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Another non-starter

pauljmcnulty

pauljmcnulty

Active member
Having worked fine last week, I've now got a flat battery. Charged overnight fine, starts no problem, next day flat again.

Battery's less than 2 years old, alarm is a modern system with all the old systems taken out. Where do I start looking, or do I need an electrician on it bearing in mind my only tools are a hammer and another hammer. [&:]
 
Sorry to be 'rude' Paul, but any of the interior lights, or the under bonnet light, on by any chance. That is one heck of a battery drain assuming that it took a full recharge.
 
Charge battery and disconnect the earth lead. Check state of charge after 24 hours. Will just either confirm or otherwise whether the battery has an internal short (plates buckled for example). Once battery condition has been verified it can be reconnected into the car. If you can get hold of a clamp ammeter you can use that on the positive lead to see what the current drain is. Otherwise a standard cheap 10A digital multimeter will allow you to check. Just disconnect +ve lead and put probes on +ve terminal of battery and other onto clamp of +ve lead. Use 10A scale on multimeter and check current reading. Check with alarm/immobiliser manufacturer for current draw of equipment and anything you have above that is the fault. Multiply excess draw by 12 which will give you an indication of the power in watts which may then help give you a clue as to what sort of fault you are after. (e.g an interior bulb of 5W will draw about 0.42 amps).
 
Paul, my guess would be possibly battery despite the age. Alternator has to be strongly considered too, have you done even the simple rough guide test of putting a volt meter accross your batteruy with the engine running ? , it will show up many alternator problems ( as will doing so on the battery without the engine runnning afterwards).

Geoff is of course totally right and for thios of us with some electrical knowledge that is one way to go.

However a cheap and really easy way to at least discount the battery is to do the test I mention and possibly borrow a very good battery from another 944 and see if the problem disappears. Thats one reason why I have a perfect battery in my garage at the mo on a CTEK conditioner.

Regards Mas

 
Had it on charge for 36 hours, but still almost dead. Enough charge to power the locks, and the alarm [:mad:], but not to turn it over.

Having cobbled together an allen key and some socket-set bits I've got the retaining clamp off so it's a battery test tomorrow. Why they can't make a Bosche battery last more than two years, grumble grumble. [&:]
 
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