Battery issues

[bluestreak56]

Right - update on my battery woes:

Last week I switched the new battery in my car for the old one which I charged on the 6th Jan and left it in the house for 3 weeks. (It held charge of above 12.63v.)

I left it to stand 5 days and the voltage dropped from 12.51v to 12.35v which isnt too bad.

I then drove it one day so it recharged and left it to stand for 6 days (when it snowed etc)

I checked it again this morning and it was 11.82v (close to fully discharged)

I did the open - circuit voltage test as dictated here : http://www.iol.ie/~kilkennyhockey/BentleyManual/EE01/ch4.1.2.html

and got a reading of 11.85v

I then continued to check the voltage with an OPEN circuit, the voltage kept creeping up and is now close to 11.98v just 3 hours later. - Battery still disconnected from circuit.

Did the headlight test (turn on lights while car is off) voltage dropped from 11.82v to 11.62v dropping about 0.01v per minute is that rapid?

Tested the amps again 0.24 is the reading (with the stereo in).

Took the car for a run for about 15 mins (main roads) and when I came back I checked the voltage was 13.53v (engine running)

So now I think possibly the alternator is not charging as it should be and something is draining the battery that cant be seen - possibly the alternator voltage regulator?

[bluestreak56]

Just incase anyone was wondering or does a search to try and help them troubleshoot their problems in the future, the cause of my battery issues was from the stereo.

Apparently the power feed to some stereos on a scirocco needs to be reversed? As soon as the electrician cut the wires and reversed them the battery drain disappeared!

Thanks to everyone who helped out in this thread.. now I need to fix my mfa