Battery problems

[vrsmxtb]

How can I tell if my battery is knackered?

I fitted a new Westco about 5 years ago, the car stands over the winter, but I have it on a trickle charger and make sure I top it up every few weeks.

However I have problems with the battery going flat very quickly once hooked up to the car. After a couple of dats there is a very low charge which just about coughs the engine into life, after a week it's dead.

It even struggled to start the car after I had started the car 3-4 times with no driving in between.

I've put a multimeter over it and it shows the right voltage plus a higher voltage when car is running.

Is there an easy test for battery drain?

[VladD]

If you take it to a battery supplier they should be able to do a drop test on it.

Is your trickle charger the correct type for the battery?

[vrsmxtb]

Yes it is the correct charger for the battery and doesn't show any faults when charging.

[VladD]

It could be a bad earth and I've heard stories in the past of immobilisers draining batteries.

You could try disconnecting the battery while the car is not in use to see if it still drains. It it does it's the battery, if it doesn't it's probably the car.

[vanordinaire]

VladD said:

It could be a bad earth and I've heard stories in the past of immobilisers draining batteries.

You could try disconnecting the battery while the car is not in use to see if it still drains. It it does it's the battery, if it doesn't it's probably the car.

I thinkit's just the tiny battery, the immobiliser can drain it in a week or so. I fitted a battery cut off switch to mine, just shut it off if parking up for any more than a few days, perfect, no more problems.

[MX-5 Lazza]

The immobiliser should not drain a healthy battery. The problem is that it's a 5 year old Westco. They are pants and 5 years is about as much as you can expect from one that isn't a daily driver.

[vrsmxtb]

MX-5 Lazza said:

The immobiliser should not drain a healthy battery. The problem is that it's a 5 year old Westco. They are pants and 5 years is about as much as you can expect from one that isn't a daily driver.

From what I hear yeah, probably this - lucky to have had the 5 years out of it from what I read. Should've bought a Panasonic back then. I've got a battery terminal disconnector now, I'll try that first and see if it still drains / struggles to start for a while.