Trip computer resetting itself?

[Pricey98]

For the last week or so with these cold mornings, the trip computer/mpg, etc have been resetting themselves to zero most times that I start the car. After doing some research on here I read that it's likely to be the battery on its way out causing it, however I replaced the battery in May, so it is only a few months old. Is there any other likely causes, or is it still likely to be a weak battery?

 

[STEVE.M]

For the last week or so with these cold mornings, the trip computer/mpg, etc have been resetting themselves to zero most times that I start the car. After doing some research on here I read that it's likely to be the battery on its way out causing it, however I replaced the battery in May, so it is only a few months old. Is there any other likely causes, or is it still likely to be a weak battery?

Get the battery drop tested, and if good, check and clean all battery connections, the braided engine earth and loom earth which bolts to the rear of the gearbox.

 

[JamesBryan]

If it was a new battery in May, i can't see it being faulty already although there is always a chance.

I'd say you have a parasitic drain or a bad earth.

Have you got a volt/amp meter? I can tell you how to test for a drain.

 

[Pricey98]

If it was a new battery in May, i can't see it being faulty already although there is always a chance.

I'd say you have a parasitic drain or a bad earth.

Have you got a volt/amp meter? I can tell you how to test for a drain.

I do have a basic multimeter if that'll work?

 

[JamesBryan]

I do have a basic multimeter if that'll work?

Yes it should do if it has an Amps setting.

With a fully charged battery, disconnect the -neg terminal and clamp the black probe from the meter to the -neg battery terminal, then clamp the red probe to the -neg cable. Set the meter to amps, start with the highest it will read and work your way through the settings if it doesn't show a reading (starting high just prevents you blowing the fuses in the meter if you start too low).

They all show a few milliamp of draw when the engine is off, but several hundred milliamp would indicate a problem.

Let me know what reading you get.

 

[Pricey98]

Yes it should do if it has an Amps setting.

With a fully charged battery, disconnect the -neg terminal and clamp the black probe from the meter to the -neg battery terminal, then clamp the red probe to the -neg cable. Set the meter to amps, start with the highest it will read and work your way through the settings if it doesn't show a reading (starting high just prevents you blowing the fuses in the meter if you start too low).

They all show a few milliamp of draw when the engine is off, but several hundred milliamp would indicate a problem.

Let me know what reading you get.

Thanks. Have a few days off coming up, so will be able to give it a try and report back.

 

[JamesBryan]

I suspect it could be as mine was, which turned out to be a faulty alternator backdrawing current.

If you do get a high reading, you could take the red wire off the alternator and if the reading drops that's your culprit.

 

[Pricey98]

I suspect it could be as mine was, which turned out to be a faulty alternator backdrawing current.

If you do get a high reading, you could take the red wire off the alternator and if the reading drops that's your culprit.

Thanks, decent advice.

I'm hoping it is actually the battery now as it's still well within warranty period. Alternator would be a PITA lol.

 

[Ol’ Tarby]

I had a battery from euros fail within about 3 months, so I wouldn't rule it out.

I've got a battery tester and even after it being on charge for nearly 12 hours, the battery couldn't give more than 10ah

Typically I'd thrown the receipt away though, so had to buy another

 

[bloke]

What make of battery?

 

[Pricey98]

What make of battery?

Numax. Was about 40 odd quid from memory.

 

[bloke]

manbat's own brand, am guessing as they are a distributor chances are they are cheapy ones bought in and stickered up. first call would be the battery.

 

[Pricey98]

Started car in garage this morning after having stood overnight and computer didn't reset. Drove car out of garage, switched off to lock garage up, etc. When I restarted the car the computer reset. Weird.

 

[davo172]

1000000% battery!!
I had exactly same thing years ago it just drops enough on start up when cold to trigger reset. In garage fine.
Will show as fine when you just drop tester on it it the drop on start up that do you need to see.