Flat battery Escort

Connect the battery in series with a DVM . Then start pulling fuses until you find what's draining the battery. Unlikely but it could be a faulty battery. I baught a battery once that had a duff cell. Mike.

Which won'y help, as if the battery warning light doesn't come on the alternators dead.

if the battery warning light does not operate then the charging system will not work, so the battery will not charge.

check for loose connections first, then pull off the little lead to the alternator (may be a large plug with 2 or 3 leads in it , you want the little one) connect that little lead to earth (NOT any of the big leads) with the ign switch on, the batt warning light should come on. if it doesn't replace the bulb and try again, if the lamp works ok when the lead is earthed but not when the lead is connected then the alternator is faulty (very likely)

Mrcheerful

Some cars charging systems willnot work at all if the charging tell tale bulb is blown. I would check that first.

On some vehicles the alternator warning light is in circuit with the field windings - and if it blows or has a wiring fault, no charge at all. So get that checked first.

It's cheap and easy to check if the alternator is charging. Get hold of a DVM - Maplin etc sell them from a few pounds upwards - and connect it across the battery to read the voltage. Note the reading with the engine stopped - will be something about 12 volts. Then start the engine and note that reading. It should be around 2 volts higher at roughly 14 volts. If it doesn't increase the alternator isn't charging.

Alternator diodes buggered- its discharging through the alternator. Alternator is warm to the touch after sitting for abit with a fully charged battery?

Tim..

Faulty alternator.