Leaking electricity!

[pac1uk]

My car battery in the mk1 can't survive a week without going flat. Trying to work out what's draining the battery. I replaced the battery. The boot light bulb is out. Which component is taking excessive current?

I can and do put it on trickle charge, but it's more of a concern when I take the car away for holidays and business.

Thanks.

[cerberatony]

If you have a mulitimeter you could remove fuses one by one and measure the drain on the amp setting

[nawarne]

pac1uk said:

My car battery in the mk1 can't survive a week without going flat. Trying to work out what's draining the battery. I replaced the battery. The boot light bulb is out. Which component is taking excessive current?

I can and do put it on trickle charge, but it's more of a concern when I take the car away for holidays and business.

Thanks.

If you look on YouTube, there is an informative video on parasitic current drain.

Essentially, you put a multimeter (set to amps...and I'd start at the 10 amp setting) between the battery negative post and the -VE cable. DO THIS with the driver's window wound down/driver's door open.

Then with the ignition 'OFF' you look for any current draw. If you're happy that it is below 1A then go to the milliamp setting on the meter. REMEMBER, that opening the door or boot will cause the appropriate solenoid to pull current - so to prevent the fuse in the meter from blowing - don't open doors/boot/operate lights.

IIRC the passive current draw for the alarm etc is around 300 ma (i.e. '"stuff" that is live with the ignition off). If you have more than this, then you have to start pulling fuses to home in on the circuit(s) where the current leakage is.

THE NEG've terminal position for the multimeter is best to prevent inadvertent short circuiting of the battery.
Nick

[crypto]

I almost would bet its the radio or the alarm ? You should be able to start after 1 month.

[pac1uk]

Thank you for the good advice.

Had the battery off car for a few days testing and this is all good. Holding charge and good voltage.

Testing for Amps my car is drawing 0.3 Amps. Is this typical for a Tuscan? That's all locked with Alarm active.

Thanks again.

[NCE 61]

0.3 amps is a bit high, I seem to remember recording something like 0.13 amps. If you are using an Accumate battery conditioner the green maintenance lamp will not light until the current draw is less than 0.2 amps http://www.accumate.co.uk/accumate%20info.htm .

[so called]

naearne says 0,3 or 300 mA is about right.

[so called]

naearne says 0,3 or 300 mA is about right.

[alex_gray255]

Chat with Hoover about the types of issues you can have.

He can give you some advice from all the experiences he has had.

[Ant.]

Have you swapped the stereo head unit?

Some head units don't actually power down if the face is left on........