battery draining

[regi james]

hello, my 182 keeps going flat im pretty sure the battery is ok. was wondering if anyone knows what sort of current it should be drawing from the battery with the car stopped i.e doors locked, interior light off and alarm disconnected i have clamp tested both the positive leads on the battery and they are both pulling 0.5 amps (1amp total)is this normal?
surely this would flatten a 47Ah battery in about 2 days

thanks James

 

[st3ve]

Cold weather affects batterys.

If it's not holding it's charge its probably fubar'd.

A tell tale sign of this is the trip computer resetting itself randomly after starting the car.

 

[jenic]

Not normal.

I just had this problem and it turned out to be the alternator which was pulling the power. Wierd that both the car and engine +ive leads are pulling the same current, this suggests 2 problems rather than one.
Try using a multimetre in series on the -ive side of the battery and try with each of the +ive leads connected to test for draw. Then take it from there removing fuses/disconnecting the alternator etc.

 

[regi james]

ive have a dc clamp meter at work gonna try putting that on and removing fuses one at a time but i suspect the alternator could be at fault or rectifier. also the old battery was load tested and scored 97% something like 500 amps

 

[regi james]

ok so i fitted a new battery on monday (unipart 063 calcium) used the car for work on tuesday (50 mile round trip) went to unlock it this morning and totally dead managed to jump it to get it going and it was fine chagring at 14.4 volts. so it must be something drawing current when the car is switched off.
Any ideas?

 

[Dink]

i guess that 1 amp over 48hours will drain a 47Ah.

i'd say you have something drawing too much current will the car is parked up

 

[regi james]

yeah i guess so. im gonna stick a clamp meter on it tomorrow at wok and start pulling fuses. just wondered if anyone knew of something common that causes this fault ,as every fault ive had with the car has been a common fault lol

 

[Dink]

this might help you out

you'd be able to see better what each circuit is doing

 

[regi james]

ah thats pretty cool i might see if my local maplin has one in stock. cheers

 

[regi james]

ok it seems the alternater is drawing 0.6amps from the battery so a couple of questions
1. how much of a job is it to fit at home by someone with mechanical experience
2. can a new rectifier be brought or is a new alternator required (its a valeo one)

thanks james

 

[.J.a.m.e.s.]

do you have a none custome cd player? a sub or amp?

 

[regi james]

nope all standard, its defo the alternator when i disconnected the wire the current went to nearly 0 amps

 

[jenic]

new alternator time then, i got mine from the classifieds on here for about £50 i think, was only 9 months old

 

[regi james]

well chuffed managed to fit new alternator myself so wasn't to expensive. just needed to remove front bumper and slam panel and clamp tensioner with a jubilee clip