Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: OMEGA VXR on 04 January 2009, 10:37:49

Title: Earth Straps
Post by: OMEGA VXR on 04 January 2009, 10:37:49
Can anyone tell me the exact locations of all the earth straps please? as I think I've got a dodgy earth somewhere! (draining battery while standing)

Thanks
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: unlucky alf on 04 January 2009, 12:21:25
make sure your ign light isnt glowing slightly when ign is off, could be alternator fault, itll still charge but when car is left it will drain due to faulty diode pack, im not saying it is that but an easy check to do. ;)
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 04 January 2009, 12:29:32
Quote
Can anyone tell me the exact locations of all the earth straps please? as I think I've got a dodgy earth somewhere! (draining battery while standing)

Thanks


This may seem a very silly question ::) ::) ::), but have you checked that you haven't left your boot open, perhaps by accidentally pressing the key fob boot release button?

I did this recently, left my car in the garage for three days and the battery had drained completely flat !! (The bulb for the boot has now been removed!!) :o :o

Just another simple thing to check before you check alternators and starter motors as you were suggesting in your earlier thread. ;) ;) ;)

Hope all checking goes well. ;)
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: OMEGA VXR on 04 January 2009, 13:41:24
Quote
make sure your ign light isnt glowing slightly when ign is off, could be alternator fault, itll still charge but when car is left it will drain due to faulty diode pack, im not saying it is that but an easy check to do. ;)

The alternator had a new diode pack in June 07.
Do you know the life span of a starter motor? as mines still the original!!
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: OMEGA VXR on 04 January 2009, 13:48:25
Quote
Quote
Can anyone tell me the exact locations of all the earth straps please? as I think I've got a dodgy earth somewhere! (draining battery while standing)

Thanks


This may seem a very silly question ::) ::) ::), but have you checked that you haven't left your boot open, perhaps by accidentally pressing the key fob boot release button?

I did this recently, left my car in the garage for three days and the battery had drained completely flat !! (The bulb for the boot has now been removed!!) :o :o

Just another simple thing to check before you check alternators and starter motors as you were suggesting in your earlier thread. ;) ;) ;)

Hope all checking goes well. ;)

That was the first port of call so to speak, I have this morning checked an earth strap (the ones under battery tray) 5 in total,the bolt snapped while undoing it plus it had corroded a bit, Ive now gave it a brand new one :)hope this cures it
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: unlucky alf on 04 January 2009, 13:49:09
i couldnt tell you the life of a starter as its in the lap of the gods how long they last, mine is original from 95 & still going strong [kiss of death??!!], going back to your alternator, ive had recon ones that have only lasted 6 months or even less, but like i said im not saying it is that but the check i mention is an indicator that the diodes are fubar, i take it your battery is new/ish as the cold weather will always show up a weak battery.
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: OMEGA VXR on 04 January 2009, 13:51:56
Quote
i couldnt tell you the life of a starter as its in the lap of the gods how long they last, mine is original from 95 & still going strong [kiss of death??!!], going back to your alternator, ive had recon ones that have only lasted 6 months or even less, but like i said im not saying it is that but the check i mention is an indicator that the diodes are fubar, i take it your battery is new/ish as the cold weather will always show up a weak battery.

Yeah Battery is new
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 04 January 2009, 14:22:02
Quote
Quote
Quote
Can anyone tell me the exact locations of all the earth straps please? as I think I've got a dodgy earth somewhere! (draining battery while standing)

Thanks


This may seem a very silly question ::) ::) ::), but have you checked that you haven't left your boot open, perhaps by accidentally pressing the key fob boot release button?

I did this recently, left my car in the garage for three days and the battery had drained completely flat !! (The bulb for the boot has now been removed!!) :o :o

Just another simple thing to check before you check alternators and starter motors as you were suggesting in your earlier thread. ;) ;) ;)

Hope all checking goes well. ;)

That was the first port of call so to speak, I have this morning checked an earth strap (the ones under battery tray) 5 in total,the bolt snapped while undoing it plus it had corroded a bit, Ive now gave it a brand new one :)hope this cures it

That is a very possible reason for your problem, as when driving the vibration could well be repeatedly braking the earthing circuit and therefore stopping the battery charging sufficiently. :'( :'(

However, I cannot see how that fault could drain the battery whilst the car is stationery.  ;)
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: Kevin Wood on 04 January 2009, 16:59:02
Yep. A bad connection won't drain the battery. It may mean it's not charging as well as it should, and it may make starting more difficult if the starter current has to flow through a path of greater resistance but it won't result in the battery draining.

Inspect all the connections for loose wires, including the crimp where the cable from the starter and alternator meets the battery positive terminal.

Have a read of this as well. Make the measurements and see if you can figure out what's going on.http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1225724099

Kevin
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: OMEGA VXR on 05 January 2009, 12:58:50
Im getting conflicting stories, :-/ my local garage has told me it can only be the starter motor or the alternator at fault ,so I done a test (diconnected the starter/alternator) still losing current, a friend of a friend has told me its a bad earth somwhere!!!!!,Checked earth as previous thread, now repaired.(test still ongoing but looking good so far :))
Now as im reading these posts it can't be a dodgy connection/earth,im confused ::) ::)

I took the battery back to VX on Saturday for an exchange but they needed to test it/charge it for themselves to prove it was dead,I had a phone call from VX this morning to confirm that it was dead (it would'nt keep the charge)

So surely this proves something is draining it
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 05 January 2009, 13:04:47
Quote
Im getting conflicting stories, :-/ my local garage has told me it can only be the starter motor or the alternator at fault ,so I done a test (diconnected the starter/alternator) still losing current, a friend of a friend has told me its a bad earth somwhere!!!!!,Checked earth as previous thread, now repaired.(test still ongoing but looking good so far :))
Now as im reading these posts it can't be a dodgy connection/earth,im confused ::) ::)

I took the battery back to VX on Saturday for an exchange but they needed to test it/charge it for themselves to prove it was dead,I had a phone call from VX this morning to confirm that it was dead (it would'nt keep the charge)

So surely this proves something is draining it

Now I'm confused!

If the garage has tested this "new" battery and found it's "dead" and it wouldn't retain the charge, then surely that means the battery is faulty :-? :-? ::)

The battery should hold the charge, and has nothing to do with any open circuit draining it. ;)
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 05 January 2009, 13:09:08
Quote
Im getting conflicting stories, :-/ my local garage has told me it can only be the starter motor or the alternator at fault ,so I done a test (diconnected the starter/alternator) still losing current, a friend of a friend has told me its a bad earth somwhere!!!!!,Checked earth as previous thread, now repaired.(test still ongoing but looking good so far :))
Now as im reading these posts it can't be a dodgy connection/earth,im confused ::) ::)

I took the battery back to VX on Saturday for an exchange but they needed to test it/charge it for themselves to prove it was dead,I had a phone call from VX this morning to confirm that it was dead (it would'nt keep the charge)

So surely this proves something is draining it

To 'drain' a battery requires a load.....a bad connection is not a load!

Starter motor is not likely to drain the abttery and if it did it would drain it mega quick!

Time to monitor the battery current whilst pulling fuses!
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: ians on 05 January 2009, 13:34:28
If the battery was on its last legs/faulty that would be consistent with your symptoms - it will quickly lose charge itself even without there being any other fault - especially in cold weather...   I would try a new one and go from there.
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: OMEGA VXR on 05 January 2009, 13:52:28
Quote
Quote
Im getting conflicting stories, :-/ my local garage has told me it can only be the starter motor or the alternator at fault ,so I done a test (diconnected the starter/alternator) still losing current, a friend of a friend has told me its a bad earth somwhere!!!!!,Checked earth as previous thread, now repaired.(test still ongoing but looking good so far :))
Now as im reading these posts it can't be a dodgy connection/earth,im confused ::) ::)

I took the battery back to VX on Saturday for an exchange but they needed to test it/charge it for themselves to prove it was dead,I had a phone call from VX this morning to confirm that it was dead (it would'nt keep the charge)

So surely this proves something is draining it

Now I'm confused!

If the garage has tested this "new" battery and found it's "dead" and it wouldn't retain the charge, then surely that means the battery is faulty :-? :-? ::)

The battery should hold the charge, and has nothing to do with any open circuit draining it. ;)

Sorry, I did'nt mention that this was the fifth time I've take the battery back (thought VX had a bad batch of batteries) :)
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 05 January 2009, 13:55:20
Quote
Quote
Quote
Im getting conflicting stories, :-/ my local garage has told me it can only be the starter motor or the alternator at fault ,so I done a test (diconnected the starter/alternator) still losing current, a friend of a friend has told me its a bad earth somwhere!!!!!,Checked earth as previous thread, now repaired.(test still ongoing but looking good so far :))
Now as im reading these posts it can't be a dodgy connection/earth,im confused ::) ::)

I took the battery back to VX on Saturday for an exchange but they needed to test it/charge it for themselves to prove it was dead,I had a phone call from VX this morning to confirm that it was dead (it would'nt keep the charge)

So surely this proves something is draining it

Now I'm confused!

If the garage has tested this "new" battery and found it's "dead" and it wouldn't retain the charge, then surely that means the battery is faulty :-? :-? ::)

The battery should hold the charge, and has nothing to do with any open circuit draining it. ;)

Sorry, I did'nt mention that this was the fifth time I've take the battery back (thought VX had a bad batch of batteries) :)

Now that is extremely rare!! :o :o :o
Title: Re: Earth Straps
Post by: OMEGA VXR on 06 January 2009, 20:23:11
Quote
Quote
Quote
Can anyone tell me the exact locations of all the earth straps please? as I think I've got a dodgy earth somewhere! (draining battery while standing)

Thanks


This may seem a very silly question ::) ::) ::), but have you checked that you haven't left your boot open, perhaps by accidentally pressing the key fob boot release button?

I did this recently, left my car in the garage for three days and the battery had drained completely flat !! (The bulb for the boot has now been removed!!) :o :o

Just another simple thing to check before you check alternators and starter motors as you were suggesting in your earlier thread. ;) ;) ;)

Hope all checking goes well. ;)

That was the first port of call so to speak, I have this morning checked an earth strap (the ones under battery tray) 5 in total,the bolt snapped while undoing it plus it had corroded a bit, Ive now gave it a brand new one :)hope this cures it[/quote]

I think it has :D :) :D :).................everything crossed ;D