Battery flat after 330 mile run

jonathan63 · 19th June 2013, 07:29

As above. drove nice and easy up the M6 on Monday, in daylight, AC on most of the way. We stopped at a service station half way home and restarted without a problem.

But when i came to start her last night, almost nothing.
The wipers moved and the UBP slowly whirred but nothing else.

I cannot think what the problem is

.

Any ideas?

MG Tom · 19th June 2013, 07:33

The first thing to check is that no interior lights or any other electrical drains were left on.

Alternator might be dead. Get a multimeter on the battery with the engine running, it should be 14-14.5V.

Let us know how you get on.

Mike Noc · 19th June 2013, 07:39

Interior lights turn themselves off if left on so can't drain the battery down.

As mentioned check the alternator voltage, but how old is the battery? Sudden loss of charge can be the battery giving up.

Also do you have a fuel burning heater? They can come on if faulty and flatten the battery.

jonathan63 · 19th June 2013, 07:51

Cheers guys.
I haven't got a multimetre so cannot test the alternator.
The battery is of uncertain age but has never shown signs of failing before.
I haven't got a FBH.

I'm wondering if its something to do with the AC and the fan?????????????

chrissyboy · 19th June 2013, 08:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonathan63

Cheers guys.
I haven't got a multimetre so cannot test the alternator.
The battery is of uncertain age but has never shown signs of failing before.
I haven't got a FBH.

I'm wondering if its something to do with the AC and the fan?????????????

can you see a stick with the date on the battery ? i would say it sounds like the battery has had it ,these cars the battery can be fine one minute and then die the next all without any warning at all

guru · 19th June 2013, 08:27

Batteries can just fail through internal shorts etc. We've just had this happen on our ZS, battery was absolutely fine and then one morning had almost no power. Tried charging it but still no joy so replaced the battery and all was well again. Of course it could also be the alternator.

jonathan63 · 19th June 2013, 08:36

Had the battery on charge for an hour and it starts now.
Ive left it to charge fully.

It just seems strange that after a long run the battery should be flat.

One thing i noticed though, when driving home; the fan seemed to be on a lot

.

Im wondering if the resistor had stuck open????????

Its not running now though.

Grumpy1 · 19th June 2013, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonathan63

Cheers guys.
I haven't got a multimetre so cannot test the alternator.
The battery is of uncertain age but has never shown signs of failing before.
I haven't got a FBH.

I'm wondering if its something to do with the AC and the fan?????????????

Multimeters are cheap enough Jonathan and easy to use. You might even find one cheaper than this if you shop around. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIGITAL-MU...item43bc2189ee

Chad.

danny2222 · 19th June 2013, 10:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonathan63

As above. drove nice and easy up the M6 on Monday, in daylight, AC on most of the way. We stopped at a service station half way home and restarted without a problem.

But when i came to start her last night, almost nothing.
The wipers moved and the UBP slowly whirred but nothing else.

I cannot think what the problem is

.

Any ideas?

Listen in the boot if you have Satnav , it may be running with the ignition off. I had this problem, I unplugged it and , bought a Tom Tom . Radio and CD Changer all O.K.

samurai · 19th June 2013, 21:24

Have you checked the electrolyte in the battery , if its low top it up , if your alternators charging , then I would suggest the battery if its topped up just above the plates , take to a battery specialist ask them to do a charging check , and a discharge check , which means putting an ammeter in series with battery lead .

19th June 2013, 07:29	#1
jonathan63 This is my second home CDTi Conniosseur SE HLNav Tourer and a Personal Line CDT Conniosseur SE Tourer..for the time being. Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cumbria Posts: 3,639 Thanks: 340 Thanked 423 Times in 294 Posts	Battery flat after 330 mile run As above. drove nice and easy up the M6 on Monday, in daylight, AC on most of the way. We stopped at a service station half way home and restarted without a problem. But when i came to start her last night, almost nothing. The wipers moved and the UBP slowly whirred but nothing else. I cannot think what the problem is . Any ideas?

19th June 2013, 07:33	#2
MG Tom Posted a thing or two ex. MG ZT+ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Northampton-ish Posts: 1,484 Thanks: 156 Thanked 98 Times in 95 Posts	The first thing to check is that no interior lights or any other electrical drains were left on. Alternator might be dead. Get a multimeter on the battery with the engine running, it should be 14-14.5V. Let us know how you get on. __________________ '03 MG ZT+ 1.8T X-Power Grey with Monogram 'WTD' black alcantara trim. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] My project thread HERE

19th June 2013, 08:27	#6
guru Posted a thing or two MG ZT, Rover Sterling, MG ZS EV & BMW X5 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Norfolk Broads Posts: 1,491 Thanks: 20 Thanked 196 Times in 117 Posts	Batteries can just fail through internal shorts etc. We've just had this happen on our ZS, battery was absolutely fine and then one morning had almost no power. Tried charging it but still no joy so replaced the battery and all was well again. Of course it could also be the alternator. __________________ My car history http://m6jkk.com

19th June 2013, 07:39	#3
Mike Noc This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Manual Connoisseur SE, Rover 75 CDT Automatic Connoisseur SE & a Freelander Td4. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,585 Thanks: 3,470 Thanked 3,119 Times in 2,247 Posts	Interior lights turn themselves off if left on so can't drain the battery down. As mentioned check the alternator voltage, but how old is the battery? Sudden loss of charge can be the battery giving up. Also do you have a fuel burning heater? They can come on if faulty and flatten the battery.

19th June 2013, 07:51	#4
jonathan63 This is my second home CDTi Conniosseur SE HLNav Tourer and a Personal Line CDT Conniosseur SE Tourer..for the time being. Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cumbria Posts: 3,639 Thanks: 340 Thanked 423 Times in 294 Posts	Cheers guys. I haven't got a multimetre so cannot test the alternator. The battery is of uncertain age but has never shown signs of failing before. I haven't got a FBH. I'm wondering if its something to do with the AC and the fan?????????????

19th June 2013, 08:36	#7
jonathan63 This is my second home CDTi Conniosseur SE HLNav Tourer and a Personal Line CDT Conniosseur SE Tourer..for the time being. Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cumbria Posts: 3,639 Thanks: 340 Thanked 423 Times in 294 Posts	Had the battery on charge for an hour and it starts now. Ive left it to charge fully. It just seems strange that after a long run the battery should be flat. One thing i noticed though, when driving home; the fan seemed to be on a lot . Im wondering if the resistor had stuck open???????? Its not running now though.

19th June 2013, 21:24	#10
samurai Regular poster Rover75 saloon Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 93 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Have you checked the electrolyte in the battery , if its low top it up , if your alternators charging , then I would suggest the battery if its topped up just above the plates , take to a battery specialist ask them to do a charging check , and a discharge check , which means putting an ammeter in series with battery lead .