VW Polo battery prob. Can you please help?

scotti

PLEASE would someone help.

I have recently bought a Polo

For the last 6-7 months since I bought it (private sale), the battery drains flat within 2-3 days of previous use. I am constantly having to re-charge it. Even when it has been charged and I’ve run around in it, within a few days it’s a bit sluggish on starting.

Any longer than 3 days, without use, and it won’t start. When the ignition is turned, there is no power/noise at all and the clock on the dash resets to zero, sometimes the alarm will go off.

When it first happened we bought a brand new battery, when it went flat again we took it back to the supplier who tested it and said there was no problem with it.

We have had the timing belt changed (different problem,tensioning mechanism was faulty).

The mechanic says alternator output is fine so am at a complete loss. Our local garage says it’s because I don’t use the car often enough?

Something must be draining the charge tho’ (or is that the 6 million dollar question)

It’s a real pain ‘cos I never know if the bloomin’ thing will start or not.

I would be really grateful if someone would offer their expert advice/suggestions, I am at my wits end!!!

cheers, scotti

goldspanners

check the simple things that could be draining your battery like interior/boot/glove box lights staying on when they should be off.if you cant tell then just remover the bulbs for a week or so.
how many miles does the car do? does it get a good run at least once a week?
when the ignition is off and you disconnect the battery when it is charged up do you get a heavy spark from the battery connection when you try to put it back on? you might get a small spark but if it is big then there will be something draining it.

BACKFRMTHEEDGE

This is a constant problemin our life too:rolleyes:.(....which is why I came to this board today:p)...our battery is constantly flat, though not after 3 days I might add. We need a car but often go for about 10 days without using it...and then the battery is flat:o. We've been told by garages that we will have this problem whatever car we buy as we don't drive it enough. We bought a solar panel to put extra charge in the batterey but made little difference.

I'd love to hear if anyone has any ideas?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

You need an auto electrician for this. Something is draining the battery while you're not using it.

In the meanwhile an Accumate may help until you get it sorted:

http://www.accumate.co.uk/it010001.htm

scotti

Many thanks for the replies, may have been loose connection. Seems resolved for the moment.

cheers, scotti:T

anewman

BACKFRMTHEEDGE wrote: »

This is a constant problemin our life too:rolleyes:.(....which is why I came to this board today:p)...our battery is constantly flat, though not after 3 days I might add. We need a car but often go for about 10 days without using it...and then the battery is flat:o. We've been told by garages that we will have this problem whatever car we buy as we don't drive it enough. We bought a solar panel to put extra charge in the batterey but made little difference.

I'd love to hear if anyone has any ideas?

Problem will be if you use the car for short journeys and don't use it for 10 days at a time, it will never get enough charge to counteract the small drain over time. Get a battery charger, Aldi had one for £10 recently, and take the battery out every couple of months and fully charge it. And continue to use the solar charger, although be sure this is definitely supplying current to the battery. Most cigarette lighter sockets are only on with the ignition key. If it powers a phone charger without the key then it would charge the battery from the lighter socket.

Thunderbird_2

Sometimes, a faulty immobiliser can drain the battery in two or three days!

ozvaldinho

Try disconnecting the battery and cleaning the terminals and connectors. You can get a build-up of grit and rust within the grease and this can stop the charge coming back into the battery. This might explain why the alternator and battery are both working perfectly but the battery is losing it's charge.
I find a clean, dry ungreased battery terminal to be much more reliable than really greasy ones. They're less likely to come loose too.

If this is the case, your battery will have completely lost its charge, so it might be better to use a charger to re-charge the battery as the alternator may have to work really hard to put the charge back in.

slateryangent

my daughter had the same problem

battery draining after a couple of days, battery in good condition (according to AA bloke who got the car started)

the problem in her case (after chasing around and having tests done)

is an electrical fault with the clock, draining the battery.

without going to authorised VW dealer, which, I understand would cost a fortune it can be fixed by

removing the fuse for the clock, 3rd along the fuse box behind the glove box.

(this would stop the speedo from working, may not be legal.)

disconnecting the battery after every journey.

having a isolator switch fitted, about £25.00 this would also act as an immobiliser

good luck