Elise battery drain
Discussion
I've had my Elise for 12 years and it's never given any bother.
A few months ago, after using it, I forgot to hook it up to the trickle charger. A few days later, it was completely dead. The battery (Varta) was 7 years old so I presumed it was knackered and that the trickle charger had kept it on borrowed time for a while. I replaced it with a Yuasa Silver. Checked alternator output, 13.5v.
The next time I used it, I purposely didn't hook up the trickle charger just for peace of mind that everything was ok. Few days later, completely flat. Jump started it, alternator still 13.5v.
Obviously it had a drain somewhere but I didn't drop everything to sort it because I thought the trickle charger would keep it on the boil.
Fast forward a few months to this evening, I noticed that the trickle charger was quite warm when I unhooked it. Started the engine - it only just caught and went around to my parents to borrow the multimeter again. I left there after a couple of hours. Despite a near 15 mile drive, again it only just caught when I went to leave.
Put the car in the garage and left it running whilst I checked the alternator again. Alternator has now failed - output varying between 10.5v and 12.5v. This can be explained by a recent track day in hot weather. Normally leads to failure of a K series Elise alternator!
Now the slightly worrying part, I decided to disconnect the battery whilst it had some charge in it. The battery was just about too hot to touch. Very very hot! Surely this cannot be normal?
What's would cause such a drain on a battery that would drain it dead in 48hrs and leave it so warm when the car is in use? I can only think starter motor?
Where do I go from here! Help!
A few months ago, after using it, I forgot to hook it up to the trickle charger. A few days later, it was completely dead. The battery (Varta) was 7 years old so I presumed it was knackered and that the trickle charger had kept it on borrowed time for a while. I replaced it with a Yuasa Silver. Checked alternator output, 13.5v.
The next time I used it, I purposely didn't hook up the trickle charger just for peace of mind that everything was ok. Few days later, completely flat. Jump started it, alternator still 13.5v.
Obviously it had a drain somewhere but I didn't drop everything to sort it because I thought the trickle charger would keep it on the boil.
Fast forward a few months to this evening, I noticed that the trickle charger was quite warm when I unhooked it. Started the engine - it only just caught and went around to my parents to borrow the multimeter again. I left there after a couple of hours. Despite a near 15 mile drive, again it only just caught when I went to leave.
Put the car in the garage and left it running whilst I checked the alternator again. Alternator has now failed - output varying between 10.5v and 12.5v. This can be explained by a recent track day in hot weather. Normally leads to failure of a K series Elise alternator!
Now the slightly worrying part, I decided to disconnect the battery whilst it had some charge in it. The battery was just about too hot to touch. Very very hot! Surely this cannot be normal?
What's would cause such a drain on a battery that would drain it dead in 48hrs and leave it so warm when the car is in use? I can only think starter motor?
Where do I go from here! Help!
Penelope Stopit said:
kambites said:
The K-series Elise has a tendency to cook its voltage regulator - it's mounted on the back of the alternator, too close to the exhaust manifold and the heat shield isn't sufficient. When mine failed I paid something like £10 for a second-hand alternator unit from a Rover 25 and fitted it myself... it's been fine ever since. 
If heat is the problem, I suggest that the regulator be modified and then bypassed, only use the regulator as a brush-box then fit and wire a external regulator well away from any heatHow would I go about fitting a remote regulator?
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