Battery woes!

[drivebycar]

So I bought a new battery a couple of months ago and with it the golf was running beautifully. Since then it has stood for a few weeks without use.

I charged the battery for a few hours yesterday and she started ok. But now I've come back the next day to start it and it's flat again. It's a sealed battery also btw so can't top up with distilled water.

Do I just need a new battery then? Thought if it was brand new I would be able to charge it easily.

Thanks

[sharki786]

if its a brand new battery then 2 things, either the battery was poo or there a problem with you alternator.

[drivebycar]

I don't think it's the alternator as after charging the battery up, left it parked overnight and wouldn't start the next day. So it's not like it's running down as I use the car.

[Gti Gerbil]

firstly

you need to check to see if the car has a current draw while turned off, I may be that which is causing your problems and not a lack of charging or a duff battery

If there is not quiescent current draw when the car is off, when it is worth checking the main charging cable, the one in my car had gone hard in places and even though 14.4V was showing at the batterery with the engine running no real current wads getting through to charge the battery (the one from the alternator to the battery)

You say your car is charging ok, how have you checked this ?

[drivebycar]

Thanks for your replies. Had a discussion with the technician where I bought it and he said because it had stood for so long the plates had oxidised. So the charger has to break down these build ups before it can charge the battery properly. So fingers crossed, the other side of a very long charge it should be all good again