I know its winter because.....

[KeithS]

My Griff's battery didn't have enough poke to turn the engine over. What worries me is that the car is in a garage, the alarm isn't on and I used the car for a few hours last Sunday, so what is draining the battery that could practically flatten it in a week?

I'm sure that the previous owner had a new battery on it just before I bought the car 3 months ago, but I will need to check as he didn't give me the receipt for it. I fully expect to hear "they all do that sir"

[KeithS]

Thanks for the advice m8. The problem has got worse over the last week or so, the previous weekend it just about started, that was after a 2 week gap, so maybe the strain on the battery was too much and it's decided to die.

I'll get my mate next door to run a few tests (he is an electrician), as I am absolutely hopeless with anything more complicated than a 13amp plug .

[KeithS]

neilmac said: Keith,

Sounds like you need an Accumate charger to leave plugged into the cigarette lighter when the car is sitting in your garage doing nothing.

I got mine from Leven and it keeps battery fully charged, ready for when you want to use the car.

If you are not already in business as a mind reader then you should be! I've just been looking at one of those, and will order one tomorrow. That should get round the battery problem for now, as I don't tend to leave the car parked unattended anywhere for more than half an hour I don't think the battery will flatten that quickly when I am out and about.

I assume that the charger works on all Griff fag lighter sockets (mine is a 96) and not just some model years or certain colour combinations ? My car has a socket on one of the front chassis cross members under the bonnet where I can plug in a set of jump leads (I was thanking God for that earlier today!!), will it plug in there as an alternative?

All I need to do now is knock down the partition wall in my garage, so I can get the car in there! Where's that sledgehammer gone.......

[KeithS]

simpo one said:
Of course if your battery can't keep a charge for a week then it may be daffied anyway. You might find that a conditioner will give it enough to get you started at home, then it will let you down the *second* time - ie away from home! I speak from experience!

Sounds like a new battery is going to be a wise investment then, I was hoping to avoid the experience though!

[KeithS]

I ordered an Optimate today, so should be with me tomorrow. I'll probably leave the Griff until Friday or so before trying to start it, to see if the battery has gone flat again. Then I'll get my mate to check for current drain etc.. before changing the battery.