i find if i don't use the car for 2 weeks i return to find the battery flat. after the first problem i changed the battery so it must be that the battery is discharging somewhere - any ideas ??
It could still be the alternator being unable to charge the battery fully as opposed to a drain somewhere. Of course when you start thinking that way you enter the Bermuda Triangle of starter, alternator and battery and there's no coming back.
If you can find someplace that will test the alternator for cheap/free I'd look there first. Alternatively you can try unplugging the battery when you leave the vehicle overnight. If, when you go to plug the battery back in and the vehicle will not start you know it's from a low charge state and not something draining the battery while sitting.
Autozone/Advance Auto part stores will test the Battery, ALT or starter for free around my neck of the woods. Have you checked all the connections on the battery, alt, and starter, have the gauges acted weird/crazy at any time. One indicator its a bad battery is the gauges go wild n crazy when you try and start it up. How old is the battery??
