Battery keeps draining on my RB shed car

[jenic]

This started 2 months ago but has recently resurfaced.

If I leave the car for around 3/4 days it will not start, a quick charge and off you go again.

I have tried a different battery, I have tried a full overnight charge on the battery. I tested the current when everything is off and it was drawing about 300mA last month and it then was fine for a while.

Until today, tested now and with everything off its drawing around 4A (this seems so high, actually blew my fused leads from work ), so its obvious something is up

I today tried removing each fuse in turn and it never dropped, also tried disconnecting the alarm and still didn't drop.

Any ideas anyone?

I have not tried removing relays or disconnecting the alternator, dont know if these can affect it.

 

[mikey10]

Re: Battery keeps draining

Hmm tricky one.
Taken off the starter?

 

[jenic]

Re: Battery keeps draining

Easy to do? Got a mini-guide

 

[Bluebeard]

Should have bought a 200....

 

[jenic]

What would i do in my spare time then though, with no car to fix :rasp:

 

[Sean6545]

How were you testing the drain? With the car locked and waited for 5 mins for everything to power down?

 

[jenic]

How were you testing the drain? With the car locked and waited for 5 mins for everything to power down?

Car was unlocked and left for a while, then I was checking the current but closing the door everytime not locking it tho...

I cba with it now, electrician is coming tomorrow

 

[Cro]

Let us know what it turns out to be or how he find the issue!

Would be easy enough to unclip the power lead from the starter underneath the exhaust manifold if you wanted to

 

[jenic]

It is the f**king alternator, 3rd time that f**king belt will have been off this year ffs

Not impressed

 

[Cro]

Just not charging enough or not at all? cup setup should be easy enough done sure!

 

[jenic]

Its charging fine, but then when off its drawing 400mA

The guy said they do go faulty like this from time to time, but not often.

 

[Jonny1*2]

Was the battery light on mate? If the alternator is going the light usually comes on while driving. Are you sure it's not the battery on the way out? Cold weather tends to affect them. Stored voltage might be ok, but crank amps will be low.

 

[jenic]

Nope it isn't.

I got an auto electrician to come in the end, he tested the draw and it dropped when he removed the alternator, connect it back up again and its drawing 400mA

He said sometimes they do go and start doing that, just not that often.

 

[st3ve]

Why would the alternator draw power from the battery though?

Sorry if that's a daft question.

 

[jenic]

Why would the alternator draw power from the battery though?

Sorry if that's a daft question.

No idea, seems weird to me too but when you disconnect just the alternator, it stop drawing pretty much any current!

 

[Fred@BTM]

£200 odd for a new one

 

[jenic]

£50 for a 10 month old one off 172ben

Checked codes on them, they are that same. Was well chuffed with that.