left car for 4 days now not starting

[X5Sport]

Kin great artic tractor....

Even I can get into one of those    mind you, the fuel economy sucks!!

[the shreksta]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Kin great artic tractor....

Even I can get into one of those    mind you, the fuel economy sucks!!
[/quote]

sounds like my sort of motor lol

at 6ft 9 and 28 stone i struggle in most things to be honest

[the shreksta]

[quote="X5Sport"]
That's a bit on the short side in Winter.  You might need to invest in a charger to keep it topped up, especially in Winter.  It will only need doing once a month or so, and as the weather warms will be less of a challenge for the battery.

A lot will depend upon how many functions you switch on during your journey.

If it goes flat again quickly then a parasitic draw is likely.  Finding it can be a cast iron pain of a job!  The usual cause is the hedgehog (Final Stage Resistor) in the air con.  It is an easy DIY...though a tad more challenging if you have big hands - it's in a small space behind the dash.  Lots of folks on here have done it.

It will be worth checking that the car goes into 'sleep' mode.  The little tell-tale LED beside the 'P' on the shifter should go out after 16 mins.  If it doesn't then the car is being kept awake.
[/quote]

do you know if this would stop my max ventilation button working?

[X5Sport]

Unlikely.  That's most likely a panel failure unfortunately 

[the shreksta]

Right......small update

The car is now running fine with new battery HOWEVER....the old battery that went flat was taken to my work place to be tested,it was charged overnight and the battery tester found no fault with it

Suggestions?

[themoog]

How was it tested? You can charge a battery until it shows 12.5 v but put a load on it and it maybe no good.

[the shreksta]

I'm not sure to be honest, I've just spoke with the sparky who works here and he said he checked the battery this morning after a full night charge and it was dead, the indicator on the battery was black.

Fuck knows what the other guy was on about

[X5Sport]

At least you now know, and it's one less worry 

[the shreksta]

[quote="X5Sport"]
At least you now know, and it's one less worry 
[/quote]

I guess the only way to test it is to leave the car for a week again and see if she starts.

On the plus side the max ventilation button started working again today

[bluestreak56]

[quote="themoog"]
How was it tested? You can charge a battery until it shows 12.5 v but put a load on it and it maybe no good.
[/quote]

Also you wont know if it holds charge? I had a drain on a battery in the past that dropped several v in several hours when attached to the car but was fine when out of it.

[the shreksta]

Right to stop confusion again at work......

The battery was charged last  night but the battery indicator still says black which means insufficient charge......HOWEVER....2 battery testers were put on it and both showed 12.57 volts and the digital one says good and pass

Really don't know what to make of it now guys,could it be a power drain or could it be a duff battery giving false readings

[Horizon]

If your only testing the voltage they can pass, probably needs a drop test, where a substantial load is put across the terminals, this shows off the battery can handle any load.

[the shreksta]

[quote="Horizon"]
If your only testing the voltage they can pass, probably needs a drop test, where a substantial load is put across the terminals, this shows off the battery can handle any load.
[/quote]

Thanks buddy, how do I do that?

[Horizon]

[quote="the shreksta"]
[quote="Horizon"]
If your only testing the voltage they can pass, probably needs a drop test, where a substantial load is put across the terminals, this shows off the battery can handle any load.
[/quote]

Thanks buddy, how do I do that?
[/quote]

http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Battery-Dr ... wwodxbcHDw
This a load tester / drop tester, it has a heating element across the two terminal prongs. When you push these down on top of your disconnected, well ventilated battery the heating element simulates the load. Then you leave the load on for 15 seconds whilst checking the gauge/ meter on the tester. If it drops out of the green, the battery is toast. Just because a battery holds voltage doesn't mean it can cope with a load. This tester simulates real world loads on a battery.
All battery shops have these, most will do a free battery check for free , as it takes seconds to do and is a good sales tool.
As stated earlier, if it's an old battery (2007 ) I would just take it to the tip, they have a place for old lead acid car batteries, and dispose of them in an enviromentaly friendly way. ;D ;D