Battery Eater
 

My 2005 ZT diesel has got herself an appetite for munching through the battery if she's not run a few times a week. A couple of time this year she's done it after being sat for about 10 days. As far as I'm aware, I've no lights left on, nothing plugged into the 12v socket so I'm at a bit of a loss what's causing it.
Read somewhere that blocked plenums causing water backing up into the ECU can cause a sudden battery drain - they've been cleared out only 4 or 5 weeks ago. Battery was brand new back in May and was taken out and fully recharged in September and taken for a run 2-3 times a week up until mid October.

I know the simple solution is to run the old girl every day, but it's not always practical, especially as it's a bit of a rolling resto and now with 3 cars on the drive, she's been relegated to the back of the queue.
Any ideas?

Have you got factory fitted sat nav?

Nope, poverty spec on that front!

Are you sure that the battery is OK. One cell down may still give a decent voltage reading but will fail under load. (ie 5 cells at 2.4 volts = 12volts but the sixth cell may be jiggered).;)

I hope it's OK. It was brand new back in May. And not a dodgy brand either - went for Bosch. If it's not, I won't be happy.

fully charge the battery off the car, leave it off the car for 10 days, refit and see what happens. It would be better if you have a test meter, charge the battery and see what voltage you get across the terminals, once you take it off charge and 10 days later.
I say 10 days as op said 10 days

Have you an ampmeter? You could then test what amperage is being drawn with everything turned off. screwfix do one that is not too expensive

even new batterys can be faulty, had one a coupe of years ago from Halfords but they changed it no problem

macafee2

:iagree::wot::iagree:


Yes check the current drain when all the ECUs have gone to sleep. Plenty of threads on here with good advice if you do a search. I've had a faulty CD Autochanger in the boot causing a battery drain. You don't have a fuel burning heaterdo you? They can fail and come on when no-one is looking and drain the battery.

Had the same experience. Yuasa battery failed after 10 months. Halfords replaced it after testing it under warranty. But I wasted a lot of time checking everything before I finally realised my 'new' battery was faulty.

Thanks for all the pointers.


Plan of action is:
- charge the battery up off the car and reinstall in the next couple of days (only because I need to move her)
- check the drain when everything is off (got a multimeter, so that's not a problem)
- If there is a drain that looks excessive, disconnect the CD changer, as that has been playing up recently. Thought it was damp in the boot, but maybe it's something else...

- drop the battery out of the car, recharge and leave alone for 10 days and check voltage. With the new lockdown starting and I'm not sure if I'm needed in the office, this shouldn't be an issue.


I've not got the FBH fitted, as far as I'm aware, so that's one off the list.



One thing I did notice last night. Did try my boost back - only suitable for up to 1800 petrol or 1600 diesel. Dash lit up nicely, but not enough to get her to turn over. About 20 seconds after trying to start (only gave her one try) the dash lights shut down. Disconnecting and reconnecting the boost pack was the only way to get any life back.

I was having the same problem with my Diesel, would die after a couple of days I put this down to lack of use, so trickle charged the battery and fitted a battery isolator, no further problems so far.

Rev