Battery or Alternator?

[imi7]

Been to the dealer today - here is the outcome:-

- Coolant leak - new radiator - I am posted out in Middle East and temp hitting 51C during day - so you can imagine that over a shorter period of time the plastics crack/break/become fragile. The radiator was leaking from the top - it was as if someone had drilled 4 tiny holes into the plastic....
- Battery was only at 18% capacity. Alternator OK as it held charge whilst driving. New battery (gel type) here costs around $500 with 2 yr warranty - compared to my last one also from the dealer that was a more reasonable $250 (water type).

As mentioned the service manager is a friend so he offered to charge the battery overnight and see if it increases its capacity. He was happy that the engine was cranking first time around to start. He felt sorry for me , bearing in mind I just had 2 rear tyres fitted recently, ebc redstuff brakes all round, skimmed rotors, control arm bush replacement, now the radiator and of course poss battery replacement - OUCH.

He did say that one of the reasons the battery was probably on its way out was that I do not drive the car enough. On average, for the last 6 months I drive 50-80km a week - so having the car sitting in the drive also leads to poor battery life. SO by leaving the internal light on for 24 hrs it killed the battery.

Fingers crossed lets see what happens tomorrow.