Quattroporte battery problem...

[AJSG]

Had this 04 car since 2005, the only problem I have had is a recurring failure of the battery. It has now happened 4 times (last time yesterday) in 3 years.

HR Owen apparently tested the alternator and battery several times with no negative results.

Now, batteries are simply not that fragile. I drive the car everyday, it must be an issue with the alternator? No?

Any suggestions...

[joan or ark]

you dont have an interior light on do you?

what about an alamr LED?

Either it is an alternator like you said or there is something drawing power while you are not in the car. How far do you drive it everyday, long enough toi charge the battery up?

[sjn2004]

When I got mine the dealer gave me a "free" trickle charger. Apparently they use a lot of power when stood still and can run flat over a month or so of irregular use.

[andy355]

if it isnt a fault with the alternator, i would check if the tracker unit is draining the battery. I have had similar problems on various cars, especially as i do a lot of relatively short journeys. Trickle charger would cure it if thats all the problem is.

[fade2grey]

get the tracker unit checked if you have it. the Gransports\4200\3200's are known to use a lot of power when parked up. I'd have thought you shouldn't have any problems at all if you are using it every day (for reasonable milage)though. I'm assuming they didn't just check the alternator but the charging system as a whole earths & all?

[andy355]

by the way if you do decide to try a trickle charger the ctek ones ive used seem good. Just dont forget to drive away whilst its still plugged in - easy enough to do if the battery is in the boot like on my maser

[AJSG]

I drive the car every day, for about 20min in the morning and 45min in the evening.

HR Owen allegedly ran a full drain test on the car an found no anomalous drain from the Tracker or the alarm.

I presume that the alternator output would have been checked as well? The only thing that is left (I suppose) is that the charging circuit is faulty and that it overloads the battery.

At the moment the car is back at the garage as the gearbox failure light kept on coming on...apparently this is to do with the battery failing and nothing to do with the previous day's clutch replacement.

Lets see....thanks for your help up to now...