Battery issues

[tiswas]

My poor old SL gets such little use, and sits outside that I am often putting it on charge. Whether it is down to the quality of the charger but this can mean it being on charge for 72 hours or more before any sign of a full charge.

The battery is probably 3 years old and a decent make. 2-3 days ago the car started up convincingly, sounded like a fully charged battery even to an ignoramus like me but this morning I got the dreaded click click click as I turned the ignition. What was odd about this morning that I put it on charge for just a couple of hours and tried it again, not really believing it would make any difference, but it burst in to life!

Probably no connection but I have had the SRS and airbag lights on for a couple of weeks now.

I do have it booked in for a diagnostics check next week at ScarlettAuto Services in Norfolk which was recommended to me, I am in Caister, but can anyone shed any light on the likely problem in the meantime?

Thanks and happy new year to all.

Rob

 

[tiswas]

I think this car is trying to wind me up!

Just driven it round the block to give the battery a boost and the airbag warning lights did not come on once . They have been on every time I have driven it recently, probably more like 4-6 weeks than 2 weeks on reflection.

What is going on?

Thanks

 

[Blobcat]

I’d recommend having a battery conditioner attached all the time it’s parked up.

 

[Chrishazle]

My thought as well Russ, but OP does say that it sits outside so maybe power not suitably available. I can vouch for the benefits of keeping a battery conditioner on the "sunny weekend toy" as that's what I've been doing for over 20 years now with 3 different cars in that time, but then that's always been in my garage with power available.

 

[s5tuart]

For those of us flat dwellers it seems impossible to get power anywhere near the car.
God forbid we ever need an electric vehicle!

ETA I do have a solar charger but on salt and pepper days like today there's not a lot of performance from them.

 

[Blobcat]

For those of us flat dwellers it seems impossible to get power anywhere near the car.
God forbid we ever need an electric vehicle!

ETA I do have a solar charger but on salt and pepper days like today there's not a lot of performance from them.

I had a car sat on a 5w solar charger and it really kept it going (surprisingly)

My Landy sits on the drive with a extension lead to it and 2 battery conditioners (1 for main and 1 for winch battery)

 

[mioba]

The plug in cigar socket solar chargers should keep the battery maintained I would think.

 

[Chrishazle]

That only works if your fag lighter is permanently live. In my S204 the only permanent live 12V is the centre arm rest one for the UHI connector, not useable for anything else, every other 12v outlet in the car is dead ignition off - ****** brilliant, there's one in the boot that could be used overnight for phone charging (which is how I know it's dead) or keeping the coolbox (and beer) cold at the picnic!