Author Topic: Draining Battery Power  (Read 3390 times)

Offline pete

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Draining Battery Power
« on: 27 November 2002, 18:53 »
I seem to be having a poblem with something draining battery power somewhere which is causing the electronic readings in the dashboard to fail.  I've had vw to have a look but with no joy. Any ideas anyone?  :'(
« Last Edit: 01 January 1970, 01:00 by 1055631600 »

Offline jv

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Re: Draining Battery Power
« Reply #1 on: 01 December 2002, 00:34 »

Keep leaving the lights on?  Only joking  :P

Presumably you have tried a new battery so it's not just that the battery is just old and losing charge quickly?

I guess a good auto electrician may be your next option.

jv
« Last Edit: 01 January 1970, 01:00 by 1055631600 »
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Offline olstar

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Re: Draining Battery Power
« Reply #2 on: 31 December 2002, 23:13 »
have u got any amps running?

if so do ur remote wires work?

test by turning ur ignition off and looking on ur amps making sure NO lights are on etc....

if there are lights on trace ur remote wire till u find the break and er.. un-break it...

lol

hope it helps..

olstar@maxxd.com
« Last Edit: 01 January 1970, 01:00 by 1055631600 »

Offline stoat

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Re: Draining Battery Power
« Reply #3 on: 19 February 2003, 12:51 »
If your car is standard and you dont have a sound system it could be your altinator, does you battery light come one when your engine is running???
« Last Edit: 01 January 1970, 01:00 by 1055631600 »
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Offline pete

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Re: Draining Battery Power
« Reply #4 on: 19 February 2003, 14:04 »
Its a bit weird, i've had the altinator checked and thats fine, i've also replaced the battery and that dosn't seem to fix the problem.  My last resort is to take to to the dearler but the more I can delay that the better  ;)

I did change the transformer unit a while back but the work was done by the dealer so that shouldn't really effect the power.  I think it might be a dodge earth somewhere but I can seem to find any.  Are there any common problems areas that should be looking out for.

thx pete
« Last Edit: 01 January 1970, 01:00 by 1055631600 »

Offline stoat

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Re: Draining Battery Power
« Reply #5 on: 19 February 2003, 15:25 »
your sound system could be draining your battery.  How long does the charge last on it???
« Last Edit: 01 January 1970, 01:00 by 1055631600 »
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Offline pete

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Re: Draining Battery Power
« Reply #6 on: 19 February 2003, 18:46 »
It doesn't completly loose all its power. well i guess it would if I left it stationary for ages.  I've been told that the bash board circuit is the last bit in the chain so if the voltage around the car is not up to full potential then power is restricted to the dash.  Do you think i can fix it by getting a bigger and "BADDER" battery?

« Last Edit: 01 January 1970, 01:00 by 1055631600 »

Offline stoat

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Re: Draining Battery Power
« Reply #7 on: 20 February 2003, 18:06 »
It will hold charge for longer but it will eventually do the same. you need to fix the problem before you uprate the battery.  Check the battery is correct for your car if you have a manual I would check that.  If it is correct then there is some thing wrong with you car.
« Last Edit: 01 January 1970, 01:00 by 1055631600 »
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Offline richandhazel

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Re: Draining Battery Power
« Reply #8 on: 21 February 2003, 14:54 »
Long post, interesting story that probably won't help you at all :P
You won't believe what I found when I bought my first ever Golf GTI Mk1 that had exactly the same problem.
I changed the battery, nil fix. I confirmed that I had an output from the alternator. Did loads of other things and was at my wits end and had resorted to carrying around the old battery and jump leads.
Did this for about a month and then one day I was dotting around the engine bay with a multimeter on something like the 5V scale. I touched one probe on the case of the alternator and the other on the rocker box cover (don't ask me why, but it turned out to be a good idea), it read 2V :o
Checked the earth strap between alternator case and engine, looked OK, so took it apart. Turned out to be a plastic washer installed under the strap :o Chucked the washer away and never had a problem again ;D
Turned out, the guy who owned the car before had spent a fortune at the repairers trying to get that one fixed, he gave up and flogged the car to me. He was gutted when he found out what it was.........and very suspicious as to where the washer came from as he didn't put it there. :(
« Last Edit: 01 January 1970, 01:00 by 1055631600 »

Offline stoat

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Re: Draining Battery Power
« Reply #9 on: 24 February 2003, 17:10 »
The bolt going into the engine would have given an earth but if this had gone rusty over the years then it would not give a good connection, when you removed the plastic washer you made a better connection.  The trouble is with out being able to test the car myself it is difficult for me to work out the problem
« Last Edit: 01 January 1970, 01:00 by 1055631600 »
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