Graeme formulated on Tuesday :
I tried Harry's bulb trick again (small MES panel light bulb between -ve
battery terminal and earth strap), and nothing. Tried using an ammeter.
Nothing. Yet current must be flowing somewhere.


Any discharge, other than internal ones of the battery, much be going
out via the battery lead(s). Sometimes extra connections are made
directly to the battery, are you sure you have checked all leads for
any discharge current?

Other than the above, then the most likely issue is the battery, or
secondly that you are being fooled by the sometimes poor cranking speed
into thinking the battery is near flat....

Poor brushes or connections to the starter motor, or a bad solenoid can
sometimes give similar symptoms as a near flat battery. Try cranking
the engine over with the lights on, to see how much they dim. If it
barely cranks over, yet the lights remain bright, look to a starter
motor issue.