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Batteries - it's always batteries

jonathan

jonathan

PCGB Member
Member
Here we go again - am on 3rd (porsche) battery in 6 years - this one bought in January 2010. It's been great - I've been getting the car out every weekend and there's been no problem. However - this time I left it 10 days instead and the battery is not playing. Have taken it out every night this week for a 35 mile motorway drive - the ammeter reads 13 to begin with and by the time it goes back in the garage (no power supply so no trickle charging) it's up to nearer 14 so I think the alternator is doing its thing. However, if I try to start it again immediately it gives me the solenoid 'death rattle'. My dear girlfriend (who bought the car for my 40th) is beginning to get cross. Do I have to accept that batteries just don't last that long these days ?
 
I was pretty surprised to find the Bosch battery in mine only lasted two years before suddenly dying overnight. I will take it up with the supplier when it goes in for a service next month.

I needed to get it going quickly, so bought a Halfords battery with a three year warranty. At least I know I can go a couple of miles to replace it, or perhaps it will last longer? I can't easily have mine on a trickle charger as it's outside, but it's used a couple of times most weeks and covers 5K miles per year, so it's not down to long periods of discharge.
 
Something is draining yours down Jonathan, the immobiliser is renowned for this.

I've just put my 3rd new battery in the S2 after 13 years, so I'm getting 5 or 6 years out of mine (though it does get plugged into a conditioner over the winter or if I know I'm not using it for a few weeks).
 
Worth checking your earths at battery to chassis and starter motor/solenoid to chassis.
Take em off and clean the contacts.
I have noticed with mine that when I put a brand new battery on the engine spins quite quickly on the starter motor and started after just 1 or 2 spins of the engine, but after just a few weeks its getting slower and slower . I cleaned everything up and it has made a difference.
 
Get a power supply into the garage so you can use a battery conditioner - I'm on the battery I bought about 9 years ago - but whenever she's in the garage she's on the conditioner, so starts first time every time even after 10 weeks alone!
 
I didn't touch mine for a month and it started on the first turn of the key only showing 10 volts on the dash meter. There is something else going on mate.
 
Completely agree with what Chris says - a decent battery conditioner is worth its weight in gold for infrequently used cars.

How hard would it be to get power run to the garage?
 
I bought a solar charger from Maplin and wired it up to the Battery with a quick release.

As mine often sits at Redhill station all day after just a relatively short drive, the ratio to engine cranking to charging is high and the battery seemed to be labouring. Since fitting I have noticed that the battery stays topped up nicely no problems. Only about 12 quid, the panel doesn't kick out alot but it seems enough.
 

ORIGINAL: steves944

Worth checking your earths at battery to chassis and starter motor/solenoid to chassis.
Take em off and clean the contacts.
I have noticed with mine that when I put a brand new battery on the engine spins quite quickly on the starter motor and started after just 1 or 2 spins of the engine, but after just a few weeks its getting slower and slower . I cleaned everything up and it has made a difference.
Click to expand...
Same here. Cleaning the connections to the starter motor made a big difference to mine. Spins up much faster.
 
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