Battery issues

[SamiS]

I have not used the car for a few weeks and the battery is dead. I've jumped it and it turns over fine. So I decide to trickle the battery over night to give it a full charge.

I go outside after its been going for 3 hours and its already shut off (not full, but no lights). I try again this morning with an other trickle charger and it cuts off very quickly, fuse has gone. So I put a new fuse in, and it still doesnt work.

I'm thinking its new battery time, but before I drop £100 on a new one, i'm wondering if there is a short that keeps tripping/draining everything!

Also, cheapest place for the battery? 1990(H) 316i.

Thanks.

[gareth]

if a fully charged battery is losing charge in such a short space of time you either have a current drain or the battery is stuffed.

a battery from a local motor factors will never be £100 though. £40 is more like it. don't got to halfords, they cost double what a motor factors will charge

[daimlerman]

My local motor electrical place(Lindum Electrics)lightened my wallet by less than £50 for a 325 sized battery a couple of weeks back.Invoice also included a couple of other bits that project cabbie needed so Gareth's £40 is about on the money!
Halfraud's only advantage is that they are open on Sunday's!

[325iSportSR]

Bought a 325i battery last week from local motor factors, it was £60 with 3 year gaurantee.

[SamiS]

Do I buy the new battery before trying to see if there is a fault though? I don't want to waste a battery before troubleshooting.

Whats the best way for trying to find a short?

[gareth]

you'll need to connect a multimeter in series with the battery and measure current while everything is turned off. if there is a current drain, you'll be able to measure it