What could be wrong with our car? (Citroen Picasso)

MrsFraggle

....apart from being a Citroen Picasso that is :rotfl:

Ok, will try and keep this short

Car bascially won't start - flat battery. Bought a new battery thinking it needed replacing - only the next day, the battery was flat again.
So, we check that no lights are left on, including boot lights etc, all the obvious stuff. Charge up the battery using a charger, then take it for a reasonable run.
Yes you've guessed it, next day, its dead again!

So DH (its his car) spends a few weeks over Christmas disconnecting the battery everytime he parks it anywhere for any lenght of time, to ensure it doesn't discharge. Its a bit of a PITA but at least it means he doesn't need a jump start all the time!

As its MOT was due last week, we asked the garage to take a look and see if they could spot anything. They couldn't, so they popped it along to an Auto Diagnostics centre, who couldn't see anythign wrong either.

Incidentally, the whole time it was at the garage, they didn't disconnect it each evening, and yet it started absolutely fine for them all the time! :think:
We picked it up from the garage last Friday, it worked fine for DH all week, then on Thursday morning he comes to go to work...and yes, its dead again!

Really with it!!

Anyone here had simliar prob? Neither DH or I are particularly good with cars, and I know its a long shot after all two garages have looked at it now!
My next option is perhaps take it along to Citroen to see if they can find antyhing although no doubt they'll charge a bomb just to look at it (but obviously it does need fixing) or DH will have to disconnect the battery for ever and a day!

Just adding that its a 2002 plate, 2.0 HDI

cheers for any pointers

MF

AdrianHi

Have any of the garages confirmed whether the alternator is charging or not?
Unthinkable that they have not thought of this and checked it.
Does the battery definitely discharge when the cars not in use?

If you have access to a voltmeter, a fully charged battery, engine not running you should see about 12volts. Start the engine, the alternator will be turning and should be charging the battery now, you should see the voltage rise to around 15volts. If it doesn't the alternator is dead, should be able to fix for under £100

MrsFraggle

Thanks Adrian.
I don't know if they've checked the altnernator, but it did have a new one only 2 years ago (although I know thats no reason for it not to go again).
I'll print out your reply for Dh, I think we do have a voltmeter

SailorSam

I think most local motor shops will test the battery and alternater for you for free, it only takes two minutes

Premier_2

If battery goes flat overnight when car is not being used, it suggests something is draining it. (assuming the battery is not faulty, which it shouldn't be as it's new)Check any light in the boot or glovebox is going out, even under the bonnet if it has one there. Perhaps it did go out when it was in the garage, hence why it started ok next morning.

If battery goes dead following a long drive, the charging circuit is faulty (prime suspect would be the alternator)

hewhoisnotintheknow

altenator would be my first check

then then the regulator / charging control

goldspanners

anothe vote to check the alternator,its such a simple test but some mechanics really struggle to judge if a battery is charging or not.
if the alternator is ok and charging away then you have a drain somewhere.
when your man connects the battery back up does the terminal spark heavily when connecting it? if so you definatly have drain or something shorting. it could be something as simple as a blown bulb causing this.
make sure all lights on car are working.
try diconnecting things one at a time,like the stereo,or removing interior lights.

i had a capri that used to do this,one day it would charge the next day it wouldnt. it turned out that the heavy positive cable from the battery to the starter was rubbing off the engine and arcing.

vansboy

As everyone else says, alternator check

Have you noticed the redlight in the dash, which goes out when you start, glowing slightly (in the dark easier to see). This will point towards alternator fault.

Also have checked theirs no loadspace light staying on anywhere, in footwells, glovebox & boot area.

VB

MrsFraggle

Thank you all! I really appreciate your replies!
We'll be spending the day tomorrow doing all your suggestions

shown73

I've heard that the immobiliser can do this, and that would probably explain why the garage had no trouble. I don't know the ins and outs, but an easy check would be to leave it overnight locked, but not immobilised. Just a thought....