Is my battery on way out or another electrical gremlin.....
Is my battery on way out or another electrical gremlin.....
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V8 Stang

Original Poster:

4,510 posts

213 months

Tuesday 28th April 2020
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As part as "social distancing" we have been having our lunch breaks in our cars at work, where i have the radio on for 45 mins.

The last 2 days after around 40 mins, its come up with a battery warning, then on starting the engine its struggled a bit to start, and a few bits on the dash have gone back to default, for example tyre pressure back to bar rather than psi.

All a bit odd, as the radio should not use much power.


Car is a 2017 Mustang GT, so only just over 3 years old.


Is this a sign of the battery on its way out? or something else going on....

Scrump

23,947 posts

188 months

Tuesday 28th April 2020
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Sounds like the battery is being discharged and possibly your commute is not enough to fully charge it back up.
Might be worth recharging it overnight, assuming you have a battery charger.

finlo

4,453 posts

233 months

Tuesday 28th April 2020
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It won't be just the radio drawing power as ever time you open the door all the cars systems wake up for a predetermined time.

Tony1963

5,808 posts

192 months

Tuesday 28th April 2020
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OP,

How many miles and minutes is your commute?

You’ve pretty much answered the question yourself, I think. You’re draining your battery, and the best way to fully charge it is to take a slightly longer route to work. Your battery really shouldn’t be struggling at three years old, you’re just killing it.

VanDiesel99

176 posts

98 months

Tuesday 28th April 2020
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I concur with all of the above, and also suggest its worth buying a Multimeter if you don't already have one, to see what voltage you're getting across the Battery, it should be a fraction over 13volts. The cheap Multimeters you can buy online for about a fiver are perfectly fine.

But it could also be as simple as a combination of using the vehicle for short journeys and the electrical systems being 'active' that a previous poster alluded to. If that's the case it might be worth letting the V8 'Burble' sometimes during your 45mins lunch, specially at the mo while you're not supposed to make any un-necessary journeys. The engine will thank you for allowing it to get up to temp, too; especially if its habitually not doing so,

If it needs any further investigation you'll want to check the Battery's holding its charge properly by taking two readings a few hours apart and whether you've got a parasitic drain. Battery certainly shouldn't be knackered after just 3 years, but that's not to say it isn't