Aaagghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me again. went to move it to a better place on the drive this afternoon and ......2 flat batteries. zilch. One of the batteries is brand new, fitted by the great repair garage. I have changed the dodgy wiring to something more acceptable yesterday and for the front spots to come on with the main beam, not the side lights. Light bar was working fine, relay is wired correctly.
The new battery has the posts on the opposite side to where they should be, so cables are 'stretched'. In fact the positive running off under the engine has not been secured into its clips (well the 2 I can see) as its tight. when charging both batteries on the car, the charger is pulling 6amps, the clip on the neg side is getting warm and smokey - the charger trips out.
I have disconnected the drivers side battery to charge it and its pulling 4 amps - charger happy.
It appears there is a short somewhere though. Last night all appeared well, lights worked fine, no warning lights or anything. We only drove half an hour each way, with dipped on the way and mains on the way back (incl light bar, spots etc.) so, is the alternator not charging? again no lights, off to have a look at my books, but any help / ideas truly welcomed, cant go shooting or cross country tomorrow - wifey very sad
thought.... if the new battery wasnt charged correctly to start with, and with the half hour drive home, half hour running during MOT, half hour to the restro and half hour back again, (with Blackpool illuminations), do you think having stood for 3 months that might have screwed things up?