Discussion
Folks,
My 2000 Chimaera has suddenly started eating batteries.
I have had a new alarm fitted by Carl Baker but otherwise the electrics have not been touched recently.
Things that are non-spec (but longstanding):
Amp in boot, fitted c 2000/2001
Battery in boot - verified OK by Carl
Internal light warning buzzer
Anybody had any experience of this, likely candidates?
Rich
My 2000 Chimaera has suddenly started eating batteries.
I have had a new alarm fitted by Carl Baker but otherwise the electrics have not been touched recently.
Things that are non-spec (but longstanding):
Amp in boot, fitted c 2000/2001
Battery in boot - verified OK by Carl
Internal light warning buzzer
Anybody had any experience of this, likely candidates?
Rich
When you say eating batteries do you mean flattening them, or destroying them? If the latter, is this caused by them being constantly drained?
Anything which is permanently live could be causing a current drain. There was a thread recently about the O2 sensors constantly heating and hence flattening the battery.
Or the problem could be caused by incorrect charging, whether that be from the alternator or a battery charger. There was a thread recently about one of these intelligent charges not cycling and hence killing batteries.
As a starter, check the alternator is charging correctly and see if the battery goes flat if fully charged and then left disconnected for a week or so.
Anything which is permanently live could be causing a current drain. There was a thread recently about the O2 sensors constantly heating and hence flattening the battery.
Or the problem could be caused by incorrect charging, whether that be from the alternator or a battery charger. There was a thread recently about one of these intelligent charges not cycling and hence killing batteries.
As a starter, check the alternator is charging correctly and see if the battery goes flat if fully charged and then left disconnected for a week or so.
If the battery has been moved, have you still got the loom with the relays in it in the footwell?
If one of the fuel pump / ECU relays has been changed recently, it may be the wrong type. I, and others on here, have had the wrong sort of relay fitted which is permanently live and drains the battery. Other favourite is the inside light relay, even if the lamp isn't illuminated.
If one of the fuel pump / ECU relays has been changed recently, it may be the wrong type. I, and others on here, have had the wrong sort of relay fitted which is permanently live and drains the battery. Other favourite is the inside light relay, even if the lamp isn't illuminated.
Many thanks.
The car has eaten the 4-year old Bosch battery. I initially thought it was simply the battery and so bought a Halfords replacement. It has killed this in pretty short order.
I now have a new battery on the shelf but am a bit loathed to plug it in because I can see a third battery being killed.
I have a C-Tek charger which cannot recharge the Bosch. The car is normally kept on the charger but it killed the Halfords battery in the course of a weekend when off the charger.
I think I might just pass it on to my local specialist to sort out - it’s due a service in any event.
Rich
The car has eaten the 4-year old Bosch battery. I initially thought it was simply the battery and so bought a Halfords replacement. It has killed this in pretty short order.
I now have a new battery on the shelf but am a bit loathed to plug it in because I can see a third battery being killed.
I have a C-Tek charger which cannot recharge the Bosch. The car is normally kept on the charger but it killed the Halfords battery in the course of a weekend when off the charger.
I think I might just pass it on to my local specialist to sort out - it’s due a service in any event.
Rich
Best to go back to basics and perform a drain test, sorry if im teaching you to suck eggs but its quite straightforward.
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Parasitic-Battery-D...
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Parasitic-Battery-D...
Rich,
To try and help you peeps want to know exactly what the issue is with the battery(s).
Are they not holding their charge?
Are they overcharging and exploding?
Saying eating and killing isn't an accurate explanation.
Testing for a parasitic drain for discharge as suggested is good, but I tried the method recently on another vehicle and failed to get a reading on my meter, even with something switched on, so I must have been doing something wrong.
To try and help you peeps want to know exactly what the issue is with the battery(s).
Are they not holding their charge?
Are they overcharging and exploding?
Saying eating and killing isn't an accurate explanation.
Testing for a parasitic drain for discharge as suggested is good, but I tried the method recently on another vehicle and failed to get a reading on my meter, even with something switched on, so I must have been doing something wrong.
Edited by lancepar on Monday 16th April 16:43
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