Nissan Terrano 2.7 TDI won't fire?

I have a 1998 ford maverick 2.7 TDI. Which is essentially a Nissan terrano 2. So the other day it just decided to stop working and wouldn t start. It was working perfectly and I stopped somewhere for 2 hours and when I a me to start it it wouldn t. I attenpted to bump start it and also to jump it off a friends car but no luck. I took it home and trickle charged it over night and the next day it fired first time. Thinking is fixed the problem I carried on using it. Today I left home and pulled over a mile away in a petrol garage and when I came to restart it the same thing happened again.

My first thought is a new battery but before I spend £80 for no reason has any body got any other ideas

Did you ever stop to think that the alternator isn't charging the battery and you're just draining the battery every time you drive the vehicle?! I'd drive straight to an auto store next time you charge the battery and keep all the electrical items turned off! If you have a volt meter there must be at least 13.7 volts to charge the battery. Anything less than 13.7 volts and you have a bad alternator.

I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but it sounds like your battery is not holding a charge. If it's a diesel TDI, it probably has 2 batteries and both should be tested or replaced.