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Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: sir moanalot on 19 May 2007, 16:53:05

Title: battery died again !!
Post by: sir moanalot on 19 May 2007, 16:53:05
a few months ago i went to start the car and found out that the battery was dead. as i had recently boought the car, and not knowing how old the battery was, i decided to buy a new one, ive had no problems since then- approx feb.
i went to start the car this morning, after its had a week off and it was dead. i booster packed it and it kicked into life! later it was all ok again. i have checked all the interior lights and contacts but they are all ok- so i have a drain from somewhere, anyone got any prime suspects on this one?? cheers tone.
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: JasonH on 19 May 2007, 16:55:30
Boot light is a favourite.

You need to check the current draw using an ammeter to prevent a wild goose chase. If there is some with the ignition off, start pulling fuses one by one until is goes away. Then you know the circuit with the problem.
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: sir moanalot on 19 May 2007, 17:04:19
cheers, i checked the boot light -but a light touch on the door sw turned it off, and just in case i have a peak through the back seat. but i will get the tester out and start the fuse pull option, i was hoping it may be an easy jump to fault,never mind eh!  tone.
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: cdx25 on 19 May 2007, 17:04:21
Quote
Boot light is a favourite.

You need to check the current draw using an ammeter to prevent a wild goose chase. If there is some with the ignition off, start pulling fuses one by one until is goes away. Then you know the circuit with the problem.

Good diagnostic advice here... if you want to save resetting codes etc then connect your ammeter into the circuit before you remove the battery lead so that you dont interrupt the voltage.  (Dont switch on anything too juicy or you'll blow the ammeter/fuse though, yeah I know sounds obvious but had to add it for completeness!)
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: sir moanalot on 19 May 2007, 17:06:30
off to buy a better meter than the one i have. tone
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: cdx25 on 19 May 2007, 17:08:17
Quote
off to buy a better meter than the one i have. tone

See if you can get one that will display 10A - some of the cheaper ones only manage very small currents...
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: sir moanalot on 19 May 2007, 17:13:50
ive just checked in my works van and found out that my meter also measures dc and it has a 10amp setting bonus!!
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: cdx25 on 19 May 2007, 17:32:02
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ive just checked in my works van and found out that my meter also measures dc and it has a 10amp setting bonus!!

Ideal  :)  You probably will get a small current draw with everything off, but it ought to be real small.  Like a fraction of an amp.  Any more than this and it will drain the battery over time...
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: TheBoy on 19 May 2007, 17:50:20
I've seen knackered cdl motors cause this, along with hrw relays etc.  Could be a number of things, and be intermittent.
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: sir moanalot on 20 May 2007, 20:21:36
well all's been ok today, kicked into life ok- i did see the passenger side vanity mirror flap open, whether that had anything to do with it? women!!
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: TheBoy on 20 May 2007, 20:58:04
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well all's been ok today, kicked into life ok- i did see the passenger side vanity mirror flap open, whether that had anything to do with it? women!!
That would take a good 1.5 - 2 days I reckon to flatten it....
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: sir moanalot on 21 May 2007, 08:22:16
my missus and daughter constantly uses it so i reckon in the first instance littlun' left it open which was a week ago and my missus the other day, ill keep an eye on it!! cheers.
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: JasonH on 21 May 2007, 18:39:41
If the bulb is 5W (rough guess) it would take 168 hours (exactly 7 days) to completely flatten a fully charged brand new 70Ah battery.

Of course the battery won't be perfect, the discharge will slow down as the battery voltage collapses, the car needs say 20 Ah in the battery to turn over, etc. But it gives you an idea.
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: sir moanalot on 21 May 2007, 20:39:19
that sounds about right, i hadnt used the car for a week so it all fits into place!!
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: cdx25 on 21 May 2007, 20:42:21
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my missus and daughter constantly uses it so i reckon in the first instance littlun' left it open which was a week ago and my missus the other day, ill keep an eye on it!! cheers.

Great - an easy fix.   ;D
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: Dave-C on 21 May 2007, 20:48:13
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my missus and daughter constantly uses it so i reckon in the first instance littlun' left it open which was a week ago and my missus the other day, ill keep an eye on it!! cheers.

Remove the bulb!  If they moan, tell them they're already beautiul ;)
Title: Re: battery died again !!
Post by: sir moanalot on 22 May 2007, 08:57:08
are you mad !! an eleven year old learning about fashion and some make up- i'll get torn to pieces!!! ;D ;D ;D