69 replies to this topic

[christhegasman]

Right as the title says if I leave my car for a week or more it will hardly turn over and needs the charger or a jump start I have a new battery and it's in the garage unlocked and not alarmed Is there anything which could drain it or is it normal as I know a lot of us suffer a similar problem If it was outside I would use ny solar charger I have checked the obvious but electrics on cars really not my best subject

[CKR]

Right as the title says if I leave my car for a week or more it will hardly turn over and needs the charger or a jump start
I have a new battery and it's in the garage unlocked and not alarmed
Is there anything which could drain it or is it normal as I know a lot of us suffer a similar problem
If it was outside I would use ny solar charger
I have checked the obvious but electrics on cars really not my best subject

My VX is garaged and gets used once every 2-3 weeks. I'd say if I've left it longer than 2 weeks, its certain to need the jump leads. (This is also a new battery)

I'd say if its only lasting a week, are you driving it far after the week, or just a short stint? Otherwise it could be a dodgy alternator, not charging the battery

[Nev]

The alarm draws a lot of current. It's a standard problem

[techieboy]

Mine still starts fine after 3 or 4 weeks sat in the garage with no armed alarm.

[turbobob]

The alarm draws a lot of current. It's a standard problem

Not that much. I can just about get away with 3 weeks with the alarm on.

Is your alternator fcuked? If its not putting the charge in, the battery won't get fully charged.

Is it a recent issue, or a long standing issue?

[christhegasman]

It has been a bit unreliable since I had it in October If I jump start it and go for a drive for a few miles it's ok again for up to a week so I guess the alternator is doing something , it does not get used a lot but after a good hot run on the peak district run in June I covered around 200 miles with no drain on it at all But after a week it was flat again so something must be draining it . Does the alarm still suck power even when not on ?

[turbobob]

Check the voltage on the battery terminals when the engine is running. It should be between 13.5 and 14.5v with the engine running. With the engine off, the battery should be about 12.5v It may be the alarm draining power, but I have my doubts. Is there any non standard equipment on the car, e.g. new stereo, external amp, scanguage, lighting, other electrics etc? Basically I trying to determine if its either not getting enough charge, or something is draining it.

[Zoobeef]

You could use a little tool like this to see if one of the fused circuits is pulling a current through

[jbudgie]

Yes, I've had this problem for about 6 months now. Didn't have it before that. Had two brand new Bosch silver plus batteries (5 yr guarantee) and it still does it. I just make sure not to leave car more than a week without running it. Sure there must be a poor earth or something somewhere. Have had a local garage check it out twice and they couldn't find the cause. Not sure how hard they tried though, as they did it for free as they had supplied the batteries.

[christhegasman]

The battery gives 12.5 when removed from the car and had been tested I havnt got any non standard kit ex maybe the radio which is not oem but only a basic cd radio unIt which was in when I bought the car if I test each fuse socket with a multimeter anyone know which will show a drain and how many Amps

Edited by christhegasman, 25 July 2011 - 07:51 PM.

[turbobob]

By my reckoning, the absolute max current draw is 0.1A and that is a max. In reality with the alarm off you should have far less. You need to measure the battery voltage with the battery in circuit, both for the battery voltage and the charging voltage. Have you fitted the new battery that you said you have?

[christhegasman]

Yes the new battery has been on and went the same way as the old one I at the moment have my old one back on as I wanted the new one testing and I won't let the quick fit monkey near my car The new battery tested out ok

[smiley]

Mine has been on the ctek via the ciggy lighter for 3 years, and never missed a beat. Got that thing in the first week of ownership.

[techieboy]

Got any chavLED bulbs fitted? They seem to be the cause of many an electrical drain problem.

[christhegasman]

Sorry what's a ctek ? My solar charger isn't a lot of good in the garage?? And no chav kit I think I'm a bit old for them

Edited by christhegasman, 25 July 2011 - 08:26 PM.

[techieboy]

CTEK XS-3600 - the worlds finest VX friendly trickle charger.

[turbobob]

CTEK XS-3600 - the worlds finest VX friendly trickle charger.

Do you have one by any chance?

[turbobob]

Yes the new battery has been on and went the same way as the old one
I at the moment have my old one back on as I wanted the new one testing and I won't let the quick fit monkey near my car
The new battery tested out ok

Check the charging voltage on the battery (engine running)

[christhegasman]

I will have a check tomorrow when I get home from work and post up the results

[smiley]

CTEK XS-3600 - the worlds finest VX friendly trickle charger.

3600 is out of production though
http://www.elise-sho...dels-p-129.html

Siggy lighter extention is a seperate part: (though i put mine together with 2 pound parts, pickey style)

Edited by smiley, 25 July 2011 - 09:22 PM.