Battery drain

[DomP182]

Sorry to bore you all with this, I've got a stinking cold so not in the best mood to be trying to trace the problem but I have discovered this mess on the radio (power in cable I think)

I removed the radio entirely but still get 80milliamps being drawn unless I pull the fuse mentioned above.
Disconnected both wing mirrors which had no effect.
Boot light is going out.

Pretty poor bit of soldering, what is the thin black wire that has been spliced in? Could this still be the issue even when not connected to the radio?

 

[DomP182]

It's an earth cable actually I believe

 

[JamesBryan]

Not a clue.

Gonna have to chase the wire 😏

 

[Robbie Corbett]

Would assume its earth. Confirm by buzzing from wire to body (door strap or something) with multimeter

 

[DomP182]

Would assume its earth. Confirm by buzzing from wire to body (door strap or something) with multimeter

I'll try tomorrow, Ive at least narrowed it down a bit. One other thing that's dodgy is that there are two wires entering the engine bay fuse box and are then trapped under two separate fuses, proper bodge. I might try removing them to see what happens, I'll get a pic tomorrow

 

[DomP182]

It was the earth but barely connected so I've sorted that and cleaned up every fuse in the engine bay fuse box as some were a but furry. I've attached a photo of the two wire trapped under the fuses that disappear through the bulkhead, not sure what that's about.

Interesting to not that detaching the connects2 drops milliamp draw from 80 to 14mAh

 

[barnesautos]

It was the earth but barely connected so I've sorted that and cleaned up every fuse in the engine bay fuse box as some were a but furry. I've attached a photo of the two wire trapped under the fuses that disappear through the bulkhead, not sure what that's about.

Interesting to not that detaching the connects2 drops milliamp draw from 80 to 14mAh

Those wires would have been the first thing to disconnect to see if it was causing an issue .

But as I’ve been reading your post the fuse for the mirrors when removed cures your voltage draw.

The hunt continues I see.


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[DomP182]

Those wires would have been the first thing to disconnect to see if it was causing an issue .

But as I’ve been reading your post the fuse for the mirrors when removed cures your voltage draw.

The hunt continues I see.


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I unplugged the mirrors on both sides which made no difference, I've not disconnected the wires under the fuses as I'm not sure what they are for. Would be interesting to know but the disappear and I cant trace them.

I think the Connects2 is causing it though, I meant to write 'interesting to note that the Connects2 being disconnected dropped the milliamps to 14mAh from around 80mAh.

 

[barnesautos]

I unplugged the mirrors on both sides which made no difference, I've not disconnected the wires under the fuses as I'm not sure what they are for. Would be interesting to know but the disappear and I cant trace them.

I think the Connects2 is causing it though, I meant to write 'interesting to note that the Connects2 being disconnected dropped the milliamps to 14mAh from around 80mAh.

If disconnecting the connects2 dropped it by that much to 14mAh then I’d put it back together with it disconnected and see if the issue still exists .

Your not alone .

Here’s the Mrs car minimum, it’s a merc , as much as I’d like 00.3mA it isn’t coming down.

Here’s the cause

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[Robbie Corbett]

Yea, thats substantial, perhaps wire up a neat switch to the connects2 if you want to keep it but not have it flatten your battery etc.

Good work. 14mA is like 60 days on a slightly tired battery (20Ah), which is inline with the self discharge rate of the battery and so negligible.

 

[Robbie Corbett]

If disconnecting the connects2 dropped it by that much to 14mAh then I’d put it back together with it disconnected and see if the issue still exists .

Your not alone .
View attachment 1513438

View attachment 1513439
Here’s the Mrs car minimum, it’s a merc , as much as I’d like 00.3mA it isn’t coming down.

Here’s the cause

View attachment 1513440


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Is that an SL or SLK? I think they have quite a rep for filling their boots up with water

 

[DomP182]

I'd forgotten I'd fitted the Connects2, it must have been the cause all along. Googling it three up a few people having problems with them not shutting down with the ignition on, I should have known really as the one I had in my 182 was a bit of a pain for disconnecting

 

[barnesautos]

Is that an SL or SLK? I think they have quite a rep for filling their boots up with water

It’s a B class but all Mercedes let in water lol.

Fix

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[DomP182]

It’s a B class but all Mercedes let in water lol.

Fix


View attachment 1513447


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Glad you sorted it. I knew a few Mercs had Renault engines, didn't realise they also shared leaks

 

[Krarl]

You should see 10 plate onwards Focus'

I sealed a lads up at work and used a full tube of mastic😂😂

 

[Robbie Corbett]

You should see 10 plate onwards Focus'

I sealed a lads up at work and used a full tube of mastic😂😂

Was he angry when he found out none of the doors would open?

 

[Krarl]

Was he angry when he found out none of the doors would open?

Nah but I'm surprised he didn't get high as f**k driving home, I used the proper bathroom stuff and even I was woozy😂😂

 

[Bluebeard]

You should see 10 plate onwards Focus'

I sealed a lads up at work and used a full tube of mastic😂😂

They are terrible for it!

 

[DomP182]

Any thoughts on what the yellow and red wires under the fuses are?

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Any thoughts on what the yellow and red wires under the fuses are?

An utterly shonky bodge... if it's for your connects2 thing, I'd guess lives (ignition and permanent) ?

What fuses are they bodged into...

 

[DomP182]

An utterly shonky bodge... if it's for your connects2 thing, I'd guess lives (ignition and permanent) ?

What fuses are they bodged into...

No I've got the connects2 into the back of the original radio.

That's under a 60 amp and a 15 I think the small blue is

 

[barnesautos]

It doesn’t matter where the power comes from at this stage , you can remedy that later , the main issue is , is what ever it’s powering is that the cause of the drain . It’s needs to be ruled out .


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[DomP182]

It doesn’t matter where the power comes from at this stage , you can remedy that later , the main issue is , is what ever it’s powering is that the cause of the drain . It’s needs to be ruled out .


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I suppose if I pull them out its only a case that something wont work, however I'm absolutely certain it was the connects2 causing the drain, I just dont like the untidyness/bodge of it. Probably a badly executed previous aftermarket radio or amp install

 

[barnesautos]

I suppose if I pull them out its only a case that something wont work, however I'm absolutely certain it was the connects2 causing the drain, I just dont like the untidyness/bodge of it. Probably a badly executed previous aftermarket radio or amp install

It sure is a crap install for sure .
Trace the wires ,do they disappear into the car or under the scuttle ?


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[DomP182]

It sure is a crap install for sure .
Trace the wires ,do they disappear into the car or under the scuttle ?


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I'll have a better look tomorrow but they are wrapped in insulation tape and wrapped together with the two black bonnet switch cables. Looks to go under the screen wash bottle which makes me think it may be alarm related.

 

[JamesBryan]

I'll have a better look tomorrow but they are wrapped in insulation tape and wrapped together with the two black bonnet switch cables. Looks to go under the screen wash bottle which makes me think it may be alarm related.

Maybe they're going that way to access the rubber grommet which enters the cabin?

 

[DomP182]

Maybe they're going that way to access the rubber grommet which enters the cabin?

I've checked that and there doesn't appear to be anything extra coming through

 

[DomP182]

So the red and yellow wires bodged under the fuses are indeed the Cobra alarm power feeds, I've removed them and the alarm led by the gearstick no longer illuminates.

Next question is where should they really be spliced into as I want them tidied up, done a fair amount of Googling but cant find an answer yet.

 

[Krarl]

Just bin the alarm, they're useless anyway. They never go off when you want them to 😂

 

[DomP182]

Just bin the alarm, they're useless anyway. They never go off when you want them to 😂

That's certainly an option, can't be arsed with pulling the scuttle covers off right now, the clips will only beark in this cold. I might just tape up the ends for now.

 

[Krarl]

That's certainly an option, can't be arsed with pulling the scuttle covers off right now, the clips will only beark in this cold. I might just tape up the ends for now.

Aye just yank the wires out for now 😂

 

[04-182]

Probably not the answer or daft thought but any chance the wires are in the correct place but have snapped off the fuse base. then maybe bodged back over the top and pinned with the fuse.

 

[DomP182]

Probably not the answer or daft thought but any chance the wires are in the correct place but have snapped off the fuse base. then maybe bodged back over the top and pinned with the fuse.

Quite likely mate, I'm having one of those days though, shut the bonnet but forgot the insulation tape was up by the scuttle! Now the bloody release mechanism wont release 😖

 

[04-182]

Quite likely mate, I'm having one of those days though, shut the bonnet but forgot the insulation tape was up by the scuttle! Now the bloody release mechanism wont release 😖

my old one jammed like that. got the wife to pull the handle while I joggled the bonnet towards the drivers side. catch was pulled enough for me to open bonnet

 

[DomP182]

my old one jammed like that. got the wife to pull the handle while I joggled the bonnet towards the drivers side. catch was pulled enough for me to open bonnet

I think I'm just going to go in and cry instead, why am I dicking around with this piece of crap!

 

[Robbie Corbett]

Yea, last time I touched mine I had a day like that and decided it was better for everyone involved for me to just go and have a good sulk in the warm.

 

[DomP182]

Yea, last time I touched mine I had a day like that and decided it was better for everyone involved for me to just go and have a good sulk in the warm.

Better that than grabbing a brick!

Seriously though, theres recoil on the release lever but not much. I think the bonnet pin is misaligned in the mechanism, tried a wire looped round it to tug it but no joy. I cant quite see how getting the bumper off is either possible or going to get me access

 

[JamesBryan]

I take it you've tried pulling up on the bonnet whilst someone pulls the lever?

 

[DomP182]

I take it you've tried pulling up on the bonnet whilst someone pulls the lever?

Yep😪

 

[Robbie Corbett]

Wonder if with the bumper off you will be able to get a bent wire (coat hangar or something) around the latch from below to pull it free of the bonnet pin, would imagine with rad in it will be tights as.

Before using a can opener I would push down on the bonnet and lever the front edge (taped up screw driver pocked between passenger wing and bonnet edge near to head light) over to the left (drivers side) then get her to pull the lever.