Sudden Battery Failure!

[Fat Audi 80]

My battery has suddenly died! I could not unlock the car last night with the alarm remote. I left it be, then took a look tonight. The alarm light has stopped flashing, so I opened the car with the key. Central locking did not work, but drivers door lock only unlocked. Key in ignition, nothing. Back seat out, battery measures 0.5v across terminals. It seems like simply a failed battery. It did get fully discharged a couple of weeks ago and I think it is about 5 years old.

Should I just throw a New battery in it, or is something more fishy going on?

I have had no electrical issues recently at all....

Cheers

Steve

[Fat Audi 80]

Just checked, the battery is 7 years old, perhaps it has had its day....

[John.]

0.5 volt!! Usually for it be so low something's dragged it down?
Would be worth trying to charge it.

[Error404]

7 years isn't a bad innings. I had a similar issue last year and tried to charge it but it didnt recover so I replaced it with a new Varta

[Rusty]

I ran mine down a month or two back and it's been poorly since. Massive Bosch Silver battery that's maybe 5-6 years old too; anything less would be toast.

Time for a new one. Keep your eye out for 45% discount at GSF every now and again.

[Fat Audi 80]

0.5 volt!! Usually for it be so low something's dragged it down?
Would be worth trying to charge it.

My ctek charger won't touch it, doesn't even recognise it as a flat battery!

[SteveH]

When my last battery died the AA man that came out said the new technology batteries can go suddenly, unlike the old style lead/acid which tend to tail off and give you plenty of warning. Could be sales bullsh*t but does seem to stand true.

[Fat Audi 80]

Thanks chaps, ordered the same battery again for pick up tomorrow. Only £68 and the last one has lasted 7 years, so worth another punt...

[SteveH]

My ctek charger won't touch it, doesn't even recognise it as a flat battery!

My ctek won't touch a totally flat battery. You can trigger them to get them going, can't remember how though!

[AndyP]

Time for a new one. Keep your eye out for 45% discount at GSF every now and again.

Those offers are useless as all they do is put the price UP first. They have a 45% off today, but the battery they list for the S2 is £224

[Fat Audi 80]

When my last battery died the AA man that came out said the new technology batteries can go suddenly, unlike the old style lead/acid which tend to tail off and give you plenty of warning. Could be sales bullsh*t but does seem to stand true.

Well this one fell off the edge of a cliff, so it could well be true!

[twoqu]

Bite the bullet and get a new one. Not worth the inconveneince of being stranded somewhere. I think the technique is to use a conventional (old) battery charger to get some voltage into it first and then use a modern battery charger. Having said that if its been discharged to that kind of voltage its had it!
Agree with Alex, get a Varta from one of the battery companies. They seem to have better specs then the Bosch equivelent for some reason!

[Colesy]

A sudden cold snap can kill batteries, had one go earlier in the week. You can sometimes get them to take charge by charging in series with a known good battery.

[John.]

I think the technique is to use a conventional (old) battery charger to get some voltage into it first and then use a modern battery charger.

Yup, my "clever" charger needs the "good old charger" to give it a kick before the new clever one will start charging it.

[Sonic]

Had exactly the same situation a couple of weeks back with my R26... it spent months on axle stands this spring/summer and started first time without a hiccup, but then decided after being left for a week since its last journey that it no longer wanted to work. The ctek didn't touch it either, so likewise, just got a new battery, and spot-on since.

I did put the removed battery on the ctek once off the car and it is reporting that it's charged... which is interesting!