Battery drain/wiring help
Battery drain/wiring help
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Discussion

Zoobeef

Original Poster:

6,004 posts

181 months

Friday 29th November 2013
quotequote all
I didnt plug the car in last sunday so when I got home last night the battery was completely flat. So charged it up last night but decided I really need to look at it because what if I go away for a week or something!
So, with the meter plugged in the car is drawing 0.06-0.07A, on pulling fuse 14 (CIG lighter, radio, interior lights) this drops to 0.02A.
Ive put the fuse back in and unplugged the radio, CIG lighter, interior light relay, both lights are off and doors shut also. The meter is still reading 0.05-0.06A where else does that fuse go?
Cheers

Zoobeef

Original Poster:

6,004 posts

181 months

Friday 29th November 2013
quotequote all
Right, ive spotted some modification to the wire going to the foot well light.
On following it it leaches into a few other places then ends up ontop of the box behind the centre console, next to the clutch pedal. Access is awesome but i think its some kind of battery and a control box.




The car used to have a tracker years ago. Is this what's left? Wonder if its my drain.

Zoobeef

Original Poster:

6,004 posts

181 months

Friday 29th November 2013
quotequote all
So yes it was a tracker. Taken it out and instead of 0.07A its now only 0.03A.
I'll bring my bateery tester home from work next week and check the battery's fine.



Cheers for all your help tongue out

Metalman

1,173 posts

241 months

Friday 29th November 2013
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Have just read your posts and I was saying to myself 'tracker' so glad you found it lol. I have an old tracker fitted also, never thought about it being a drain on the battery though.

Adrian W

15,098 posts

251 months

Saturday 30th November 2013
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it's amazing the number of people who have paid or are subscribing to trackers that don't work, has to be one of the biggest cons going.

The devil

2,152 posts

206 months

Saturday 30th November 2013
quotequote all
I leave my car for weeks and it doesn't need charging

Zoobeef

Original Poster:

6,004 posts

181 months

Saturday 30th November 2013
quotequote all
Yeah I'm thinking that drain may of killed the battery also and it just spiraled. Will be testing then probably changing the battery. Lovely job frown

The devil

2,152 posts

206 months

Saturday 30th November 2013
quotequote all
I leave my car for weeks and it doesn't need charging

Zoobeef

Original Poster:

6,004 posts

181 months

Thursday 19th December 2013
quotequote all
Took the battery out today and tested it. It has a dead cell.
Only 7 months into the 5 year warranty so hopefully get a new one tomorrow.

Zoobeef

Original Poster:

6,004 posts

181 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
quotequote all
New battery was flat within 5 days. I must have a drain thats only appearing after a few hours?
Going to put the ammeter in today and leave it and see if anything crops up.
Just hope the new battery's not gone tits from being completely drained.

Zoobeef

Original Poster:

6,004 posts

181 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
quotequote all
Connected the meter and it was showing a 450ma drain straight away. Why didnt this show up last time!?
Started from the battery and the power goes 2 places. The 80A maxi fuse and the starter. Pulled the fuse and nothing changed. Disconnected the battery then disconnected the starter. Reconnected the meter and it was gone, down to 10ma. About to reconnect it all to make sure it comes back but looks like theres something wrong internally on the starter.
Maybe last the starter has to be in a certain orientation for it to show up, maybe it wasnt quite right last time.

Zoobeef

Original Poster:

6,004 posts

181 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
quotequote all
Well my starter refurb man thinks theres nothing wrong with the starter and it was a coincidence that the drain disappeared when Itook the power cable off the starter.......3 times.

He says theres no way anything in the solinoid or starter can short to give a drain.

So do i just go back home and refit it and get the same test results and burn the car?

Green3R

400 posts

271 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
quotequote all
You could connect up the starter off the car- use a spare battery.
Trigger the solonoid- the motor might well jump about a bit so make sure it's secure.

Might show up a sticky solonoid.
Can't quite see how it would stick and give just a little drain.


Maybe it's the drive to the solonoid that's just slightly on.
Meter the drive to the solonoid, rather that the high current feed. I wonder if this comes direct from the key or thru the ECU or even alarm/imob? Anyone know?

second option (and I've not checked back thru this thread..) is the alternator wired back thru that route..? Try pulling the wire on that and see if the drain goes.

Zoobeef

Original Poster:

6,004 posts

181 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
quotequote all
This is the wiring diagram.
With the main positive from the battery down to the starter connected there is a drain. When that one cable is removed where it meets the starter the drain drops to 0.01A. Thing is those main contacts in the starter should be open so there should be nowhere for the power to go!


[/quote]

The alternator and solonoid side both go through that 80A fuse and with that removed it makes no difference, just that main cable!

Green3R

400 posts

271 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
quotequote all
well you're right. For current to flow the solonoid has go be shut- but if it's shut then the motor would spin.

The only marginal option is that the solonoid is not releasing properly and is presenting a high-ish resistance that allows limited current flow.
It then might only be 'sticky' every so often.

If you find you have the drain, try ttting the starter solonoid with a hammer and see if it goes away.

Again, this could probably all be tested off the car.

Zoobeef

Original Poster:

6,004 posts

181 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
quotequote all
Found the issue. How I didnt have a catastrophic failure I dont know. The power cable has worn against the gearbox so cenneted to the starter it was leaking power, when I disconnected from the starter I pulled it away from the box and therefore stopping it leaking!!



So need to find somewhere to make me one up now or do you think they'll be cheap enough from SWLC??

GTO600

1,877 posts

274 months

Thursday 2nd January 2014
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That could have been interesting !

Doubt swlc will have one but you should be able to get made up from a good auto electrician.

2.5bluenob

1,620 posts

199 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
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is there no slack on the cable that you can pull over and then cut the damaged end off?

Zoobeef

Original Poster:

6,004 posts

181 months

Friday 3rd January 2014
quotequote all
Got one made up today for £15, where its worn is about 6 inches down the cable so would probably be too short. Also the ends one though cables usually require some kind of hydraulic press to put them on!
My last workplace had a full kit to make them up but my new work doesnt frown