How long does your battery last?

[Phil C]

Tried starting my 4.0 pre cat last night for a blat in the sunshine - and, of course the battery was flat......!! The car had not been driven for 1 week. Being a recent convert to Griffs I'm a bit shocked at how quickly mine seems to drain the battery. Between 1-2 weeks seems to be limit if the car is not driven. It has remote locking and (I guess) an alarm - not 100% sure on that point as I can't see any obvious alarm under the bonnet and the manual says they were not std fit (it's an end 1992 model). For comparison my old S3 only ever had this problem once when I went on holiday and didn't drive it for 4 weeks.....

Is my battery knackered or is this normal? (and yes, of course, I accept that one cure is to drive it more frequently!!! - not always easy due to work etc...)

Thanks for any guidance / opinions......just off out to grovel in the footwell and attach the charger.......!!!

[GarryM]

Seems normal to me. Just had my battery changed after 5 yrs - as a precaution as it was still OK. Get yourself an Optimate charger which plugs into the cigarette lighter and get into the habit of plugging it in whenever you park the car in the garage.

[Jay Ayegees]

Six years seems to be about the life of a battery - an accumate is a good idea if you're going to leave the car in the garage for a week or more.

Jay

[Daftlad]

Jay Ayegees said:

Six years seems to be about the life of a battery - an accumate is a good idea if you're going to leave the car in the garage for a week or more.

Jay

Ducati 851. 1990 reg. Owned from new and looked after, had three batteries - seems about right.

[Uncle Bulgaria]

had the same one for seven years and never had a problem, still the car is used at not kept in garage for days on end.

[N&L]

We had no problems with batteries when the car was used regularly. But for the last few years use has been sporadic, and this seemed to cause the battery to deteriorate very quickly - like 18 months. So I've fitted a full isolator switch so the battery is completely disconnected when not in use, and since then the new battery has lasted very well. Of course, this is only of use if you don't need the immobiliser - in secure locked parking.

[350wedge]

Phil C said:

Tried starting my 4.0 pre cat last night for a blat in the sunshine - and, of course the battery was flat......!! The car had not been driven for 1 week. Being a recent convert to Griffs I'm a bit shocked at how quickly mine seems to drain the battery. Between 1-2 weeks seems to be limit if the car is not driven. It has remote locking and (I guess) an alarm - not 100% sure on that point as I can't see any obvious alarm under the bonnet and the manual says they were not std fit (it's an end 1992 model). For comparison my old S3 only ever had this problem once when I went on holiday and didn't drive it for 4 weeks.....

Is my battery knackered or is this normal? (and yes, of course, I accept that one cure is to drive it more frequently!!! - not always easy due to work etc...)

Thanks for any guidance / opinions......just off out to grovel in the footwell and attach the charger.......!!!

Phil

Is it the same battery that was in the car when you bought it from me?

If so i reckon the battery is on its way out and would be best off replacing it. Last year when i had the car it didnt have any use at all for over a month around end Nov/Dec and started up fine first time. I did notice after a really cold snap in the new year, the battery started to deteriorate afterwards. I was using the car regularly though so had no issue with it.

The car only has the std factory immobiliser linked to the fuel pump, there is no alarm fitted. Thats a definate.

[nicbowman]

Phil, get a battery conditioner, if I run my Griff it does not charge the battery as well as the conditioner does, I am sure it keeps it in better condition.

If I leave the car for more than a week I stick it on the conditioner, plugs into the cigarette socket.

Nic

[Hoover.]

I killed the battery in my Griff in about 2yrs........ battery rip

thank god for warranties make sure you keep the reciept

[griffter]

Mine went after 2.5 years of infrequent use. A couple of total discharges and a battery will never be the same again. Battery conditioner is the only long-term solution.

[Phil C]

Hi Tony - thanks for your note - and yes, it is the same battery in the car as when I bought it from you. Sounds like I may need to get a new one.....

Thanks all for other the inputs - I'll also seriously consider getting one of these accumate / optimate jobby's as well

[jeffsy]

Good idea to take the face off your CD player as well when parked up, if you have one of those that can be unhooked.

Accumate a good idea but I was warned against permanent use as they can dry the batteries out...apparenty you can get the type that cut in when needed and cut out when fully charged, his would lessen the problem.

[Jay Ayegees]

As I understand it that is exactly how the Accumate operates - only charges when charge level drops below a certain level.

[GarryM]

I mentioned Optimate before but actually I have an Accumate (I'm always confusing the two names). I wouldn't be without it. The only negative I have heard about them is from a poster here who reckoned that by regular use of his Accumate the battery went on far longer than it "should" and as a result the alternator failed. His battery was over 7yrs old IIRC. My knowledge of electrics is so pathetic I have no idea if that is a valid concern or not.

[steve-v8s]

Be certain that you have closed both doors fully. Easy to only half close one and battery will go flat in no time.

[griffter]

jeffsy said:

Accumate a good idea but I was warned against permanent use as they can dry the batteries out...apparenty you can get the type that cut in when needed and cut out when fully charged, his would lessen the problem.

I've got a Halfords charger that only charges/maintains when it needs to - same as Optimate/Accumate. But so it's not on all the time (not necessary) it's connected to the mains via a socket timer which comes on for an hour a day. In fact during that hour the charger only charges for 30 secs or so.