Flat Battery

[Peter76]

I work away from home a fair bit and the last couple of times i've been away for about 11 - 12 days i've come back to a flat battery. Jump started the car both times no problem then all is ok. However, for the first time last week, wasn't away anywhere, just never drove the car from the Sunday until the following Saturday, and the battery was flat.

Now i know it's a Lotus, but surely the battery should hold out for longer than that. The car IS only a year old.

Anyone else have this problem? Is this normal?

[tut]

More normal on an old S1 which very often develop earthing problems.

Should not happen on a year old car as far as I know, as long as you have no drain on it.

Call your dealer and put the problem into their hands.

tut

[Peter76]

Err, not sure how i posted this here? Mods can you move it??

[robin]

Sounds like something isn't turning off ... car batteries don't like being drained flat - each time you do it, you end up with less capacity, so you may need a new battery BUT FIRST you must find what's draining the battery - have you got a tracker type device or any other non-standard gizmos fitted?

Cheers,
Robin

[Peter76]

Only thing i know of is the alarm / immobiliser. There is no tracker fitted to the car (that i was told about).

P.S Thanks mods!!!

[espritstu]

Best anti-theft,best way to save battery,is too buy a remote battery disconect unit or buy a spare battery,your doing more damage trying too start the car with a flat battery,you'll damage the starter motor alsoheat up the electrics

[robin]

I don't believe you're doing damage to wiring or starter motor trying to start on a flat battery.

Lead-acid batteries don't like being deep discharged, so you're right that the continuing to flog a dead horse makes it worse, but the wiring and starter motor don't give a monkey's.

Cheers,
Robin

[Cisco]

Peter,

Just for background, as I think we have the same spec car, I have left mine for upto 3 weeks with standard Cobra alarm on etc and it always turns strongly and starts 1st time.

If there is no indication that there is a charging problem, flickering light etc, then I would think that either your battery is faulty or there is an electrical leak.

Good luck with it.

Take care,

Frank