Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Wayne on 29 December 2009, 17:10:18
-
Guys
haven't used my car for 8 days over Christmas, went out this morning and it wont start, WHAT is draining it?
i haven't left nothing on, i never do!
this is really getting on my tits now!
is there ONE thing in an Omega that drains the power?
something i can disconnect?
could it be my battery is shagged?
if so, i will take it back tomorrow to National Tyres, rather thing cost me £90!!!
if i want to not use my car for a week or two, what is the big deal with it keep playing up, i only recently charged the battery up about 6 weeks ago
the battery isnt that bloody old
any advice would be great and has anyone else had this problem?
-
You need to spend some time with a good test meter or take a load of fuses out and see if it improves.
Favourite "unseen" battery drains are ... boot light, cigarette lighter, internal light(s) perhaps a rear door puddle light ??
A methodical approach is needed .. not a stab in the dark one .. :(
-
already checked the car for ALL lights left on, they are ALL off
-
It's going to be something less obvious then such as
- powersounder
- aftermarket radio
- 101 other things
which is why each fuse needs to be pulled in turn until the circuit which is drawing power when it shouldn't is isolated.
-
how about having one of them battery isolator switches fitted? i have one in my van when i know i wont be using it for a week or so, simply turn the key, remove it and then pop it back in and twist when you need to use the car
it stops anything from discharging the battery
bit overkill i know, but a test meter could take bloody days pissing and farting about
-
is there a fuse for the powersounder?
i remember years ago by cars alarm would go off all day and night when a bit of wind blew against it!
if so, i will rip the bloody thing out as i have heard this draws power
-
would bet on cells in battery going, cold weather can put a drain on batterys and go flat when not in use,electrolite it the battery gose weak and the cells get bent out of place, then the cells collapse then disengrate and fall to the bottom of the battery wich dis-charges the battery, and boils the distilled water.
woul think you need a new battery.
-
even after owning it since January 2008 ?
here's my exact battery fitted to my car
http://pmd.varta-automotive.com/pmd2/showBatterieDetail.do;jsessionid=DBEF07A062EE5F7A5CD1E779BCDFBE31?ArtikelNr=5724090683132
-
even after owning it since January 2008 ?
here's my exact battery fitted to my car
http://pmd.varta-automotive.com/pmd2/showBatterieDetail.do;jsessionid=DBEF07A062EE5F7A5CD1E779BCDFBE31?ArtikelNr=5724090683132
Do you know when the battery was fitted?
-
yeah, it was fitted on 7th January 2008
-
yeah, it was fitted on 7th January 2008
2 years old then, so quite possible its failed. I'd get a GM one in there :y
-
even after owning it since January 2008 ?
here's my exact battery fitted to my car
http://pmd.varta-automotive.com/pmd2/showBatterieDetail.do;jsessionid=DBEF07A062EE5F7A5CD1E779BCDFBE31?ArtikelNr=5724090683132
dose it have a tester on the battery? green light etc
-
even after owning it since January 2008 ?
here's my exact battery fitted to my car
http://pmd.varta-automotive.com/pmd2/showBatterieDetail.do;jsessionid=DBEF07A062EE5F7A5CD1E779BCDFBE31?ArtikelNr=5724090683132
Rather than guessing ... do something LOGICAL.
If you don't want to pull fuses to track down a quiescent feed as you've now decided its the battery ... check the battery PROPERLY.
Take it off the car, charge it up for 36 hours. Disconnect charger. leave to stand for 2 hours. Measure voltage. Measure voltage every 6-8 hours, if it remains stable for 48 hours it has no internal short.
If you don't have a "load tester" handy (and most of us don't) connect a headlamp bulb - main beam 55W - directly to the terminals and leave it. Now as watts =volts x amps, the current drawn by a 55 watt bulb is 55/12 = 4.6 amps. You have a 72 A/h battery so it should give 4.6 amps for about 72/4.6 = 15 hours. If it does there is nowt wrong with your battery.
Recharge if for 48 hours and put it back on, start removing fuses to find the circuit that is on ... :)
-
yeah, it was fitted on 7th January 2008
2 years old then, so quite possible its failed. I'd get a GM one in there :y
dont batterys come with 5years warranty, just looked at mine and it say 10years but standard is 5, one in caravan 25years. so can have a free test.
-
even after owning it since January 2008 ?
here's my exact battery fitted to my car
http://pmd.varta-automotive.com/pmd2/showBatterieDetail.do;jsessionid=DBEF07A062EE5F7A5CD1E779BCDFBE31?ArtikelNr=5724090683132
Rather than guessing ... do something LOGICAL.
If you don't want to pull fuses to track down a quiescent feed as you've now decided its the battery ... check the battery PROPERLY.
Take it off the car, charge it up for 36 hours. Disconnect charger. leave to stand for 2 hours. Measure voltage. Measure voltage every 6-8 hours, if it remains stable for 48 hours it has no internal short.
If you don't have a "load tester" handy (and most of us don't) connect a headlamp bulb - main beam 55W - directly to the terminals and leave it. Now as watts =volts x amps, the current drawn by a 55 watt bulb is 55/12 = 4.6 amps. You have a 72 A/h battery so it should give 4.6 amps for about 72/4.6 = 15 hours. If it does there is nowt wrong with your battery.
Recharge if for 48 hours and put it back on, start removing fuses to find the circuit that is on ... :)
while the battery on charge put meter on the terminals for the battery and test and remove fuse's save time.
-
yeah, it was fitted on 7th January 2008
2 years old then, so quite possible its failed. I'd get a GM one in there :y
dont batterys come with 5years warranty, just looked at mine and it say 10years but standard is 5, one in caravan 25years. so can have a free test.
B***ll*cks !!!! I know of no leisure battery with a 25 year warranty ... and any company that gave one woukld be out of business very quickly !!!
Unless you have fitted a HOPPECKE milk float one !!! In which case it is NOT a caravan battery
Even Elecsol only give 5 years and they are 'kin expensive !!
-
yeah, it was fitted on 7th January 2008
2 years old then, so quite possible its failed. I'd get a GM one in there :y
dont batterys come with 5years warranty, just looked at mine and it say 10years but standard is 5, one in caravan 25years. so can have a free test.
B***ll*cks !!!! I know of no leisure battery with a 25 year warranty ... and any company that gave one woukld be out of business very quickly !!!
Unless you have fitted a HOPPECKE milk float one !!! In which case it is NOT a caravan battery
its not a leisure battery idiot, did i say it was.
-
i phoned the garage earlier, they are happy to replace the battery, will do a drop test on it, as i said in an earlier thread a few months back, i fully charged the damn battery for 36 hours about 6 - 7 weeks ago, car has been fine and started everytime, left it for 8 days and it wont start, no internal lights are on in the car as i checked, i have to press the "running man" button on my car before i lock the doors, otherwise alarm will go off, is this causing it do you think?
-
Rusty ... I have avoided a slanging match with you over many of your posts, and have no wish to enter one now.
However, if you continue to post rubbish, and then to call me an idiot there will be big trouble.
Do I make myself clear ?
Either post sensible, readable help for members, or shut up.
-
Rusty ... I have avoided a slanging match with you over many of your posts, and have no wish to enter one now.
However, if you continue to post rubbish, and then to call me an idiot there will be big trouble.
Do I make myself clear ?
Either post sensible, readable help for members, or shut up.
well you stop reading inbetween the lines if I said 25years its 25years I dont buy cheap batterys and never said it was a leisure battery you thought and swearing at me dont help your problems.
-
Entwood, i don't know you and thank you for your posts, please dont come on here making me sound like an idiot, "logical" etc etc
im not faffing round with all that crap,
i`m an average joe motorist who doesnt know break all about testers, meters etc etc etc
i wanna know WHY the battery is losing charge and spending even MORE time without a car charging and decharging the battery is gonna take bleeding days, it has to be something simple...
i`m not a bloody expert like you, hence i`m taking the battery back to where i bought it
-
25 year old battery? :o - I am with Entwood on that one, just rubbish. You are saying a battery you fitted in 1984 is still going? :-X
There is no way a Caravan battery will last that long, no way.
Back on subject, you really need to get a volt meter across it, post up the readings with:
engine off & ignition off
engine running but at idle
engine at 3k rpm
It could be your battery is fine, but the alternator is not giving enough jucie, or poor connetions from the alternator to the battery. I had problems for ages, until i discovered how poor the connection was to the positive terminal from the alternator. It was cut off and replaced, and has been fine ever since
-
Entwood, i don't know you and thank you for your posts, please dont come on here making me sound like an idiot, "logical" etc etc
im not faffing round with all that crap,
i`m an average joe motorist who doesnt know break all about testers, meters etc etc etc
i wanna know WHY the battery is losing charge and spending even MORE time without a car charging and decharging the battery is gonna take bleeding days, it has to be something simple...
i`m not a bloody expert like you, hence i`m taking the battery back to where i bought it
I'm not trying to make you look an idiot (tonights favourite word ?? ) but you started off with the supposition that "something" was draining the battery and asked "what" ... now you think it's the battery itself ...
Until you find out which it is you will be going around in circles. There is no "quick internet answer" to this .. it is your car and either you, or a garage will sort it .. we can't at long range .. we can only give you the information you need to do the investigation.
The battery lasted weeks since the last charge then suddenly died after not being used for a while.. so it could be
1) battery doesn't hold a charge for a long period but does for a short period.
2) something is still on and drains the battery.
3) alternator is only partially charging battery so when you leave it standing it is not "fully charged"
Each of those possibilities needs to be looked at in turn, if you don't want to do the work .. why ask for help .. just take it to the garage and pay someone ???
You can ask as many questions as you like, and get as many suggestions as you want .. but not a single one will be the answer if you don't some of the work.
Unfortunately there is no magic solution.
-
i asked for help to see if ANYONE else has had the same problem as me, then once i knew EXACTLY what it was, i could have then sorted it
and YES i will pay someone, someone i trust
the Alternator has been tested while running, this was without everything turnt on, and then with all the gadgets switched on, readings were normal with a volt meter... i had 2 mechanics look at it at the same time.... once who owns a garage in Wheatley, near where i live
when i go to National Tyres tomorrow, i will ask them to check condition of connections to the alternator and battery, they look in Mint condition to my eye....
wouldn't a paperclip show any problems?
if i disconnect the power sounder, that might cure it
-
doubt a paperclip will reveal anything at all, maybe power sounder, they usually go up in smoke fist though.
sounds like something is draining it as said earlier, its a case of finding out what. process of elimination imafraid. :)
edit, a mate of mine had a battery drain prob, disconnected the horn next to the power sounder & that cured it, however it was an overnight drain to flat!.
-
25 year old battery? :o - I am with Entwood on that one, just rubbish. You are saying a battery you fitted in 1984 is still going? :-X
There is no way a Caravan battery will last that long, no way.
Back on subject, you really need to get a volt meter across it, post up the readings with:
engine off & ignition off
engine running but at idle
engine at 3k rpm
It could be your battery is fine, but the alternator is not giving enough jucie, or poor connetions from the alternator to the battery. I had problems for ages, until i discovered how poor the connection was to the positive terminal from the alternator. It was cut off and replaced, and has been fine ever since
25 year warranty its only a year old. ::) ::)
-
i fully charged the damn battery for 36 hours about 6 - 7 weeks ago
What type of charger did you use?
Is it one of the modern 'battery conditioner' ones that is designed to be left connected for long periods?
If it was one of the old tin boxes it is possible that the battery was overcharged which could distort the plates and cause it to self discharge.
-
yeah, it was one of them chargers where you can have the QUICK charge option or the FULL charge, the chargers about 2 years old.... i`m gonna try a booster pack on my car later, but like last time, i bet it wont do anything as its VERY flat, i just want to get it down to National Tyres and they can inspect it, when i return home with the new battery, i will try the fuses test
-
Just come back from National Tyres and they are happy to change the battery for me, but couldn't fit me in as they were snowed under... so will be taking it there on 2nd January >:(
i also wanted to ask about the battery isolator switch i`m going to get for my car...
this is a MUST for me i reckons, wont do any harm
but..... i have noticed that when you take the battery terminals off the battery and then reconnect them, the bloody alarm goes off correct?
its ear piercing!!! ::)
but i guess if i disconnect the powersounder, this wont happen??
when i have the isolator switch fitted, will the alarm go off each time i want to turn the battery on and go out in the car?
wasn't sure if it would act like when you remove both cables from the battery terminals?
if i decide to go out in my car late at night, dont want the neighbours screaming at me when i wake the whole close up ;D
meanwhile, i want to do a test and remove one of the terminals, or maybe both, leave my car for a week or more, then reconnect them, if my car starts then we DEFINITELY know that somethings draining it and its not just cold weather or lack of use..
but the above is a waste of time after the isolator is fitted
what do you guys think to all that?
-
yeah, it was fitted on 7th January 2008
2 years old then, so quite possible its failed. I'd get a GM one in there :y
dont batterys come with 5years warranty, just looked at mine and it say 10years but standard is 5, one in caravan 25years. so can have a free test.
Thats brilliant, can you tell me the make and where you got it?
-
i think if you switch the isolating switch off before 15 seconds after switching off the ingition then the alarm shouldnt sound on reapplying the power.then if the batterys good after leaving it a long time, its one thing off the check list
-
I say fitting an isolator is curing one of the symptoms without fixing the real fault. Not cecessary IMHO. Yes, it will upset the alarm every time you turn it off unless you remove the power sounder.
A 2 year old battery of a decent brand should not have failed by now, so something else is wrong, IMHO.
What (if any) diagnosis did National Tyres do to determine that it is the battery?
If you want to get to the bottom of this I suggest you work through this guide before parting with any cash.
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1225724099
.. and I'd love to know where I can buy one of these batteries with a 25 year warranty. That would save me a fortune on batteries for my kit car.
Kevin
-
Kevin
National Tyres didn't test the battery as they were too busy today, no problem though
they have stopped stocking VARTA now, interesting ey?
BMW fit them in ALL their cars as standard, so they got to be good batteries
i explained all the issues and the guy did say they have replaced a few Vartas WITHIN warranty, Mmmmmm?
so they are fitting me one of these
http://www.ukbatteries.co.uk/products_brand_platinum_prestige.asp
the isolator switch is needed as i only use my car once or twice a week on short journeys
i will disconnect the annoying power sounder tomorrow, is that easy to do?
-
all of the below has been done by Isis Rescue in Oxford and by 2 mechanics, ALL tests were fine, Alternator is fine and the battery was giving our a normal charge
the only thing i haven't done is Number 10
1) Try to charge the battery, ideally using a mains powered battery charger for a couple of hours, to ensure it is likely to be fully charged.
2) Allow the battery to settle for perhaps 15 minutes after charging so the terminal voltage reflecs its' true condition.
3) Measure the terminal voltage of the battery.
4) Apply some load (e.g. car headlights) and watch the terminal voltage for a minute or two.
5) Switch off all loads, start the engine, and, ideally, have someone watching the battery voltage while cranking the engine.
6) Measure the terminal voltage with engine at a normal idling speed.
7) Increase engine speed to a fast idle (2,000 RPM) and measure the voltage.
8) Add some electrical load (headlights, blower fan, heated rear window) and measure the voltage at idle speed.
9) Increase engine speed to a fast idle (2,000 RPM) and measure the voltage.
10) Check electrical connections to battery, starter and alternator and also all chassis ground connections in the engine bay for heat.
-
guys
tested all the fuses yesterday, under the bonnet and under the steering wheel, NOTHING is making a drain on the battery when the car is switched off, i am now totally bemused as to why after 6+ days the car wont bloody start, the crank sensors been replaced just 6 months ago as the car wouldnt start at all back then..
all readings taken show the battery is ok and so is the alternator
when car started and left idling without revving it, it was reading 14 volts
when i turnt heated seats on, climate control, lights and everything else i could find, it dropped to 12.3 volts
so all sounds normal i take it?
-
When my battery was on its last legs a few months ago I did a check of the voltage with & without load.
IIRC I got 14.4v no load and 13.8v with everything switched on.
If you are only getting 12.3v then I would start by checking the battery leads (the crimped end connections fail).
-
checked all the connections and they are in excellent condition, no frays or loose anything
battery is being replaced on Monday next week, will leave my car on the drive with new battery fitted, and see if it gives me same problem...
would a faulty powersounder drain the battery?