Flat Battery problem
Discussion
Hi All,
Would like to ask for advice regarding my flat battery problem.
I often leave my Tuscan in an Airport parkhouse for 2 to 3 weeks at a time.
The last two times, I have returned to a nearly flat battery.
New battery was fitted in February.
I imagine the battery is about the same as on my previous Chimaera and that used to last OK.
I have been lucky so far in that there was enough to open the boot(to get my jumper cable)
Can anyone say what is drawing current while its parked up ?
How much is the alarm drawing ?
Would it be a good idea to have a heavier duty battery fitted in the boot ?
Dont realy want to lose the boot space but this is starting to get a bit annoying.
Any advise very welcome.
Would like to ask for advice regarding my flat battery problem.
I often leave my Tuscan in an Airport parkhouse for 2 to 3 weeks at a time.
The last two times, I have returned to a nearly flat battery.
New battery was fitted in February.
I imagine the battery is about the same as on my previous Chimaera and that used to last OK.
I have been lucky so far in that there was enough to open the boot(to get my jumper cable)
Can anyone say what is drawing current while its parked up ?
How much is the alarm drawing ?
Would it be a good idea to have a heavier duty battery fitted in the boot ?
Dont realy want to lose the boot space but this is starting to get a bit annoying.
Any advise very welcome.
Hi Keith
I just did as Big Al advised (Thanks
), and spoke with Carl.
He said that I could fit a second battery in the boot but that it would be expensive with regard the charging circuit changes.
It got a little bit too technical
Anyway, he said that a simple solution could be to buy a Jumper Pack and just drop it in the boot when I am heading for the airport.
The obvious problem is that I need enough left in the battery to get the boot open.
I have got away with that up to now but as the winter draws in ???
He proposed leaving the Jumper Pack and cable in a locker.
Not sure that is so easy but I am thinking about it.
This doesnt realy put forward a technical solution but as Carl said, Its relatively cheep and effective.
Is your battery completely flat when you get back ? or is there enough to open the door / boot
I just did as Big Al advised (Thanks
), and spoke with Carl.He said that I could fit a second battery in the boot but that it would be expensive with regard the charging circuit changes.
It got a little bit too technical
Anyway, he said that a simple solution could be to buy a Jumper Pack and just drop it in the boot when I am heading for the airport.
The obvious problem is that I need enough left in the battery to get the boot open.
I have got away with that up to now but as the winter draws in ???
He proposed leaving the Jumper Pack and cable in a locker.
Not sure that is so easy but I am thinking about it.
This doesnt realy put forward a technical solution but as Carl said, Its relatively cheep and effective.
Is your battery completely flat when you get back ? or is there enough to open the door / boot
Edited by so called on Wednesday 7th November 14:44
Edited by so called on Wednesday 7th November 14:45
I was just away for 3 1/2 wks and unfortunately my trickle charger isnt working. I left the car unlocked with alarm off and the battery was still flat. There was just enough juice to open the boot though. I called the RAC out and he jumped the car. But - he had to run the engine from his van to get enough juice into the battery to start my engine. The jumper pack alone would not do it.
if you are leaving it in an outside/well lit car park you could try a solar charger that plugs into your cig lighter, I'm sure easily found on ebay etc. I'm not sure if it would keep it fully topped up or not, but worth a try.
The other option would be to buy another car battery, and keep it in the boot with the jump leads and jump it off that, then charge it up when you get home. A jump pack unfortunately does not have the grunt, although I think halfords or machine mart do extra powerful ones. My basic one from machine mart will not jump it if the car is completely flat, but will if there is still some charge in the car battery.
Remember if the car is completely dead you can still get in via the secret method.
The other option would be to buy another car battery, and keep it in the boot with the jump leads and jump it off that, then charge it up when you get home. A jump pack unfortunately does not have the grunt, although I think halfords or machine mart do extra powerful ones. My basic one from machine mart will not jump it if the car is completely flat, but will if there is still some charge in the car battery.
Remember if the car is completely dead you can still get in via the secret method.
Yes, two or three good points there.
It was the same for me that the Car park service man had to rev a bit to get enough over for me to start up.
Carl felt that a good quality jumper pack would be better than a battery.
I normally park on the ground flor level which is covered but against the open side. (stops water ingress)
I dont know how much light the solar chargers need but I like this idea because I have more chance of at least having enough power to get in without the
method.
I am thinking overkill with a jumper pack and solar charger.
I could "hide" my jumper leads under the service bonnet just in case.
Thanks all for all the feedback.
It was the same for me that the Car park service man had to rev a bit to get enough over for me to start up.
Carl felt that a good quality jumper pack would be better than a battery.
I normally park on the ground flor level which is covered but against the open side. (stops water ingress)
I dont know how much light the solar chargers need but I like this idea because I have more chance of at least having enough power to get in without the
method.I am thinking overkill with a jumper pack and solar charger.
I could "hide" my jumper leads under the service bonnet just in case.
Thanks all for all the feedback.
I wonder if one of these would work? http://www.noflatbatteries.com
Cuts power to the car once the battery drops below 12v. You'd still have to "find a way" into the car, but once in you could start it, and it would prevent damage to the battery. Might be worth a call to the manufacturers to see if it would leave you a way into the car.
Of course the ideal thing would be to remove the root cause, rather than inelegantly bolt on isolators, spare batteries or jumper packs... surely there is a better way!
Cheers,
FT.
Cuts power to the car once the battery drops below 12v. You'd still have to "find a way" into the car, but once in you could start it, and it would prevent damage to the battery. Might be worth a call to the manufacturers to see if it would leave you a way into the car.
Of course the ideal thing would be to remove the root cause, rather than inelegantly bolt on isolators, spare batteries or jumper packs... surely there is a better way!
Cheers,
FT.
I think you should concentrate on finding the root cause.
My Chimp would last two weeks when I first got her, dropping to less than a week after some years. Even a new battery never got her back to two weeks, and I ended up buying a spare battery to jump start her if she needed it. The O/H (smaller hands) can break into a Chimaera and get the battery out in about ten minutes! But, the ECU/alarm system in the RV8 cars does draw current even when she is off.
The T350 is much better, and from what I read this is largely because the electrics properly switch off. I once left her eight weeks and she started first time. Your Tuscan should, or at least could, be the same.
It might be hard to track down, but in the end it will be much less hassle than breaking in and jumping her each time.
My Chimp would last two weeks when I first got her, dropping to less than a week after some years. Even a new battery never got her back to two weeks, and I ended up buying a spare battery to jump start her if she needed it. The O/H (smaller hands) can break into a Chimaera and get the battery out in about ten minutes! But, the ECU/alarm system in the RV8 cars does draw current even when she is off.
The T350 is much better, and from what I read this is largely because the electrics properly switch off. I once left her eight weeks and she started first time. Your Tuscan should, or at least could, be the same.
It might be hard to track down, but in the end it will be much less hassle than breaking in and jumping her each time.
Thanks, a lot of interesting points.
My Chimaera battery used to last for three weeks no problem but then I changed the radio and
the battery would be flat after a week. Solved that by running the radio supply through a switch
and so isolate it every time I left her at the airport. Problem solved.
For my Tuscan, the problem is down to an existing condition.
Carl advised me that the batteries on a Tuscan are problematic with regard holding their charge.
After three weeks, I can turn the engine over but there's not enough power to start the car.
I think that a heavier duty battery would probably be enough but as mentioned thats not finding the problem.
I have the obvious power consumer while the car is parked of alarm system. Mine is fitted with a Scorpion for some reason.
Maybe this has a bearing.
Interesting about the T350 though, I wish.
My Chimaera battery used to last for three weeks no problem but then I changed the radio and
the battery would be flat after a week. Solved that by running the radio supply through a switch
and so isolate it every time I left her at the airport. Problem solved.
For my Tuscan, the problem is down to an existing condition.
Carl advised me that the batteries on a Tuscan are problematic with regard holding their charge.
After three weeks, I can turn the engine over but there's not enough power to start the car.
I think that a heavier duty battery would probably be enough but as mentioned thats not finding the problem.
I have the obvious power consumer while the car is parked of alarm system. Mine is fitted with a Scorpion for some reason.
Maybe this has a bearing.
Interesting about the T350 though, I wish.
Quiet day so a quick search found several alternatives, this looks quite neat and good value. Obviously wont work as well away from direct daylight but parking against an outside wall in a car park should keep the battery topped up...
http://www.tantronics.co.uk/acatalog/info_1_solar_...
http://www.tantronics.co.uk/acatalog/info_1_solar_...
Yes thanks all, some good points here. I currently use a spare battery to jump start when required but not ideal.
I am interested to hear that some batteries are lasting up to 3 weeks + as mine is completely useless after 10 days. And this is the 3rd new battery.
Excuse my ignorance here, but my carpark is completely underground and covered but very well lit. Do any solar based products work under artificial light?
Keith
I am interested to hear that some batteries are lasting up to 3 weeks + as mine is completely useless after 10 days. And this is the 3rd new battery.
Excuse my ignorance here, but my carpark is completely underground and covered but very well lit. Do any solar based products work under artificial light?
Keith
I had a problem with my tuscan battery going flat. This is worth a try. Sorted by LEVEN TEC at basildon.Was a bit hit and miss but solved my problem.Take the bulb out of the boot light.Could be as simple as that.When the boot is closed you do not know if the light is on or off and it is quite a big bulb.Worth a try.Good luck. STEVE.
supergrass said:
I had a problem with my tuscan battery going flat. This is worth a try. Sorted by LEVEN TEC at basildon.Was a bit hit and miss but solved my problem.Take the bulb out of the boot light.Could be as simple as that.When the boot is closed you do not know if the light is on or off and it is quite a big bulb.Worth a try.Good luck. STEVE.
Interestingly when it was HHC Harrogate they always took the bulbs out of the boot light when cars were in the showroom.Gassing Station | Tuscan | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff