I kinda know that there is a problem with flat batterys on cars left unused for a week or so, but mine is getting a pain in the **** now, i only use the car on weekends so come Friday night or Saturday it never starts. Is there a better battery that might help or something else that can assist, I'm getting fed up with this now.

 

Trickle charger ? I have one of these 12V VOLT CAR BATTERY CHARGER SOLAR PANEL POWER NEW on eBay, also, Solar Panels, Gadgets, Consumer Electronics (end time 26-Jan-09 14:30:00 GMT)

 

Where do you place the solar panel?

 

I have mine on the inside windscreen and clamped to the battery.

 

Is it easy enough to run the cable through to the battery?

 

you might want to check and see if there is a drain on the battery ???

 

i use mine about once a month (although a classic) and the battery is yet to die at all sat for 6 weeks and fired up first time. get the battery checked out and make sure its getting enough charge from the alternator. i suspect the bats on the way out.

 

I had this problem on my 05 STi from new. Turned out to be the tracker which was taking 6 hours to go into standby and draining the battery. They replaced the tracker board for a new one which goes into standby after one hour and it solved the problem.

I also advise driving with your side lights on ... the smart alternator isn't so smart and if there is no drain on the battery, it doesn't always top up the charge.

 

Had the battery checked, said it was okay must be alternator, got that checked out, guy said it was fine. I have starrted driving with the sidelights on, but doesn't make much difference.

Just wondering i have read in previous posts that a better battery such as a calcium heavy duty job from Halfords is worth it. Last time i looked they costs almost £90.

 

As said, it's very likely the Trackstar not going into "sleep" mode. It was a major problem on my 03STi (and many others!) and I had to use a smart charger/conditioner. New Trackstar unit cured the problem (but I still use the battery conditioner if not using the car for a few days)
JohnD

 

OE battery is not particularly good even when new, you're lucky its lasted 4 years. Halfords HCB005 will do the job nicely.

Blob STis should drain at about 50mA to support tracker etc. which is about 8 AH per week, enough to make an ailing battery struggle.

 

I've had similar problems with battery crapness for ages. Changed it for the HCB005 a week or so ago. Think it was about £82.

 

I had the battery replaced 3 times under warranty. Finally got fed up with it and bought a Braille lightweight one. No problems so far and saved a fair bit of weight too.

 

I have replaced the battery twice in nearly 2 years. Might have to try the Halfords approach.

 

I had the same problem with my 04 STI. Turned out to be the same "tracker" problem as STIFreak. I agree with his advice about side lights. We also found that one of the wires to the alternator was loose, so sometimes it worked fine and other times it failed to turn on. Tightened it and never had a problem again... Your battery should last a week easily when you last drive it...