mk1 engine troubles

Hello everyone! I'm new to this forum. Don't know if anyone can help me with this…..

I'm in need of some advice…I seem to be having battery problems.  This is the second battery I've changed this year and I seem to be having trouble with it again.  I've cleaned and checked all the connections, but still having trouble.  Could it be cause my car is stored in my garage most of the time?

Help…  :dontknow:

What kind of battery problems? And do you really mean you're on your 3rd battery this year, 2007?

Lack of use/charge is the killer of all batteries mate, especially in the cold weather, charge it right up for 24 hours on a slow charge and see what its like, if it dont wanna know it might have a dud cell or 2 ? even new batteries can be duff

If your car is stored most of the time, you should invest in a trickle charger - assuming you have a power supply in your garage.  Failing that, if the car is only used a couple of times a month take out the battery and leave it on trickle charge.  If thats not possible, just disconnect the battery when the car isn't in use.  Should help preserve it.  When you take the car for a drive, make sure its a good long drive to charge the battery back up.
My car is only used every couple of weeks now.  I don't have a garage so I just disconnect the battery.  Starts first time everytime afterwards.

Danny

Might not be the battery.

If you've had three dead batteries in a year (as in dead, defunct, unusable, expired, rest in peace etc) you might have problems elsewhere like;

• a duff alternator that isn't charging at all
• a duff regulator/rectifier so that the alternator is charging at too high a voltage, thus cooking and killing the battery
• an electrical short that drais the battery when you don't use it

or a combination of these    

First - check the battery - once charged, does it;

• Start the car OK
• light the lights OK (check for a few seconds to make sure)

If it lights the lights, but will not start the car - then you may need to sort out the starter motor/solenoid (a job I'm going to be doing v soon)

Then

Start up and check the battery voltage at idle, and when you rev the car up a bit (up to 3000 revs is plenty). Does it;

• Stay at about 13 - 13.5 volts (= OK)
• Stay at 12, then go down/not rise ( = maybe alternator not working, check the wiring)
• Rise from 13 to 15 ish or more (= regulator up the swannee).

The reason I know about this is because I own a Honda VFR400R NC30 motorcycle - their alternators/regulator-rectifiers on these are race spec - as in designed to be unbolted and thrown in the bin before going racing…..

Al Cabrio

Leak to earth matie would be my guess. You could get one of those units that has a switch at the battery terminal - if you don't know what I mean PM me & I'll send you a photo - in fact I've got a spare somewhere - happy to mail it to you.

Alicabrio - you have PM bro'

MP

Thank you all, you all have great advice! Gonna look into all of the above!.....In answer to your question paul_c...yes on third battery! definitely something wrong! Cheers all!