Battery problems

[Deleted User]

WTFH wrote: »

Since the AA came out, have you done any long journeys?
Do you do lots of short journeys with the heat up to full, the rear window on, heated seats on?

Yes. Did a long journey. Since then journey is 4 miles to train station with lights on / heater on.

WTFH

So, one long journey of 50+miles of "spirited" driving and one trip to the station?

If that was all, I'd maybe check the alternator.

WTFH

Oh, and if your car is sitting around for a while, I'd strongly recommend spending £30 on an AA solar battery charger...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/AA-Classic-Cherished-Vehicle-Maintainance/dp/B009MPBSGE/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1389363564&sr=1-3&keywords=aa+solar+battery+charger

Not any other ones, that particular model ( you can buy it elsewhere, but I think amazon is cheapest for it)

forgotmyname

4 miles with lights and heater blowing wont put much of a charge into the battery.

When i do short winter journey's i always sit there for a couple of minutes with my foot on the throttle to bring the revs upto about 1500rpm. With everything switched off. I do a lot of short journeys and never get a flat battery. Despite the car trying its best to kill it for me.

If its below 4 degrees my car automatically switches the heated front and rear screens on which draw a lot of power.

Strider590

WTFH wrote: »

Oh, and if your car is sitting around for a while, I'd strongly recommend spending £30 on an AA solar battery charger...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/AA-Classic-Cherished-Vehicle-Maintainance/dp/B009MPBSGE/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1389363564&sr=1-3&keywords=aa+solar+battery+charger

Not any other ones, that particular model ( you can buy it elsewhere, but I think amazon is cheapest for it)

2.4w = 200mA (in the brightest of sun), that's not enough to even float charge a car battery. At best it'll compensate for stuff like the alarm and the ECU in standby, but as a car battery ages, the internal loss increases, that solar charger is nothing more than a placebo.

There was someone who had one of these and made all sorts of claim about it, until someone else pointed out that on his car the lighter socket didn't work if the ignition wasn't turned on.

hewhoisnotintheknow

forgotmyname wrote: »

4 miles with lights and heater blowing wont put much of a charge into the battery.

When i do short winter journey's i always sit there for a couple of minutes with my foot on the throttle to bring the revs upto about 1500rpm. With everything switched off. I do a lot of short journeys and never get a flat battery. Despite the car trying its best to kill it for me.

If its below 4 degrees my car automatically switches the heated front and rear screens on which draw a lot of power.

my mother did 4 x 1 mile trips each working day for 12 years in a peugeot, never had a flat battery or any other problems. The only other trip it got was shopping once a week and a trip anually for a service mot

Is it a relic of old cars / batteries. Dont know anyone who suffers from this

AdrianC

Strider590 wrote: »

There was someone who had one of these and made all sorts of claim about it, until someone else pointed out that on his car the lighter socket didn't work if the ignition wasn't turned on.

<chuckle> I can well believe that!

TrickyWicky

adouglasmhor wrote: »

If your battery is being charged at the right voltage it's a faulty battery.
If it's not it's an electrical fault, wiring, alternator or something you don't see draining the battery.

Thats really helpful isn't it.

Read the op again. They just said the AA says the battery was being charged and so it's either a duff battery or a fault.

You come along and tell them its a faulty battery or something else draining the battery - something they already know :mad:

So do you have anything more constructive to suggest like a more definitive cause?

forgotmyname

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

my mother did 4 x 1 mile trips each working day for 12 years in a peugeot, never had a flat battery or any other problems. The only other trip it got was shopping once a week and a trip anually for a service mot

Is it a relic of old cars / batteries. Dont know anyone who suffers from this

But did she have front a rear heated screens switching themselves on when the temperature was 4 degrees and below even though they may not have been needed?

My car does. 4 degrees they automatically power up as soon as the car is started and those 2 alone draw 70 amps.

AdrianC

forgotmyname wrote: »

But did she have front a rear heated screens switching themselves on when the temperature was 4 degrees and below even though they may not have been needed?

My car does. 4 degrees they automatically power up as soon as the car is started

Whether the screens are frosted/misted or not?
Do they really not have an over-ride?