Braking problem

[mountainmanUK]

If you have an alarm fitted, and set, it can drain your battery in a few days, especially during icy weather whenb the battery probably isn't as "full" as usual. That little red flashing light to ward off intruders uses a small, but definite, amount of electrickery!
It doesn't take many "stop-start" short journeys with lights, wipers, heater blower, rear screen heater, radio, etc., etc., going at the same time, to drain a decent battery.

As Ken says, try the alternator test.

Cheers
Dave

[MULLEY]

No alarm on this baby I wouldnt expect a batter drain unless there is an actual problem as its not been that cold & its a new battery.

What i was wondering was it might be the starter motor (in gear). If i rock the car & give the starter motor a whack with a hammer that might solve the problem?

I'll obviously try the suggestions mentioned before i go down this route.

[MULLEY]

Righto, i think i may have diagnosed the problem, a loose battery clamp which i think has caused the battery to drain.

Is it safe to jump start a car with a known flat battery? or will that damage it & i should instead use a trickle charger?

I've coated the offending terminal/clamp in vaseline to stop the arching & drain loss, but i'll have to get a new clamp sorted out to avoid this happening again....

[ken newbold]

it's always better to slow charge a battery, but I doubt it will harm it just to jump start it.

[DavidRutherford]

I'd be careful if it's completely flat, as when you attach the jump leads, you have a fairly heavy current in, and then when you try starting, that's a fairly heavy current out. The sudden current reversal has been known to kill an otherwise good battery. I've made this mistake twice now. One battery was a bit dead anyway, so no biggie, but the other was fairly new, and it died a horrible and painful death.

[MULLEY]

I'd better play it safe & get a trickle charge done on it, theres no way i'm buggering up a £70 battery....