Rover returns
I have a Y reg Rover 75 2 litre diesel with 81,000 miles. I like the car and want to keep it. I am 77 and only do about 5,000 – 6,000 miles a year with the car standing idle for sometimes five or six days at a time. My problem is that quite often the battery is flat afterwards, especially in cold and frosty weather. It would seem my battery, a good one less than a year old has a leak. The car has been checked both at an ex Rover dealer and a local Motor Electrical workshop with no trace. Both sources have said that I do not do enough miles, and I have to agree. I have a suitable charger and a couple of hours does the trick. When the car door is unlocked an electrical motor starts to run, is this normal, various mechanics say it is nothing to worry about. Is it a problem that is common to Rover 75s? Your advice would be much appreciated.
Asked on 28 March 2009 by
Answered by
Honest John
My standard tip is to switch EVERYTHING off, BEFORE you switch off the ignition, so switch off radio, interior light (fully), heater fan and
everything else electrical before switching off the ignition. I leave my
cars like that for up to 5 weeks and they always start. But obviously a diesel hammers the battery every time you start it and if you are not doing the miles to put the charge back into the battery it has probably lost its capacity to hold a full charge. Make sure it’s the right battery. A diesel needs a much heavier duty battery than a petrol engine.
everything else electrical before switching off the ignition. I leave my
cars like that for up to 5 weeks and they always start. But obviously a diesel hammers the battery every time you start it and if you are not doing the miles to put the charge back into the battery it has probably lost its capacity to hold a full charge. Make sure it’s the right battery. A diesel needs a much heavier duty battery than a petrol engine.
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