I'm still with the battery not holding a charge. Is the battery the original, 6 years is pushing it. If not and you can't get the battery tested at a local store (in the states there are many options for that). Then try leaving it there the night before your appointment, if it will not start in the am when they go to test it..........

 

The battery was changed about a year ago.

In summary this is how it is -

I got in the car Saturday morning, jump started it, and took it for a drive. I was out for about 1hr 30mins.

I got back home, parked up, waited 2 or 3 minutes, and tried to start the car.

Nothing.

So I figured the battery isn't being charged.
A number of things add up to make this seem likely -
1. If I charge it manually (hooked up to a charger), it lasts for a few days.
2. After going for a drive, the battery should charge and be fine.
3. Two or three minutes wouldn't be long enough for a parasitic draw to drain the battery, especially given point 1.

Anyway, unknown to me, my uncle decided to book the car into a garage. Not a backstreet garage, a poper official Honda garage.

They had a look at it and say there's nothing wrong!

 

I would check that the wiring going from the alternator to the battery is in good shape.

In the US, the aftermarket stores can test the battery, alternator, and the starter for free. If the UK has places like that, give it a shot.

 

So you can wait 5 minutes then the car doesn't start? If you can demonstrate that in front of the mechanic, I'd like to hear his explanation for why that's normal.

Happens only occasionally? Then things like a flaky ignition switch come to mind. Or loose connections at the battery cables (BOTH ends).

 

Are the battery cables clean between them and the battery post.

 

We put the car on charge the night before we took it to the garage, so it would have started if we'd done that. I suppose we could have started it, turned it off, started it, turned it off and so on, but that's going to drain any battery isn't it.


Anyway, I've got it back now. They still say there's nothing wrong. They checked the alternator and the battery, both were ok.
So they changed the battery

If it still plays up, I'll get a multimeter and set about trying to find the fault myself.

Thanks for all the suggestions