Drain on battery...

[MaverickUK82]

Hi guys.

have a drain on my battery somewhere/somehow.

Doesn't even seem to last a week now without having to get the jump starter pack on it. If I take it for a long drive with no stereo on (etc), battery charges well, and will start no problems for a few days, seems to be about after week battery is drained and won't turn over the engine...

It's a relatively new battery and one of the more powerful ones (can't remember the figures) it was the most expensive one that Halfrauds could supply if that's any help.

Any ideas on how to identify this drain (cheaply) - bloody annoying.

I initially thought that because I've got quite a powerful stereo and amp, etc, that it was taking most of the juice when the car was running and not charging the battery, but have been driving with no stereo recently and car wouldn't turn over (after 2x weeks...)...

Any thougts?

[CAVEMAN]

you do know the alternator doesn't always charge the battery...and it only kicks in when you are using your lights for example?

Try driving around for the same amount of time with your lights on and see if that helps?

I have to up here as it is law to have them on, but have never suffered any battery problems even down at silly temps.

[MaverickUK82]

na, I know about the lights issue. I have my sidelights on as standard (lol).

Gotta be something else. Can I detect a drain using a standard voltimeter?

[chiroman]

You need an ammeter in series with battery but don't turn any loads on or may fry it. 10amps ok as should only be a few milliamps drain.

Your battery may be discharging thro alternator if diodes shorted out.

Had simliar prob. with battery flat every couple of wks. Ran engine with voltmeter connected and switching on and off various loads to test, charging rate which did vary a bit. Eventually got Alternator tested it needed rebuild. ok after that. should get near to 14v output.

The alternator rebuild was not completely without gremlins. Electrically ok but the new bearings were noisy - whining - but the guy in the shop replaced with a different make and all ok.

I remember reading here somewhere about the satellite tracker may pull a fairly heavy load if software not correct.

[zedder]

its probably a combo of the tracker and cold weather!!

[The Swede]

its probably a combo of the tracker and cold weather!!

Yup. Had exactly the same problem with my STi.

Plus, once the tracker had emptied the battery sufficiently, the car started to think it was being stolen and the alarm went off

[NewSuboy]

I had the same issue, got a new battery and ws much much better

Saying that though in this cold weather 3 days or more of just standing there and you are pushing it, the cold takes it out of the batteries

[WR 1mposter]

Tracker is the problem probably, along with cold weather !

Ours would drain flat after a a week of non use,

[MaverickUK82]

Problem solved - went to halfrauds. They tested the battery and it came up "unserviceable" - got it replaced for free under warranty. Old one was defo screwed...