Battery goes flat frequently after 5 days not used. Ford say that it is because of electrical componentry runnign all the time and you have to expect this. Is this so? I have put in a new gel battery and now use a trickle charger - but what a pain. Barry

Ignition switch electrical part that and issue with nissan

A voltage drain in 5 days should be serious enough to find, unless it is at random times. The drain could be on and off every other hour for example.
You may have to check the battery voltage level each day with one fuse pulled to see if the voltage level drops. If the battery has been tested and it is in good condition, it should hold a charge for at least a couple of weeks or longer.

Ultimate solution is change the battery... because the capacity of battery cells is poor.. this could be the reason if battery is old...
Still u can take a chance by completely removing the battery fluid and replacing it new battery fluid... but keep in mind that, after doing so, u'll need to charge the battery fully before using it in car...
This kind of battery problem is common in all diesel cars, the reason I think is, Diesel engine need heavy torque to start that draws heavy current from battery.. so if you are facing starting trouble for the vehicle, then battery is surely going to discharge frequently...
Still try the solution mentioned above and still the problem persists, then replace the battery with new one.
((I am considering that the battery you are having is 3-4 years old...))

Check battery cables are correct ! Prime suspect here ! Alternator may be damaged and shorting .. Don't drive any car that will melt jumper cables ! Something very basic wrong here.

hi, a typical car battery can last up to 2 to 3 years, depends on the use. well i guess five years is too much to expect

if the battery is one year old and older, the power drains specially if it stays idle for a week or more. if the battery is new, it will not drain fast. there are components directly connected to the battery bypassing the ignition key such as the clock, warning system, etc.

Check the light under the hood, the switch may be bad and the light stay's on all the time and over the visor. Check to make sure the vanity light is off also.  It's just a start and i have known also that the 4X4 actuator will drain too. Keep me posted, be glad to help and it sounds like it's going to be a gremlin to find the battery drain. 

sounds like a problem with the carb or a o2 sensor check all your fuses and see if you have any that are blown. as far as the 4wd goes there is a electromagnetic ring that engages the 4wd check the switch for power then check the relay connected to that... if thats not the problem then trace from the relay to the hub/or transmission

i had a simular problem myself...... it turned out to be a bad battery connection, hence it kept sparking and ran flat within days. make sure the terminals are good and tight!!