11 replies to this topic

[Pavel]

I left the mini for about a week without running it, yesterday go down to check lights switch, flick it on... nothing. Try ignition nothing....

So i think... what the hell?

Go get my multimeter, take reading across battery terminals....


5.22V




what the hell is going on?!?!?

Battery was purchased about 2 months ago!!!! I am SURE that I didn't leave anything on in the car (e.g. lights). There is no stereo to leave on, and the lights were switched off, as were things like wipers!

What the hell could have happened??

DOes the battery have to be thrown away now? :sad:

[Brawlyrox]

as for battery being thrown away i wouldnt know?

do u have a little red light that flashes off the battery? maybe somet is crossed somewhere thats taken a small amount of power or somet and its just built up?

[Pavel]

little red light? if i did, that would be the only light that worked in the car!

[Dom]

maybe u left the choke out?

[Pavel]

??? And?

[bumblebee]

short circuit somewhere most likely, recharge the battery, refit it, switch everything off any alarms etc, disconnect, and see how much draw is on the battery, should be 0 ohms i think, if its higher then you've got something using power, if this is the case, take the fuses out, check the battery terminals again, if reading is the same as before (assuming you got a +figure) then it isnt you'r h/lights, sidelights,indicators, hazards, wipers radio, brake/tail lights etc

Good luck

Rich

[Pavel]

Really cant be the lights, but I'll check that

And when you said 0 ohms I assume you meant amps (ohms is resistance )

So its suitable for using again after a recharge?? Woopie!

[bumblebee]

could be a dead cell also, with the weather etc, so -

check the level in the battery, assuming you can take the plugs out to check it, then top up with DEIONISED water if necessary, charge it up overnight, take to a tyre/exhaust centre or a garage and ask them to do a 'drop test' on the battery, that'll give you a definate answer!

HTH

Rich

[bumblebee]

assuming the drop test comes back okay then you can keep recharging it, thats all your alternator/dynamo is, a battery charger!

Rich

[Pavel]

It's a sealed battery, maintenance free so no refilling..

Care to elaborate what a drop test is?

[bumblebee]

battery condition test, dunno what it is, or how they do it. see a garage, or an auto-lectrician

[cowboy]

all a drop test is. is a gauge placed onto your battery, which tells you haw good or bad your battery is, though only works if your battery is fully charged or you get a false reading, on a fully charged battery it will read 12 volts, anything under and you need a new battery..