car battery drainage problems

[sad old git]

Hi. I was initially going to ask for help with a battery drainage problem I'm having at present but earlier this evening I clicked on to Google with the same question and got so many answers that I couldn't believe that the problem was so common. What I would like to know now is if any of you good people have had similar problems and how did you resolve them. Cheers...SOG

[buildersmate]

You need to find the item or part of the wiring that is draining it (stating the blindingly obvious). One way to do this is to remove each fuse in turn and see what impact it has. Trouble is, with only a small current drain, it is not always easy. Have you got access to a multimeter with a current scale, so that you can disconnect one battery terminal and put the multimater in series in the circuit? - that way you can detect quite low current drains.
Having found what part of the circuit is causing it (which fuse it is on), at least you have the opportunity to control it when the car isn't in use - just take the fuse out - only a temporary measure I know.
Having found which part of the circuit, the only way is to isolate each component on that circuit in turn.

[Panic Button]

...or the battery may just be at the end of its life.

[chas2008]

not uncommon for only 3-4 years (sometimes less ) use from a battery..

[sad old git]

buildersmate.Thank you for your advice, I have connected a multimeter in series with the battery ( 2 yrs old) and got a reading of 0.03 amps. Apart from that I have disconnected the boot light which I was told is often the culprit. Also I should have pointed out that the drainage is very slow, about every ten weeks or so but it always catches me unawares. Also I have checked the battery voltage with the engine not running and get a reading of 12.6 volts, I then checked the charging voltage with the engine running and got 14.5 volts suggesting that the alternator was ok. All I can do now is wait and see if it drains again. Once again thanks for your help.SOG

[Panic Button]

I still think it's a knackered battery.

[sad old git]

Panic Button. Thank you for your answer,you could be right; however I have a spare battery that I use when the other one goes flat..... After a while that one is drained too suggesting that there is definitely a slow drain somewhere but to find it is a nightmare.I have tried the advice of Buildersmate and pulled a few fuses but so far no positive results.I think I may end up getting one of these in car solar trickle charges and hope for the best. Thank you for your interest.S.O.G.

[Rtaxron]

I had the same prob for 18 months and discovered that the battery wasn't heavier enough for my car which was 1900hp and a diesel, it was for a petrol engine.

[sad old git]

Many many thanks to you all for your help; I'll either get there in the end or fade away with my batteries.....S.O.G.