As too Alternator testing, check voltage at battery when engine running with your test meter...And don't say you've not got one.

 

Video? Sure thing: How to Test Alternator Voltage Output (AutoUpkeep.com) - YouTube

Had cloudy misty rainy weather every visit to Glencoe but, it just added to the beauty so it was easier to endure. If you're into hiking I recommend it. Living in SoCal now. Spoiled by the nearly always perfect weather but it sure has none of that addictive Scottish charm.

 

I'll do you a house swap for six months if you like....

We look after a few holiday homes here for a family from South Africa and our guest the week before last was from California and also had a second home in Vermont.

 

I would think that a good battery would have taken care of the DVD being on for that length of time. If you get a new battery get a heavy duty one. I found my Battery tray wouldn't fit my replacement battery but I managed to get it in even with terminals wrong way round. Perhaps you might be better with a second Battery.

 

Thats probably going to be the most prudent route to take I think Goggs.

Is there a 'best' battery to get? make and size?

 

Just checked back through the old invoices and the battery was replaced on 02/05/2012 which was about 12,000 miles ago.

 

OK, just completed the hard reset and reconnected the battery.

Turned the key and just got a couple of clicks and nothing more.... :-(

New battery?

 

- no not yet
- give the battery a good long overnight charge
- and eliminate it as a source of your problems

Solution is a ladder of start cheap and easy ....... climbing to expensive and complicated, in that mix is what you can do yourself as part of the elimination process. A hard reset and a full battery charge is something you can do as part of the elimination ladder. You would normally expect three or more years from a battery but that often depends what you fit. Lifestyle [lack of miles] plays a very important part in the GV's behaviour. One start needs a lot of miles to put that juice back. Infrequent use is a killer of battery's and the GV's ability to start up.

Threads in the past on battery's one

Threads in the past on battery's two

Threads in the past on battery's three

 

I think that is the underlying problem. Give it a full charge, avoid 8 mile journeys as much as possible and as long as the alternator is OK, you shouldn't have any more problems for a while.

If you must do short journeys then avoid using the power doors, windows, DVD player etc. etc. and leave the engine running when the vehicle is stationary if you can.

 

Cheers Alan, unfortunately living on an island you can't avoid short journeys..

Ive done a multimeter test on it this morning:

I'm getting dead on 11.7 on the battery without the engine running.
I then jump started it and qickly done a one with the engine running before it cut out and was getting an erratic jump from approx. 6.1 to approx. 7.1

We don't have a decent battery charger so Im going to go and buy one now to try the charge first.