Hi, just a quick one to check my reasoning.
Mother's car wouldn't start after sitting for a few days, battery showing about 11v on my test meter. Jump started it, disconnected jump leads and re-checked volts with engine running, now showing 14.5v. Gave it a reasonable run for about 45 mins (at night so with lights on), then stopped it for a bit. It started ok then I drive it another 15 mins. Tested battery again with engine off and it's showing 12.2v.
My reasoning says the alternator is charging ok, so it should have more charge than 12v after a reasonable run, therefore the battery is on it's last legs.
The car doesn't get used much, and only mostly for short 5 min trips.
What's your concensus folks - battery, or too many short runs and not enough time for it to charge?
BTW the same happened last winter after it had sat a few days. It's an 06 plate Focus 1.6 petrol auto with about 50k miles.
Mother's car wouldn't start after sitting for a few days, battery showing about 11v on my test meter. Jump started it, disconnected jump leads and re-checked volts with engine running, now showing 14.5v. Gave it a reasonable run for about 45 mins (at night so with lights on), then stopped it for a bit. It started ok then I drive it another 15 mins. Tested battery again with engine off and it's showing 12.2v.
My reasoning says the alternator is charging ok, so it should have more charge than 12v after a reasonable run, therefore the battery is on it's last legs.
The car doesn't get used much, and only mostly for short 5 min trips.
What's your concensus folks - battery, or too many short runs and not enough time for it to charge?
BTW the same happened last winter after it had sat a few days. It's an 06 plate Focus 1.6 petrol auto with about 50k miles.