Battery issue?

Hello
I bought a new battery for my Defender 2.4 Puma, a bit less than a year ago. I had a very intermittent problem starting the engine, I'm turn the key and I would hear something sluggishly try to turn but no ignition, this would repeat a dozen times then the engine would start. Problem would go away for a month or 3 and then it would do it again. This week it started doing it every time, and now will not start at all. After a few attemps there's a electrical/burning/clutch type of smell.
A mechanic came over and immediately said it was the battery. He lent us a charger which we plugged in for for 24 hours, but still it will not start.
Any ideas? Cheers in advance.

see if you can borrow a battery that's up to the job

raisingveg said:

see if you can borrow a battery that's up to the job

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Why would a discharged battery cause a burning smell? You've more likely got a short or a very bad earth somewhere.
Did the initial issue go away for a while when you bought the new battery, it's not clear in your post.

Try battery jump lead from battery negative post to a decent steel bracket on the engine, this will bypass al the battery/engine earth cables.
You could have shagged the starter trying to start it repeatedly with a weak battery or poor conections.

Check the connections to battery, "starter motor" and main earth leads to body, the starter may require a service kit fitting.

Hard to say if issue went away when new battery was bought, as at that time the problem was so intermittent, but I don't think it did... It's awkward as we are quite isolated in France, and don't speak great French! Thanks for replies and suggestions. Shall try to communicate with local mechanic today, we thought he was coming back yesterday lunchtime but didn't, miscommunication probably...