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[kjon51]

I took the O/H out today - treated her to a trip to Tesco - like you do! So meanwhile I was sitting outside in the mega, got a bit chilly so had the motor running a couple of times just to blast some warm air around, & when the ignition was turned off pressed the auto button to get the last bit out of it. All these times it started perfectly, BUT when she returned & we loaded the shopping, I turned the key - the engine started but so did the alarm! First reaction was to turn the ignition off, take the key out & press the open button. This stopped the alarm so I tried to start again, no joy, dash lights dimmed & alarm sounded again. Repeated this a couple of times with a short wait between, but soon realised it was not going to 'self heal'.
As Hellfrauds was close by, & I'd already told myself that at the next sign of any electrical trouble it was time for a new battery, I 'phoned my lad - cos of course I didn't have a single spanner with me, & went up to Hellfrauds to get a battery. £60 with a 3 year guarantee, not the end of the world I suppose, lad carried it down to the car for me, & son arrived with spanners & meter. Got a reading of 11.someodd volts so sort of knew I'd made the right decision, the clamp bolt was solid, & a right bit*h until the head broke off, but minutes later we were going again.
Old battery looks like the original VX, so 6 years old nearly, - it's always this time of year they go isn't it!

Cheers,
John
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[Taxi_Driver]

Batteries can go like that....and if 6 years old not to be unexpected......
I quite often have the 'auto' on when the engine turned off in this weather......found it alters the fan speed quite a bit to keep it warm in the car.....plus i assume it has an electric water pump to keep the coolant circulating....with this and it runs for about 20 mins before switching off.....thats probably quite a drain on the battery.....but mine does get a decent charge usually....had the 'auto' heater on this morning as wasnt that busy......but this afternoon didnt turn the engine off for 5 hours....it was busy  

[tunnie]

i too am having battery problems, i left mine for 3 weeks and got the same problem as you.

Siren when off when the battery got flat, and had the same problems as you with the dimming lights.

Mine is dead now, so bought a slow charger to get it going again. Its a brand new Vx battery in there, but i seam to be have something thats draining the power  :-/

Little tip: Get one of those external jumper boxes, its a battery in a case with leads to attach to the battery.  Keep it charged and in the boot. Perfect for those times when it dies... just jump it and go.

Although keep it charged, and not be an idiot like me and leave not fully charged  

[Markjay]

I always drive with the headlights on (Swedish-style...). A couple of weeks ago I was talking on the phone while on the way to work, then parked the car near the office and stayed in the car to finish the call. Forgot about the headlamps... and as I didn't take out the key or open the door the buzzer didn't go off.

Obviously the battery was flat and the car wouldn’t start. Left the car where it was, and before going home called Green Flag, they said a local garage was called to send rescue.

But then I remembered that discharged barratries tend to revive themselves if left to rest, so I went back to the car - and just about managed to start it. Called off the rescue...

Well if the battery is a total goner, nothing will revive it, but if it is good and you somehow managed to drain it, leave it for a while then try again - you might just get enough juice to get the car started...

[Bo Bo]

I always drive with the headlights on (Swedish-style...). A couple of weeks ago I was talking on the phone while on the way to work, then parked the car near the office and stayed in the car to finish the call. Forgot about the headlamps... and as I didn't take out the key or open the door the buzzer didn't go off.

Obviously the battery was flat and the car wouldn’t start.

That must have been a long call if the battery went flat whilst you finished it!  

[Markjay]

I always drive with the headlights on (Swedish-style...). A couple of weeks ago I was talking on the phone while on the way to work, then parked the car near the office and stayed in the car to finish the call. Forgot about the headlamps... and as I didn't take out the key or open the door the buzzer didn't go off.

Obviously the battery was flat and the car wouldn’t start.

That must have been a long call if the battery went flat whilst you finished it!  

Yes - but not that long - it was work-related and took around 20 minutes, which was enough to flatten the battery with the headlamps on.

[Auto Addict]

There are a number of items on a car which will cause drain on a battery on tickover i.e. sitting in traffic.

On tickover with the following items the battery will not be charging, it will be discharging:-

Headlights

Wipers

Fan (includes having aircon on)

Rear screen

Heated seats

Rear Fogs

Front Fogs.

It will hold it's own with just sidelights on.

From memory the fan at full blast (on tickover) is taking about 10amps out of the battery.

If I am stationery in traffic for very long periods and I need heat (I was once stuck in a hold up on the M5 in the middle of winter for 3 hours, not a brass monkey to be seen) I take the revs up to about 1200 and hold them there.

[Taxi_Driver]

There are a number of items on a car which will cause drain on a battery on tickover i.e. sitting in traffic.

On tickover with the following items the battery will not be charging, it will be discharging:-

Headlights

Wipers

Fan (includes having aircon on)

Rear screen

Heated seats

Rear Fogs

Front Fogs.

It will hold it's own with just sidelights on.

From memory the fan at full blast (on tickover) is taking about 10amps out of the battery.

If I am stationery in traffic for very long periods and I need heat (I was once stuck in a hold up on the M5 in the middle of winter for 3 hours, not a brass monkey to be seen) I take the revs up to about 1200 and hold them there.

Its a pity that Omegas with all their electrical gadgets doesnt have a battery monitoring system.....i dont think my V reg merc does....but i did own for a few years a W reg merc that did! It used to monitor the battery and if the battery was draining, if it got to a point where starting/restarting wouldnt be possible it would shut down electrical devices in order of unimportance.....ie battery draining and you had the heated seats on.....then it would turn them off.....rear demister on....that would get turned off.....etc

[Auto Addict]

There are a number of items on a car which will cause drain on a battery on tickover i.e. sitting in traffic.

On tickover with the following items the battery will not be charging, it will be discharging:-

Headlights

Wipers

Fan (includes having aircon on)

Rear screen

Heated seats

Rear Fogs

Front Fogs.

It will hold it's own with just sidelights on.

From memory the fan at full blast (on tickover) is taking about 10amps out of the battery.

If I am stationery in traffic for very long periods and I need heat (I was once stuck in a hold up on the M5 in the middle of winter for 3 hours, not a brass monkey to be seen) I take the revs up to about 1200 and hold them there.

Its a pity that Omegas with all their electrical gadgets doesnt have a battery monitoring system.....i dont think my V reg merc does....but i did own for a few years a W reg merc that did! It used to monitor the battery and if the battery was draining, if it got to a point where starting/restarting wouldnt be possible it would shut down electrical devices in order of unimportance.....ie battery draining and you had the heated seats on.....then it would turn them off.....rear demister on....that would get turned off.....etc

I'm thinking of fitting a voltmeter and ammeter, they're about £24 each, but don't know quite where to fit them, any suggestions?

[bob.dent]

Little tip: Get one of those external jumper boxes, its a battery in a case with leads to attach to the battery.  Keep it charged and in the boot. Perfect for those times when it dies... just jump it and go.

Got one of these a couple of months ago, it also has an air compressor, light and cigar lighter power source - very handy