2.3 Ghia Auto Starting Issue

[Juicygalaxy]

Hi everyone I'm new to the forum and could do with some advise. Problem started last year in the cold the wife calls me to say battery flat on the Galaxy. No problem charged overnight ok for four days then same again. I eventually changed battery which helped a little but then the weather warmed up and was fine. It has now come back to bite me in the bum as last week same phone call blah blah blah. Took it to my mechanic said battery fine alternator fine but a drain on battery turned out to be interior lights and power sockets so removed fuses thought job done for now. How wrong I was as had the dreaded call this morning. So I got home she jump started straight away I let her run for only 5 min turned her off bugger me she started!!! I put battery on charge and charger saying fully charged within an hour!!! Is this right? Had some random know all say it's yer battery mate but I don't want to invest in one if not needed. Starting to drive my dearest up the wall

[BrianH]

You don't say which one it is (mk1 or mk2) but the central locking is a possible culprit - specifically the wires breaking in the door gaiters including the boot.

 

Try pulling fuse 19 if its a mk1 and seeing if the locks stop working on the central locking - if this does stop them (it does on mine from when i had issues with the locking unlocking itself randomly due to the same issue) then leave it in that state with a charged battery connected, If this stops the problem start looking at the door gaiters (specifically the boot one) and repair any broken wires found.

 

Broken wires in the gaiters on the galaxy are a known common issue with various symptoms, Given that the battery appears to charge even only over a few minutes suggests its not the battery to me.

 

What battery is fitted though? And what does it actually do when its flat (does it not attempt to start/high speed clicking without managing to crank or cranks over but fails to start - if so what does the light on the drivers door panel do on these occasions?)