Toby
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Nov 05
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my car is holding little charge i.e. goes flat in a day without use or will go flat in 5 mins with lights on without engine running and just want to know how to test my battery to see if its that that is fubar'd 
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islandofshame
Member
Registered: 24th Sep 06
Location: Airdrie, North Lanarkshire
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lick it
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dan_c4rsa
Member
Registered: 12th Dec 06
Location: North Yorks Drives: MK3 Seat Cupra
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quote:
Originally posted by islandofshame
lick it
i was going to say that 
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dan_c4rsa
Member
Registered: 12th Dec 06
Location: North Yorks Drives: MK3 Seat Cupra
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by CorsaB4ever
my car is holding little charge i.e. goes flat in a day without use or will go flat in 5 mins with lights on without engine running and just want to know how to test my battery to see if its that that is fubar'd
and my car used to do this - if its the original vauxhall one its probs just a bit crappy even though the tester light when its on will sshine green (theres like a little plastic circle in the middle)
Best off just getting yourself a newer battery mate or charging your current one every week.
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Toby
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Nov 05
User status: Offline
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well if i do that its gona give me a shock as it has some charge in it but how can i tell if its running at 90% or 9%
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dan_c4rsa
Member
Registered: 12th Dec 06
Location: North Yorks Drives: MK3 Seat Cupra
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just charge it, see if it happens again, if it does its not retaining charge very well and buy a newen 
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Toby
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Nov 05
User status: Offline
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well since ive had my alarm car needs to be run everyday or battery goes flat, just making sure before i fork out 80/90 quid for a new battery that it aint dodgy wiring or the alternator or anything else
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flybikeslee
Member
Registered: 2nd Jan 07
Location: Liverpool
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go to halfords, they will test it for free, then go elsewhere and get a cheaper battery 
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Pucci1
Member
Registered: 19th Oct 07
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80/90 quid for a battery 
motorworld 40-50 for a battery i belive
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Toby
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Nov 05
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sure for the vaux go battery its about 80 quid
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Toby
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Nov 05
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by flybikeslee
go to halfords, they will test it for free, then go elsewhere and get a cheaper battery
its getting the car there battery is flat at the mo and know fucker around to use jump leads with
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scottyp1989
Member
Registered: 29th Jul 07
Location: Warley, West Midlands
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by CorsaB4ever
sure for the vaux go battery its about 80 quid
think i paid £43 for mine, might have been cheaper than that actually
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Pucci1
Member
Registered: 19th Oct 07
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motorworld do bigger amp batterys etc so go give them a bell
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Toby
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Nov 05
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by scottyp1989
quote:
Originally posted by CorsaB4ever
sure for the vaux go battery its about 80 quid
think i paid £43 for mine, might have been cheaper than that actually
trade?? my mate said he sure he paid 80 quid for it 
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craig_s
Member
Registered: 5th Mar 06
Location: Birmingham Drives: mk4 astra gsi
User status: Offline
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got a multi-meter?with the car running put the put meter on 20v setting then connect it to the battery i.e. + to + and - to - you should be gettin around 14.0 v if you are you battery is nackered and if you not your alternator is nackered
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Toby
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Nov 05
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by sri power
got a multi-meter?with the car running put the put meter on 20v setting then connect it to the battery i.e. + to + and - to - you should be gettin around 14.0 v if you are you battery is nackered and if you not your alternator is nackered
got any recommendations on which mulitmetre is best for the job?
and also is that meant to say are not getting 14v
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craig_s
Member
Registered: 5th Mar 06
Location: Birmingham Drives: mk4 astra gsi
User status: Offline
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any meter will do it mate.if you get around 14.0v at your battery then your alternator is ok and your battery is nackered.if you dont get 14.0v i.e. 12.5 etc then your alternator is gone.
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Toby
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Nov 05
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by sri power
any meter will do it mate.if you get around 14.0v at your battery then your alternator is ok and your battery is nackered.if you dont get 14.0v i.e. 12.5 etc then your alternator is gone.
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X 60RSA
Member
Registered: 20th Aug 01
Location: Lincoln
User status: Offline
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Test your battery voltage when the ignition is off, Should be 12v.
Even if the battery is knackered and the alternator is ok, i think you'll still get a reading of 14.4v at the battery when the engine is running, if not then the alternator is shot!
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Richie
Member
Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
User status: Offline
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The correct way is :
1. Check the battery whilst not connected to any of the car's terminals. If the battery is ok you will get a reading between 11.7v and 12.3v.
2. Connect the battery back up and check the terminals whilst someone is revving the car to about 3000rpm with the headlights on. If the voltage reads 14v and above.... and the lights get brighter as you rev, the alternator is fine and the battery is at fault.
If both conditions are fine then you may have a short or a faulty piece of kit in the car.
[Edited on 05-12-2007 by Richie]
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ainsley_brader
Member
Registered: 24th Mar 02
Location: Tattershall, Lincolnshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Richie
The correct way is :
1. Check the battery whilst not connected to any of the car's terminals. If the battery is ok you will get a reading between 11.7v and 12.3v.
2. Connect the battery back up and check the terminals whilst someone is revving the car to about 3000rpm with the headlights on. If the voltage reads 14v and above.... and the lights get brighter as you rev, the alternator is fine and the battery is at fault.
If both conditions are fine then you may have a short or a faulty piece of kit in the car.
[Edited on 05-12-2007 by Richie]
Point 1. is incorrect you can have a battery that will happily read 12volts all day with a dead cell but as soon as it is put under load it will not perform.
Without having a battery load tester yourself you have 2 options!
1. Get someone else to test it for you. 90% of places will tell you its faulty to sell you a new battery anyway
2. Test the alternator as described assuming the alternator is charging properly you can assume its a faulty battery!
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Richie
Member
Registered: 3rd Dec 02
Location: Newport, Wales
User status: Offline
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A battery with a dead cell will lose voltage very very quickly. For example.... I have an optima yellow top here that I can leave on a charger for 24 hours. Within 5 minutes of taking it off charge it reads less than 11v.
My experience btw..... its never failed me
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djice56
Member
Registered: 30th Aug 06
Location: Cleethorpes, North Eart Lincolnshire
User status: Offline
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ok first thing check ur charge rate with car running lights on and blowers on full at 3500 rpm should have between 14volts and 14.2 volts
then test battery for a drain put ur meter on 15amp disconnect earth and put one side of meter on battery and one on earth lead should read 0.40milliamps if thats all ok leave lights on for 5 mins with no ignition and try starting if u get a click then u will have a dead cell in the battery
hope this helps mate steve
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