[Bedfordshire Oven Cleaning]

Hi,
Nothing to do with cleaning carpets but if you don't ask you don't get.

I have a little fiat van, not used much, and on boxing day I went out, started her and the battery light stayed on. Everything was on a go slow, the wipers and blower fan ect...

Called the home start just to confirm what the problem was, he was here for about 1 minute, looked at it and said it was the alternator. Tested it and the charge going into the battery was about 9 volts. I left it here because I have a guy about half a mile away who works on my vans but he wont be around until new year.

Yesterday, the battery was totally flat, put it on charge for 24 hours, went out a minute ago, unplugged the charger and the battery is flat.
My question is... surely if it is the alternator it would still start after a charge overnight the eventually go flat. Wouldn't it?
Common sense to me says I am either losing charge somewhere or the battery is suddenly shot.

As I say I know its not a carpet cleaning issue but I know we are all good at fixing our own stuff!

[M.Acorn]

How old is the battery ? How cold has it been where you are ? Cold can kill battery's especially if they are getting on,the fact that it was not holding a charge after being on the charger all night would make me suspect that,or you have a really bad earth leak to something.

[Jamie Pearson]

Is it a maintenance free battery or can you top up the water in it?

[Bedfordshire Oven Cleaning]

The battery doesn't look that old and has been perfect up until boxing day.
Its been quite mild here, just wet!.

[Bedfordshire Oven Cleaning]

Is it a maintenance free battery or can you top up the water in it?

I can top up the water, will go and check in a minute.

[Bedfordshire Oven Cleaning]

Just checked, its maintenance free.

[garry22]

Slightly off topic,

I bought one of these from Halfords a couple of months ago and it's amazing   http://www.ringautomotive.co.uk/product_detail.asp?prod=1371

It's got a battery reconditioning setting that literally brings them back from the dead. It starts by cleaning all the sulphate off the plates (they look like new) and then pulse charges until fully charged.

I bought it for my Dad's car that had not been used for nearly twelve months (batteries appeared to be stone dead). It took forty eight hours but brought them back to 12.6 volts when tested.

It's also got a battery check mode that will tell you if the batteries are actually damaged.

For £ 52.00 it was well worth it (my Dad's batteries were nearly £ 100.00 each to replace).

Hope that helps.

[CATMAN]

I would say you need a new alternator.

It's not giving enough charge to the battery, which is draining when you use everything.

Come the next day, the battery is low on charge, and doesn't have enough to turn the starter motor.

I would also say that a battery is also needed as it's not holding charge, which means the cells have gone.

I would around for a reconditioned alternator probably ebay  but get a good battery. Both are easy to change.

[Kinver_Clean]

Disconnect the battery and see if it will charge on the mains charger.

[Jamie Pearson]

Have you tested to see if its charging with a multimeter?