JJ7893 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Hi all long time no see lol, Right I been having a problem with the car electrics. Every 2 days the battery would be flat as a pancake, So what could be the cause? All I can say is the passenger floor has been socked in very heavy weather, So I took all the relays out took them apart, Sprayed WD40 in then shake it then put it back together (Did this 1 by 1 so there no mix up). The Brown relay has been giving me problems if I move the wire or relay the hazards starts up and will not go off until I turn on the ignition on as I'm just going to start it up then it goes off then it remains like that. Any idea's? cheers for any help that comes forward ........JJ Forgot to add it's a ES Discovery L reg 2.5TDI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 You need to measure whether something is draining the battery - connect a meter in series with the battery (don't turn anything on or you will fry the meter) and see what the current drain is with everything off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 set to amps & pop out each fuse in turn to find which circuit is draining the battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 Or it could be a dodgy alternator, mine had this where it drained the battery overnight suddenly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doda456 Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 How about whats known as methodical disconection, to give it, its posh name. Remove the fuse from a few circuits, its up to you what you choose, Then wait... If the battery still goes flat, then there is fault is one one of the still connected circuits. Repeat as required intill you can provwe the circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted May 31, 2009 Share Posted May 31, 2009 Apart from the obvious things, such as interior light, radio, etc being left on, then a faulty alternator is a favourite. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ7893 Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 Thanks for your reply's, First off I tested the battery with out the earth being on, and it reads at 11.1 volts (this has been like that since 30 May). So disconnected the alternator and it did not move then took each fuse out one by one and nothing happened! Then I took the relays out still nothing. Then I ran the engine tested it and it was reading at 13.3 volts. So now I made sure everything is off even the face of the radio unit is off and see what happens tomorrow. Or is there something I have done wrong? .......JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LandyManLuke Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 11.1v is an unhealthy battery. A healthy, charged battery should sit at 12.5v. Whilst charging the battery should be at 13.8v to 14.4v Have you actually taken a reading of the current draw with the engine/vehicle turned off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave88sw Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 if you want to prove its not the battery which is the simplest of the lot, run it well to charge it then disconnect it (obviously when youve switched off the engine) then leave. Come back next day or 2 days later, reconnect and if theres no life the battery is duff. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ7893 Posted June 1, 2009 Author Share Posted June 1, 2009 I have left the battery for a few days and nothing happened to it I have put it on full charge but that was before I played with the electrics. I put it on full charge again and see what happens ......JJ P.s how do you do this? Have you actually taken a reading of the current draw with the engine/vehicle turned off? Thanks again .....JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gromit Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 P.s how do you do this? Have you actually taken a reading of the current draw with the engine/vehicle turned off? Set your multimeter to amps and place it in series with the battery. i.e remove one terminal, put one probe on the battery and one on the disconnected cable. If you see amps, something is drawing current. Remove fuses and relays etc until the current stops, and you've found your culprit. Measuring the voltage of the battery while removing fuses etc won't work, unless there's something huge drawing current. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJ7893 Posted June 2, 2009 Author Share Posted June 2, 2009 Thats Super I do that later when a bit cooler here! it is boiling here on Anglesey today! Be back on later with the results .......JJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aragorn Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 13.3v wont properly charge a car battery either. You need a minimum of 13.8v, preferably around 14.1v to correctly charge a 6 cell lead acid battery. Might want to check the earths between the alternator and chassis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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