full 150 miles to get back to 'full' again! Since then (and being as I'm away for 13 weeks now!) I've bought a trickle charger from Halfords for approx £30 which I use to keep the alarm & tracker from emptying the battery!

Is that a solar powered one or one that you have to plug in the mains?
The reason I ask is i'm looking at getting one myself for when i'm out in iraq, etc.
It'll be parked in the main car park here so obviously there's nowhere to plug into the mains, which only leaves me the solar panel one. But i've heard that this can overcharge the battery so looking for advice on what to do!!

[Island boy hsv]

I left my car for 6 weeks, came back the day of the ACE meet last year. The car turned over first time. Sound like it either your battery or something else discharging it.

Maplin’s have a solar charger on special at the moment.
Part number L58BF only £19.99, it chargers at up to 17V DC

Link to Maplin charger

[Paul.H.]

redbarron84 said:

Paul.H. said:

Hi Mike - Maybe just a faulty battery...I've left mine for 8 weeks at one point & it started no problem on my return, however, it did take the battery a full 150 miles to get back to 'full' again! Since then (and being as I'm away for 13 weeks now!) I've bought a trickle charger from Halfords for approx £30 which I use to keep the alarm & tracker from emptying the battery!

Is that a solar powered one or one that you have to plug in the mains?
The reason I ask is i'm looking at getting one myself for when i'm out in iraq, etc.
It'll be parked in the main car park here so obviously there's nowhere to plug into the mains, which only leaves me the solar panel one. But i've heard that this can overcharge the battery so looking for advice on what to do!!

This is the first I've heard of a solar powered battery charger so I can't help there - is leaving it outside for that period a bit dodgy?...how long are you over this neck of the woods for? I'd see if I couldn't find a garage for it somewhere...

[redbarron84]

Paul.H. said:

redbarron84 said:

Paul.H. said:

Hi Mike - Maybe just a faulty battery...I've left mine for 8 weeks at one point & it started no problem on my return, however, it did take the battery a full 150 miles to get back to 'full' again! Since then (and being as I'm away for 13 weeks now!) I've bought a trickle charger from Halfords for approx £30 which I use to keep the alarm & tracker from emptying the battery!

Is that a solar powered one or one that you have to plug in the mains?
The reason I ask is i'm looking at getting one myself for when i'm out in iraq, etc.
It'll be parked in the main car park here so obviously there's nowhere to plug into the mains, which only leaves me the solar panel one. But i've heard that this can overcharge the battery so looking for advice on what to do!!

This is the first I've heard of a solar powered battery charger so I can't help there - is leaving it outside for that period a bit dodgy?...how long are you over this neck of the woods for? I'd see if I couldn't find a garage for it somewhere...

It's quite safe, being as it's on camp.......(not many car parks with armed personel on the front gate!) But the longest i'm away for is around 6 weeks, so it's not months on end.

[MikeGF]

Thanks for the replies everyone, going to charge the battery this weekend and see if I can find a drain, or if the battery is a dud!

Cheers
Mike