Can a battery die overnight?

[DavidL]

I've put 2000 miles on my turbo since I had it in August and its been fine. Jumped in it this morning and the battery was as flat as a flat thing.
Put a meter on it tonight and it read 10.4v. Charged for an hour and it read 13.3
Tried the ignition and whilst the engine turned properly briefly its cranking dropped off very quickly and didn't actually start the car. Reads about 10.6
Its back on charge now but I'm thinking the battery is toast.
Nothing else would cause such a rapid loss would it?
Thing is it worked fine yesterday am and pm.

I don't actually know how old the battery is. The last one in the bills was 2000! I doubt it is the current one but you never know. Its a Fiamm battery and is very high, such that the carpet won't actually sit flat.

Thoughts?
David

 

[bryno]

With those voltage reading the battery is toast. Lead Acid Batteries are fickle things one day they work , next they don't. Initially I thought it might just be poor contacts on your terminal posts but the voltage readings say its new battery time.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I don't actually know how old the battery is. The last one in the bills was 2000! I doubt it is the current one but you never know. Its a Fiamm battery and is very high, such that the carpet won't actually sit flat.

Thoughts?
David

Buy a new battery? [&:]

Mine did die overnight. With the three immobilisers and two alarms the new battery only does a week at best. I guess that's why the old one refused to turn over a heavy great four-pot on a cold morning.

I wouldn't be surprised to find it's an 8-year-old battery if it was a decent one to start with and's been either well-used or kept on a conditioner.

 

[DavidL]

I'm quite happy to buy a new battery - it just seemed odd that it should die so suddenly but that's the way it goes it seems.
If I jump start the car presumably it will run ok until I stop again (at the battery shop!)

 

[rd944]

could it be that your charging system (alternator/earth strap) is playing up ?

if for any reason the battery isnt getting a full charge as you drive along it will deplete the charge in it to the point where it wont re-start the engine if stopped.

failing that, yes.. if you jump start it, it'll be fine till you get to the battery shop.. just dont stall.. or go to buy petrol

however.. i'd just order one and get it delivered to avoid the (slight) risk of being stranded

 

[peanut]

in the past 3-4 weeks most of us are needing headlights, wipers, heaters and a load of other electrical stuff on continuously. Coupled with short commutes many batteries are not getting sufficient charging.
I would get the battery checked for a dead cell .If its ok I'd disconnect the battery overnight and check to see if it has any life in the morning. You may have a short. You could try a long 12 -18 hour low conditioning charge if you have a charger

if your headlights are nice and bright when the engine is running the chances are the alternator is charging ok. its simple to check . I think Clarkes Garage website has some good guides.

 

[berg944]

Those figures are usual for a battery that has one dead cell. (2v per cell)

If you have AA home start they will test it on the car while you sit in the warm van looking at the wireless laptop, you even get a printout.....very clever.

Take the battery to Halfords, they should have a test meter. I think it is very sensitive because every battery I have had tested has failed.........thats why I get batteries from Halfords and get them tested a month before the guarantee runs out[]

Don't tell them its their battery they are testing and don't tell them we are on to it[]

Mike[:'(]