Why does the battery in our car keep going flat?

My 2000 VW Beetle has a flat battery. Our mechanic says there's nothing wrong with the alternator or battery. Can you help?

Asked on 3 July 2025 by Betty Grierson

Answered by Alan Ross
If, as we understand, the mechanic has checked the battery and also the alternator output correctly then we would consider (as should the mechanic) that you have a parasitic drain. This means that after you have switched the engine off and locked the car, there is an electrical circuit still live and as such is draining the battery. It maybe the light in the boot or a interior light or another circuit. Ask your mechanic to carry out a parasitic drain as they should be able to identify where the problem lies.
Similar questions
To beat the dreaded short journey issue with stop start batteries is it worth putting a bigger capacity battery on my Fabia or will it upset the charging system?
During the summer months, both my wife's car (2025 - Suzuki Swift Hybrid) and my vehicle (2021 - Toyota RAV4 Hybrid) will be unused for approximately 3+ weeks, due to an impending holiday. Both vehicles...
When going away for a number of months I have left my previous ICE cars on a battery conditioner in the garage to preserve the 12 volt battery. I now own an EV and have read that this would not be possible...