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Update:  I waited 40 mins and the drain reduced to 0.02a so I'm at a loss why the car had a dead battery after 3 days at the garage.

I may just leave the Jag off the trickle charge for a week and see if it starts. 

Hi Joe 

Thanks for the info. The links were useful. I didn't wait the 40 mins. I'll try another test and wait the specified time to see if the amps drop as documented!

Hello All,

My first post. Just to set expectations, my mechanical experience is limited to referencing Haynes manuals some 40 years ago.  It was always cold and wet and I always lost skin on my knuckles.

I registered on this site some months back when I invested in a 2007 2.7d s type as a bit of a project car to work on in retirement.    I experienced many of the issues flagged in this topic, such as the EML and EPB warning.   Had Halfords fit a new battery and everything seemed fine.  Bought the trickle charger (as recommended here) and kept the battery topped up continuously as I hardly use the car.   A month or two later it came time for the MOT and it needed new sills (of course).  The garage kept the car for 3-4 days and it transpired they also had to charge me for a new battery - it had gone dead whilst they had the car. 

So I assumed I had some kind of drain.  Bought a multi-meter and tested with the ignition off, doors and boot closed, and there is a 0.8 amp to 1 amp drain.  

This afternoon I have been through all the blade fuses, one by one,  in all three fuse boxes.  I can't seem to be able to isolate the potential culprit.

My question is,  was it a waste of time going through the fuses?   Is it 'normal' for an s type to drain like this ?  Maybe it is the passive security. Judging by the comments virtually everyone recommends a trickle charger.  I was going to use the Jag for a road trip to the Highlands but I'm worried the battery will go flat if I don't keep it on charge for more than a day or two.  I suppose I could just disconnect the battery every night but surely there is a better solution ?

Thanks,

Nick