Flat batteries

[DX grunt]

If I don't drive my truck for a few days, I have to jump start it. It's got dual batteries.
I've just had a dodgy earth lead replaced - which I thought was the problem - but isn't.

One of my spotties has gone out and the other one went out but has come back on. Could this be the culprit?

The other day, I went to start it and it went 'click, click, click', so I got the jumper leads out and thought I'll give it another go - and it started ! Ruddy thing.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Ross
DX grunt

[the evil twin]

Won't be the spotties... check your battery terminals (especially the cranking battery). If they are OK next time you get her started check the voltage on the battery terminals with it running, should be 14 volts.

If that is OK get a local sparkie to check the battery with a tester (normally do it for free) you could have a collapsed cell dragging the capacity down.

[DX grunt]

Thanks ET

I'll have to take it to the sparkie. The cranking batteries was the one that had the earth lead replaced. Not that I know anything about electrics... I signed up for an extended warranty so I can't touch it for a while yet.

[Timbo]

Do you regularly top up the water inside the battery? I know that if it gets too low and the cells touch/dry it can kill a battery pretty quick.

Also, have you checked all of your interior lights are off when you leave the car? I know it's an obvious thing, but sometimes they play up if driving over rough roads a lot. The spotties don't sound like the culprit unless they were staying on over night. But I'd still get them fixed.. it's a pain in the arse when only 1 spot light works lol.

Where have you put the earth strap? GU's are known to have dodgey earth strap connections from factory. I relocated mine due to issue I had with the sub tank. Fixed me up a treat.