Update on flat battery issue. Can you help?

[jonathan63]

Drove 330 miles home, in daylight on monday; battery flat on tuesday night when i next came to use it.
Charged it up and off we went on wednesday no problem.

Came to start it this morning and massively flat.

Now heres the thing; as i was walking back to the house i think i noticed the the FNS headlamp was on. Just that one and it was only a yellow glow. I checked the light switch but it was definitely off .

So im guessing that there is a short somewhere; and heres where i need the help.

Where do you think the short is?

[T-Cut]

To get power shorting with ignition off, I'd say it's likely to be around the under bonnet fuse box. Take a look underneath it.

TC

[jonathan63]

Originally Posted by T-Cut

To get power shorting with ignition off, I'd say it's likely to be around the under bonnet fuse box. Take a look underneath it.

TC

cheers, will do.
Is it easy to get off?
Im ok with the spanners but electrics and the work of the devil to me.

[tonybubble]

Originally Posted by jonathan63

Now heres the thing; as i was walking back to the house i think i noticed the the FNS headlamp was on. Just that one and it was only a yellow glow. I checked the light switch but it was definitely off .

Parking light left on?

[Grumpy1]

Originally Posted by jonathan63

Drove 330 miles home, in daylight on monday; battery flat on tuesday night when i next came to use it.
Charged it up and off we went on wednesday no problem.

Came to start it this morning and massively flat.

Now heres the thing; as i was walking back to the house i think i noticed the the FNS headlamp was on. Just that one and it was only a yellow glow. I checked the light switch but it was definitely off .

So im guessing that there is a short somewhere; and heres where i need the help.

Where do you think the short is?

Do you turn left into your drive or wherever you park? Did you inadvertantly leave your indicator stalk in the down position? Just a thought.

[jonathan63]

Originally Posted by Grumpy1

Do you turn left into your drive or wherever you park? Did you inadvertantly leave your indicator stalk in the down position? Just a thought.

No, i live a mile up a farm track. After the first flat battery event i made sure that nothing was left on.

Parking light????
I didnt know we had them.

[Grumpy1]

Originally Posted by jonathan63

No, i live a mile up a farm track. After the first flat battery event i made sure that nothing was left on.

Parking light????
I didnt know we had them.

We do indeed. Leave the indicator stalk up or down and the appropriate side lights stay on. At least they do on mine!

[COLVERT]

Originally Posted by Grumpy1

We do indeed. Leave the indicator stalk up or down and the appropriate side lights stay on. At least they do on mine!

Agreed.


To the OP. When you charge your flat battery up make sure it gets at least 24 hours min.



Colvert.

[350zwelgje]

Diesel:

If the plug on the alternator (on the side, top) is not connected properly it will not be able show a charging fault on the dash.

Check the voltage at the alternator and at the battery. If there is a difference (alternator 13.8 - 14 Volts, lower at the battery)there is a problem in the big lead from the alternator to the bolt at the engine block underneath the starter motor.
Had this a couple of weeks ago and the connection of the big lead to the alternator was not ok/not good enough = too high resistance, and the voltage was around 12v or lower which is not enough to charge the battery.

With the on board diagnostics you can monitor the actual voltage at the battery and should be 13.8v. Multimeter can do the trick as well of course. Anything less indicates a problem.

On the diesel the diesel pumps take quite a current and having lights on etc. will drain even a charged battery within two hours.... (time is from personal experience ).


Rob

[chrissyboy]

if this is the battery that went flat please dont waste your time keep charging it as it is not able to hold a charge,replace it now and all will be well ..... your car could show 12volts and when running 14.2 but it will just run on battery as a cell or cells in the battery have died .