Battery Drain

[Fume troll]

My battery just keeps going flat. If I plug in the optimate it keeps it alive and well, but within 6 days of not being plugged in all I get is a solenoid rattle when I go to start it. This is a new battery!

Any ideas what might be causing this, a short somewhere perhaps? I can't believe the alarm would flatten it so fast.

Cheers,

Tom.

[nelly1]

The starter itself could be sh*gged.

Or it could just be a loose connection on the heavy current feed to it or a dodgy earth from the block to the chassis.

[red rose]

Check the alternator 100amp fuse.
From other posts on here it normally seems to be located on the bulkhead under the airbox, but on my car is on the starter motor solenoid.

Mine blew recently, preventing the battery from taking charge, but the alternator warning light didn't show.

[Fume troll]

I'm pretty sure it's charging fine when in use, just seems to be leaking amps when sitting....

Cheers,

Tom.

[Tuska]

Mine was doing this, and was a simple case of a shagged battery.
New battery fitted and no problems.

[s6boy]

If you're locking the car this will be arming the alarm and increasing the drain on the battery, unavoidable if you are parking on the street, but if garaged try leaving it unlocked.

[Fume troll]

Tried leaving it unlocked, same effect. This is a new battery. I'll need to take a proper look as it must be shorting somewhere.

Cheers,

FT.

[peekay6]

Try disconnecting the CD autochanger in the boot. Mine was doing the same and it took ages to figure it out! Stupid bloody thing was not switching off. Apparently quite common or so i'm told.

Rob

[Fume troll]

peekay6 said:

Try disconnecting the CD autochanger in the boot. Mine was doing the same and it took ages to figure it out! Stupid bloody thing was not switching off. Apparently quite common or so i'm told.

Rob

That's worth a look, thanks!

Cheers,

Tom.

[andyoleary]

Just a thought but it might be worth checking that the boot light goes out when the latch is closed - just close it manually to check.

Andy

[nugget]

Whilst checking that, you might also want to check that the boot light is indeed off when the car is parked up....best done at night! Also are you finding that the drain is inevitable every time, or is it irratic i.e. irratic more likely to be something like a short!

[southgate]

If its had a battery on it very recently, did they/you grease up the terminals properly?
If its only just started to happen after a new one being fitted, it could be a poor connection.

[Fume troll]

Thanks guys- I disconnected the cd changer, it's not that.

The drain seems pretty reliable, happens each time. It was happening with the old battery too, that's what killed it (I didn't have the optimate then!).

You guys aren't trying to get me to lock myself in my booy are you??

Cheers,

Tom.