flat battery

[77richard77]

Right need i need a bit of help.

My Battery keeps going flat. If i drive the car and start it again its fine. But if i leave it alone for a few hours it dead. Thought the battery may be on its way out so got a new one but still doing the same thing. Have had a look at the things you think of like interior lights and boot light but all fine. Just seeing if anyone knows what else i should check?

 

[Bluebeard]

Alternator? If its not putting enough charge in the battery each time it will gradually get worse.

Try removing the earth lead overnight to see if that makes a difference. If its still flat, you know its not charging. If it fires up first time, you know you've got an electrical gremlin somewhere.

 

[77richard77]

Ye thats what i was thinking but as i say once i push start her and drive for 5min I can turn the engine off and it will start again fine. So think altrnator is charging it ok but somthing is pulling power when its off. Just cant think what.

 

[macrae99]

put a volt meter across your battery when the car is running if the alternator is ok i think it should be reading about 13v or get some one to rev a bit and the volt should increase slightly

 

[Tunst]

As above or go to a garage and ask them to do a drop test.

 

[77richard77]

I put a meter on in and am getting 12.5 with engine off and 14.4 with in on.
just need to find whats pulling power. So just seeing if anyone knows what to look at first.

 

[77richard77]

Right have found that its the alternator pulling 2.5amps when the engine is off. Does anyone know why it would do that and can it be fixed or do i need a new one?

 

[77richard77]

Just been to my local scrap yard to see if they have an alternator. They do have a sport there but the engine has gone. Did see another Clio with what looks like the same alternator. Does anyone know what if any other Clios used the same one?