Disco 2 Flat battery (again): heated seat fault? alarm? Replacement battery?

For the second time in a couple of weeks I've got a flat battery. I'm going to change the battery anyway as it looks too small to me - it's a 550CCA one in a TD5 but I want to rule out any issues before I bung a new one in.

Since I've had it (only a couple of months) it's always started really well. One day last week though, I went to start it. All dash lights came on but nothing doing - one click and then it's completely dead. I got a jump start off a neighbour and it was fine. Until this morning when exactly the same thing happened.

Both nights I'd left the heated seats switched on. Now I assume that there should only be power to the heated seats when the ignition is on but...shortly after I bought it the drivers side seat stopped heating with a whiff of burnt electrics. Is this just coincidence or could it be that a fault with the seat heaters is draining the battery overnight?

Also... both times it's happened I think I've heard the alarm go off early morning. It's parked on the street and could have been wobbled by something passing by too quickly. Could it be that the alarm has drained the battery overnight? Or... if the battery was getting low, could that cause the alarm to sound?

I know there's not a lot to go on here but maybe someone else has had similar symptoms/problems... any comment/help/guidance appreciated.


edit: forgot to ask... what is the recommended battery? I'd like something beefy that will fit in the existing battery tray.

Duff battery, duff alternator, or a current drain of some kind, probably going to have to get a multimeter on it to be sure....

It's supposed to be 110CCA for TD5 btw...

The click then completely dead is common when the terminals are not tight enough, check that you have a good solid connection and that they're not loose - you might have to file out between the ends of the clamp, they can get pinched/stretched at one side which stops the bolt tightening it up properly

Bennehboy said:

The click then completely dead is common when the terminals are not tight enough, check that you have a good solid connection and that they're not loose - you might have to file out between the ends of the clamp, they can get pinched/stretched at one side which stops the bolt tightening it up properly

Click to expand...

They were loose... still on the terminals but loose. I gave them a wiggle and she started up straight away.
Thanks so much.

Nice one!