Battery problems

Right guys got a rough idea of the problem :dontknow:  but would appreciate your opinions.
Bought a mk2 driver yesterday (sorry this isn't 100% mk1 related 8O ). Went for a test drive around 3 in the afternoon. All went well, started first time/ no squeaks or unusual noises. Then went onto a petrol station to fill her up before driving her home.
 After 5mins max stationary with the lights on at the pumps the battery died . Managed to find a car garage that lent me a battery pack. Once recharged ran properly  well for the hour journey home.
 This morning started her up again she was fine (once the frost had burnt off and all had dried out).  Then i tried her twice this afternoon whilst showing my mates the car. Once again there were no problems. I then went out this evening round 5 and  the starter motor could barely turnover once. This is once frost had reappeared.
So im thinking possible dead battery or alternator on its last legs. I had to work on a pug 205 this summer that had the same sort of problem. It would not start when raining or damp. Basically when there was too much moisture in the air the current didn't flow because the leads and terminals were starting to oxidise.
To solve the problem i bought and fitted a new battery and leads. This worked and the 205 started fine.

So instead of going to a garage i was just wondering if i could get a second opinion from you guys :doh:

You sound like yoou know what you're doing. Is there a receipt for the battery in your paperwork? Batteries only last about five or so years so it could be that it's at the end of its life.

Tian

Well i have just read through the paper work and its had all the usual things replaced such as wheel bearings and cv gaitors but no mention of a battery. The history is comprehensive including extras such as the fitting of the clifords alarm, cd player etc. The distributor cap and rotor arm were replaced in 1999 and 2000 but that seems along time ago and i only did 65mph on the motorway so i didnt rag it or put the car under strain. The battery maybe on its way out then. I'll check the terminals and leads tommorow. Thanks for the advice titan and the compliment because im only seventeen. I'v been learning mechanics for just under a year and a half now :wink: . And whilst most of my class mates are busy putting spoilers on novas this maybe evidence that im actually learning :read:

trev56 said

And whilst most of my class mates are busy putting spoilers on novas this maybe evidence that im actually learning :read:

Good lad!  I knew virtually nothing about cars before I got my cabbie a couple of years ago.  Now, thanks to this site and the trusty Haynes manual I've learnt quite a lot but still have a long way to go.

I had a similar symptoms to yours a few months back.  Turned out the -ve metal bracket to the battery terminal had snapped causing a loose connection.

Have you had the battery tested? or charged it? If it was totally flat , the jump start wouldnt have given you much?
Wilko's will do it for nowt, and theyre cheap!

The college has got all the equipment to test a battery   so i'll disconnect it and take it up there today. Hopefully it will just be the battery and nothing more serious :pray:

Morb said

Have you had the battery tested? or charged it? If it was totally flat , the jump start wouldnt have given you much?
Wilko's will do it for nowt, and theyre cheap!

When I was about twenty five and really getting in to cars in a big way my mother bought me a battery charger for Christmas. I thought she was mad and have to say I wasn't very happy. Thing is though I still have it and still use it! Probably the best gift she's ever bought me. Well worth investing in one before winter sets in too hard.

Tian

alright young man- see if this helps:

Got some good news. Tried the battery at school and found out it was under 25% charged. I connected it up to a 12v charger which uses mains electricity and left it for 2 hours. Reconnected it to the car and all was well :y: . Engine started fine and all electrics work without draining the battery. Now i have to see if the cells retain their charge. Thanks for all the advice you guys have given me and particulary for the diagram