OVERNIGHT BATTERY DRAIN!

[DHUDD]

I HAVE A 1995 CHIMAERA 500. HAVING PUT A NEW BATTERY ON AND CHANGED BOTH FLAT FUSE'S THE BATTERY STILL DRAINS OVERNIGHT!!!.
ITS KEPT IN A GARAGE SO I DONT ARM THE ALARM!
AND IVE MADE SURE NOTHING HAS BEEN LEFT ON, WHEN STARTING THE CAR, AS NORMAL THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT GOES OUT, IVE TAKEN THE LEADS OF THE BATTERY OVERNIGHT AND CONNECTED THEM THE NEXT MORNING AND IT STARTS FINE, SO SOMETHING SEEMS TO BE DRAINING IT OVERNIGHT. CAN ANY BODY HELP PLEASE!????
THANK YOU

[King of Dings]

Sticky electrical switch somewhere.

Looks like it's off but it's stuck on.

The old Corsa's used to have a sticky heated rear screen switch that always indicated off but was on. Cost my daughter two batteries until an auto electrician who knew what he was doing said Cora's were know for it. Fixed in 10 mins.

Hope it helps.

[Cider Andy]

It could be a faulty regulator pack in the alternator. If it is, you might notice the alternator's warm. Try disconnecting the alternator overnight: if the battery's flat again, you've ruled out the alternator.

[WOO5IE]

If you have a multimeter then disconnect one of the battery leads and put the meter on amps with one lead on the disconnected battery lead and one on the battery terminal. Put the meter on the highest amp scale at first .If you get a reading then try disconecting electrical elements /fuses one at a time until the reading disappears. Then you will need to fault find that element.

If you are not comfortable with Auto electrics then an Auto Electricain may be the best way to go.

Trev

[L33]

I had the same problem when I bought my Chim - battery drained over about 2 days. Asking on this forum, much advice was given to point me in the diection of the alternator. I removed it and took ot to be tested but it was OK.

Since then I have replaced the alarm siren (was not working) and I now lock/alarm the car when in the garage and I no longer have the problem.

The problem might have been the siren or simply the car does not like being left unlocked. Either way, I no longer have the problem.


L33.

[BryanWilton]

I know someone who had this problem, it turned out to be a relay sticking....

[DHUDD]

do you know which relay it was at all? kind regards

[L33]

DHUDD said:

do you know which relay it was at all? kind regards

I don't but if you have a look at all the relays and see which feel warm / hot to the touch. This should be a good indication if its sticking on.

[BryanWilton]

have contacted the guy whos car had the relay problem & he can't remember which one it was
He thinks it was one in the passenger footwell

Might be worth unplugging say half of the relays & seeing if it still goes flat, then try the other half (if its still going flat) & gradually narrowing it down to the right one (assuming the problem is a relay of course)

Sorry couldn't be of more help...

[DHUDD]

I have found the problem!!!!
Thank you to everyone,
It was the relay in the passenger foot well, there are 2 5 pin relays in mine, there is a silver one and a black one. It was the black one, There are 2 white and orange wire's going into terminal 87a(the middle one) this wire was causing a short!
Thank you every one for all your help!

[BryanWilton]

Excellent, glad you managed to fix it