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Power Drain?

Rossy1234

Rossy1234

New member
Hey guys, over the last few days my car has been turning over slower and slower when not used everyday, until yesterday it wouldnt start at all and i got the dreaded machine gun on turning over. The battery was totally dead, jumpstarted it gave it a long drive all seemed fine until today the same thing has happened. Got a meter on the battery and its losing 1 amp of power every hour! Have tried taking all the fuses out one by one but the drain is still there! Any ideas on any common power drain faults?? Cheers!
 
ORIGINAL: Rossy1234

Got a meter on the battery and its losing 1 amp of power every hour!
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I don't think I understand what you're saying as that doesn't make any sense. Can you explain how you measured? Are you measuring current drain in series or the voltage across the terminals? Or the internal resistance?
 
No I dont understand either is it losing a volt every hour? if so probably dead battery and it will still drop when disconnected.
Tony
 
Are you loosing power when the engine is running? i.e. is your alternator cream-crackered so you are consuming electrical power when you use the car such that when you come to start it again the next day the battery hasn't got enough umph to turn the engine over?
 
The car is losing battery power while it is not running to the point where it will not even turn over the next day and i have to jump start it, then if it is left un used for a day the same thing happens..it is a brand new battery so should be holding the charge well.
 
the favourite culprits are
1. interior light switches in the door jambs shorting to chassis.
2. Alarm faulty
3. Alternator problem allowing battery to short to earth
4. Alternator not charging properly.

If you suspect a short to earth a quick and dirty test is to :
1. Turn ignition off
2. remove all the fuses .
3. Remove the positive battery lead .
4.Turn everything off don't forget to turn the interior light off and close all doors.
5. Replace 1 fuse at a time (starting with the most likely culprets )
each time touching the battery lead to the battery terminal noting if there is any spark whatsoever.
There should be no spark unless something is either switched on or faulty ie a short.

If nothing arcs you can be sure that nothing is on or shorted at least. You need to test the battery and alternator next

Hope that helps



 
Okay having put a multimeter in line with the + terminal with the lead disconnected from battery there is a draw of between 1 and 2 amps while the car is switched off and locked up, the only things visably on are the clock and immobiliser. So this is therefore flattening the battery within a day of being left especially in the cold of winter. The battery is brand new, i have taken all the fuses out, disconnected stereo, alternator, starter motor and interior lights but its still drawing the power! Does anyone have any more ideas?!?! Its driving me crazy!!
 
ORIGINAL: Rossy1234

[FONT=arial"]Okay having put a multimeter in line with the + terminal with the lead disconnected from battery there is a draw of between 1 and 2 amps while the car is switched off and locked up, the only things visably on are the clock and immobiliser. So this is therefore flattening the battery within a day of being left especially in the cold of winter. The battery is brand new, i have taken all the fuses out, disconnected stereo, alternator, starter motor and interior lights but its still drawing the power! Does anyone have any more ideas?!?! Its driving me crazy!![FONT=verdana,geneva"]
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if you have removed all the fuses and disconnected the alternator starter motor and stereo it can only be a wiring short.
1-2 Amps is a high discharge rate no wonder your battery is flat.TNeither the clock or immobilser can draw that much current in normal operation.

I would next try to disconect various parts of the wiring loom around the car to see if you can isolate it. Maybe start with the most likely problem areas the engine bay the underside ot the fuse box especially the centre console (radio connections etc) and then the rear lights /boot area . Another likely culpret is the ignition switch as voltage from the battery goes straight through the switch without being fused.
 
Sorry to jump on your thread mate but im getting symptoms that are similar to yours.The exeption being mine is slow starting but never goes completley flat!When i dont have any lights or rear defogger on the cars voltmeter reads just below 14 but as soon as i switch the defogger on or lights it reads just over 12 volts!Is this normal?I didnt think things like the defogger or electric seats could put such a drain on the power!
 
ORIGINAL: bigbadtez

Sorry to jump on your thread mate but im getting symptoms that are similar to yours.The exeption being mine is slow starting but never goes completley flat!When i dont have any lights or rear defogger on the cars voltmeter reads just below 14 but as soon as i switch the defogger on or lights it reads just over 12 volts!Is this normal?I didnt think things like the defogger or electric seats could put such a drain on the power!
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actually BBT your car's symptoms are nothing like Ross's and by hyjacking his thread you are going to confuse the issue . You are far more likely to get appropriate advice by starting your own thread[;)]
 
Point taken Peanut my appologies!BTW i had a Escort that did the same and it turned out to be the starter motor selonoid sticking.I know its not the same car but the princaples are the same. Excuse the spelling!!!!
 
no worries . if you start another thread I'll offer some suggestions that might give you a starting point at least.
 
Cheers Nick i'll give your next suggestions a try tomorrow..got dark 2day we were out there so long, oh i disconnected the sunroof and rear de-mister aswell gona try locate the immobiler and disconnect that, cant think of anything else i can disconnect!? There is only 1 fuse box isnt there? I know some components are individually fused aswell its just a matter of finding everything. After this think im just gonna have to tear all the interior out and check out all the wiring but its not really the weather for it! :-(
 
I know its a new battery but have you thought of completley taking off the battery and monitoring it?? Just because its new(ish) doesnt mean its not at fault!
 
ORIGINAL: bigbadtez

I know its a new battery but have you thought of completley taking off the battery and monitoring it?? Just because its new(ish) doesnt mean its not at fault!
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No, but the OP says the car is drawing between 1 and 2 amps with the car shutdown, which is waaaay to much and hence the battery discharging.

Rossy - unless I missed it, have you removed all the fuses and checked the current drain? Is it draining with no fuses in at all?
 
bloody glad its not me out there in the cold.
Full marks for how thorough you've been . My feeling is its more likely to be something that is added to the car like radio and immobiliser /alarm wiring which will mean checking under the dash and centre console.Another favourite connection point is underneath the fusebox .
I have never yet seen a decent electrical connection made for radio/cd or immobilisers .Twisted wires and black electrical tape is usual ,even for automotive electricians.
Engine bays get quite a bit of attention and wiring connections can get disturbed .Might pay to check for chafeing of the loom here too.

good luck
 
ORIGINAL: peanut

bloody glad its not me out there in the cold.
Full marks for how thorough you've been .

My feeling is its more likely to be something that is added to the car like radio and immobiliser /alarm wiring which will mean checking under the dash and centre console.Another favourite connection point is underneath the fusebox .

Both immobilisers ,alarms and radios get connected to a continuously live battery connection so they should be favorite to be a battery drain with everthing switched off
I have never yet seen a decent electrical connection made for radio/cd or immobilisers .Twisted wires and black electrical tape is usual ,even for automotive electricians.
Engine bays get quite a bit of attention and wiring connections can get disturbed .Might pay to check for chafeing of the loom here too.

good luck
Click to expand...
 
Hey guys, the car currently has no fuses or relays in at all, ecu disconnected now too and its still drawing the power! I don't know if this seems strange but with no fuses etc if i turn the ignition to the on position, the draw goes up another amp? Having problems locating the immobiliser the front of the car is currently being ripped out! But i think you may be right it has got to be something that was added aftermarket very poorly..its just finding it! Not quite as cold today!
 
It was the IMMOBILISER!! Managed to find it in the depths of the dashboard took out the fuse and the drain has dropped to a minimal level! But with no fuse in the immobiliser the car won't start! It is an original porsche one fitted a year after production so whether its always done this due to poor fitting or has just become faulty recently i don't know. Gonna have to take it somewhere to get the old one removed and a new one fitted and it should be sorted! Thanks for the help!! :)
 
brilliant Ross well done for persevering. This could be useful for the rest of us if we get a similar problem.
Try and get a wiring schematic out of the auto electrician. Its worth asking if they can tell you how to disconect it if it gives problems later . Don't be shy in telling them where you want the sensor installed etc or they'll put it where it is most convenient to them
 
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