new battery car wont start

[mac15]

i had a new alternator and belt fitted 5 months ago and i was told that it might be best fitting a new battery in the near future.
i didnt get a new battery because all was fine until lately when we have had freezing temps then i have had problems with the battery going flat if the car is left for 24/36hrs without being started.
so 2 days ago i got a new battery and all has been fine until this morning when the car wouldnt start,everything is dead no lights,radio,central locking,dash lights, nothing works.
has anyone any ideas what could be the problem

[mac15]

forgot to mention the cars an 03 2.2 elegance auto 80k

[slipperysam1984]

Sound like an alternator fault.

first thing i would do is check the belt going to the alternator.

also put a multi meter on the batt while the engine is running to see if there is any charge getting to the batt.

HTH

[poves]

I know this sounds daft , but check the terminals .

[Tadpole]

I know this sounds daft , but check the terminals .

first place to check imo ..............................

[mac15]

i put the old battery back on and everything worked, there wasnt enough power in the old battery to start the car but all electrics worked.
so i am assuming i have some sort of electrical fault draining the battery,i have had the new alternator tested when the new battery was fitted just to make sure and all was fine,so its not faulty.

[bigmac]

or a duff battery ! you will need to get the new one charged up again then put a volt meter on it and see what it reads when running

[snapsnap]

Charge up an check for voltage accross the the batt terminals with the car running (put a few 1000 RPM on her too) look for, from memory, about 13.5v - 14v. If youve got that voltage then its not the alternator.

[luke4487]

Ontop of the 14v charge test, check the battery when dead. Technically you need to get a proper tester to see if the battery is okay, but a rule of thumb is that if the charge is below 5v it won't charge again! But does sound like your terminals could be loose or your alternators not working correctly.

Oh and I forgot.. the alternator on most (if not all) modern cars should charge on idle If it only charges on high revs the belt may be slack/alternator internals faulty.

[damian s]

Sounds like a duff battery.......Is it a Halfords branded one? seen a few of these playing up recently