Flat battery again - not

[Quietlybonkers]

Some may remember a few weeks ago I had a sudden and unexpected flat battery one morning. My daughter noticed the offside rear indicator light glowing dimly. Recharged the battery, tested various things, fault didn't recur.......

.......until today.

Got home at 1.00 from a short drive. Locked the car. Alarm peeped four times as usual.

Went outside again at 3.30, offside indicator bulbs, all three, permanently lit. Not flashing, just on. Unlocked the car, locked it again, peep, peep, peep, peep. Indicators didn't stay on, dashboard immobiliser light came on, went to flashing. All normal.

Can anyone throw any light, yellow or otherwise, on what might be happening? I would have had a flat battery by morning.

[GasMunkey]

Quietlybonkers said:

short drive.

I think that's half you're problem along with a battery that's on it way out

[rigga]

Your Immobilizer/alarm is about to kark it HTH

[Bassfiend229hp]

Hiya QB ... mine used to occasionally leave the nearside indicators lit when I used to arm the alarm which would obviously flatten the battery over the duration of a (long) day at work. Hasn't done it at all since I had Carl sort the alarm so I'd be suspecting that you have an alarm issue which is putting additional load on the battery when it's parked up ...

... that's not to say that your battery isn't on its way out too though!

[Quietlybonkers]

GasMunkey said:

Quietlybonkers said:

short drive.

I think that's half you're problem along with a battery that's on it way out

Thst's a good excuse to take the scenic route!
I will go check the battery too, and see if I can get the alarm looked at.
I have to say the battery never struggles to start the car, and it gave good voltage readings last time I was testing it.

And I have solved the cold idling issue with a pair of long nosed pliers. So that's a consolation try for me. Car 97, Me 5 in rugby terms. No conversion - too cold for me to take the roof off with the Mrs on board, though she did appreciate the V8 heater today.

Thanks everyone.
So nobody so far thinks its some bizarre short. That's a relief. I hate hunting for electrical faults.

[chris1972]

This sounds as if the battery isn't holding it's charge. How old it is? Have you checked the battery and the charge coming off the alternator?

I purchased this a few days ago: http://www.maxautopartsltd.co.uk/varta-agm-ultra-d...
and a new Land Rover Alternator...

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Quietlybonkers said:

Alarm peeped four times as usual.

Is yours a standard Meta alarm? If so, the four peeps are not normal. Mine only gives four peeps if it's not happy about something - usually boot or bonnet open.

[Quietlybonkers]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

Quietlybonkers said:

Alarm peeped four times as usual.

Is yours a standard Meta alarm? If so, the four peeps are not normal. Mine only gives four peeps if it's not happy about something - usually boot or bonnet open.

Dunno what mine is, but it always beeps four times and flashes twice on setting. Never varied.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Quietlybonkers said:

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

Quietlybonkers said:

Alarm peeped four times as usual.

Is yours a standard Meta alarm? If so, the four peeps are not normal. Mine only gives four peeps if it's not happy about something - usually boot or bonnet open.

Dunno what mine is, but it always beeps four times and flashes twice on setting. Never varied.

That's either a non standard alarm, or your boot open detector has always been snooked.

[rigga]

As I said above, your alarm is faulty, hence the one side indicators are being fed once armed and lighting up.

[Harrytsg]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

Quietlybonkers said:

Alarm peeped four times as usual.

Is yours a standard Meta alarm? If so, the four peeps are not normal. Mine only gives four peeps if it's not happy about something - usually boot or bonnet open.

Mine is a Meta, and chirps 4 times to arm. The old one I had was the same.

[Quietlybonkers]

Gents (not being sexist, just factual) thanks for making such good progress for me. Tomorrow I will arm it with the boot open and see if it varies. Then have a look at the wiring in the boot lock area. Then give up and call Carl Baker.

[Quietlybonkers]

Harrytsg said:

Mine is a Meta, and chirps 4 times to arm. The old one I had was the same.

Throws theory out of the window.......

[Bassfiend229hp]

Quietlybonkers said:

Harrytsg said:

Mine is a Meta, and chirps 4 times to arm. The old one I had was the same.

Throws theory out of the window.......

Not really - the indicators being left on is a sign that something's definitely amiss with the alarm, just the boot sensor (if it's fitted as I know I don't have one of on my car I) isn't at fault.

Phil

[Quietlybonkers]

I have emailed Carl Baker for advice.....will report back

[rigga]

Hasnt Carl packed up ? or certainly soon to .

[Quietlybonkers]

What I took to be his website is still online

Www.tvruk.tv

[Ribol]

It will be the relay inside the alarm unit, common problem with alarms getting on a bit.

If you want a quick fix to get you out of trouble just cut the indicator output on the alarm for that side. Everything else will work as normal until you replace it.

[Quietlybonkers]

Ribol said:

It will be the relay inside the alarm unit, common problem with alarms getting on a bit.

If you want a quick fix to get you out of trouble just cut the indicator output on the alarm for that side. Everything else will work as normal until you replace it.

Thanks - if I had a clue where that was I would follow your instructions - so dash top off, look for alarm box on far left hand side....and detach what?

Edited by Quietlybonkers on Sunday 3rd February 00:04

[TV8]

I can remember something similar happening to mine. A auto electrician I know cleaned up a couple of the alarm relays and everything, including battery drain, has been perfect ever since.