Short Journeys & Battery Problems!

[Benny06]

Hi,

I've been having a bit of a problem with the battery in my 182. I've had it a few weeks and do very short journeys in it to work during the week which is just less than 2 miles away from where I live.

Last Friday evening it went flat and I needed a jump from a friend to start. I ended up having the RAC out and a new battery fitted. He had commented how it seemed to be a very small battery for the size of car and that it could ideally do with a bigger battery.
Roll around this morning and my car wont turn over, again. So I ended up jumping myself off our car battery charger so I could get myself to work.

Now I know very short journeys aren't ideal for battery health and was planning on trickle charging the car over night once or month as I was told battery life on the new battery would last much longer than on the 5 year old original the car previously had. However it apparently hasn't!

There is a sub & mono amp in there and my headunit is wired to run off the ignition as any standard radio is so the headunit isn't draining juice. The amp may well be, despite it's not even playing loud but just being on might be stealing enough power to drain the battery.

Has anybody had a similar problem? or got any solutions?

So far all I can think of, other than charging the battery every 2 days/night is to re-locate a bigger battery to the boot?

Thanks for any help in advance,

BennyC

 

[Benny06]

I was thinking perhaps one of those solar panel chargers that charges through the cigarette lighter could be an easier solution? Has anybody used one of these before, if so what are your thoughts?

Is anybody able to tell me if the cigarette lighter is on a constant live (doesn't need the ignition to work) so that a panel charger could be used?

 

[Beef-Mc]

Tried disconnecting the sub and amp and seeing if that makes a difference.

 

[Benny06]

Tried disconnecting the sub and amp and seeing if that makes a difference.

Yeah I will do this afternoon when I finish work. The amp is running off a remote lead to the headunit as they should, so isn't constantly on. It's an Alpine MRP-M605 and ran in my 1.4 L reg corsa for 4 years and never flattened the battery. Though with such a small battery and large engine in the clio the RAC chap said it's probaly stealing juice away from the battery instead of allowing it to be recharged.

It's a bit of a pain in the arse not knowing if your car is going to start each time you get in it!

 

[Kris86]

I live less than 0.5 miles from work(should walk really) and my 182 had no problems when i had it. Did take a longer route so it was fully warm before i got to work. Battery lasted 3 years and only started getting crap when all that snow happened start of the year.

 

[DrR]

Is the battery actually the correct one?

 

[Benny06]

I live less than 0.5 miles from work(should walk really) and my 182 had no problems when i had it. Did take a longer route so it was fully warm before i got to work. Battery lasted 3 years and only started getting crap when all that snow happened start of the year.

Thanks for that. Reassuring to know that it should theoretically be fine. I can go several other ways to work but seems silly to waste petrol, time and put extra milage on the car when it should in theory cope with it fine.

If it still persists in going flat then I assume the alternator may not be recharging properly.

Just wondering if where my powerlead is connected to the positive terminal on the battery may effect it? As you have the actual terminal ring and then another seating for a wire that sits parralell to the ground. This is where the powerlead currently is, is the feed from he alternator? in which case it would explain it. (Hopefully this makes sense, can provide photo's later if need be)

 

[Benny06]

Is the battery actually the correct one?

The RAC mechanic had no 2.0litre clio listed on his database which was wierd. He had the V6 listed but it topped out at the 1.8.

So we replaced the battery with one rated the same as what was originally in there. (420A I think)

 

[Benny06]

Figured I'd go and see if it was showing any signs of life as I'm on lunch and it turned over first time just now. A little ropey but to be expected from a flat battery. Took it for a quick spin to put some life back into it.

Very odd. I did drive to work with the radio/amp off this morning so more arrows pointing towards that amp.

 

[Jimbo-Clio]

The RAC mechanic had no 2.0litre clio listed on his database which was wierd. He had the V6 listed but it topped out at the 1.8.

So we replaced the battery with one rated the same as what was originally in there. (420A I think)

Shouldent make a difference really providing its roughly the same size and charge i run a uni part battery i got for free off my mate who runs the branch never had any issues my car sits for days as i use the 1.2

as above disconnect the amp and sub

Clean the terminals and reconnect the battery once fully charged

if its a new battery could be be charging issues your having not battery itself

pretty sure 182s run alternator, lead, battery but not 100% hopefully someone who has ripped theres apart can help with that. will be an issue with one of those would be my guess

 

[Jimbo-Clio]

I was thinking perhaps one of those solar panel chargers that charges through the cigarette lighter could be an easier solution? Has anybody used one of these before, if so what are your thoughts?

Is anybody able to tell me if the cigarette lighter is on a constant live (doesn't need the ignition to work) so that a panel charger could be used?

Never even knew this exsisted! never seen or used one but i can image that they will be utter shite as most solar is

j

 

[Soot1e]

A solar panel charger is not going to be much use at night when you need some extra charging,
Advice A. Fit the right battery 063 is the correct size. B. Cycle to work. C. get the car out out weekends and go for long drives.