battery draining

dorset steve · 19th June 2009, 04:07 PM

Hi all, if i dont use my jap tt for about 2 weeks the battery dies, i charge it up and then it starts and runs perfect, until its not used for a while, then drains. At xmas i replaced the battery ,thinking it was knackerd (it was 4 years old) due to draining, i thought it was because the car hadnt been started (its under a cover) and the fact the severe winter had taken its toll. I leave the battery in the car over winter in case it can be used.
So-- new battery fitted , i have now replaced the j-spec lamps with uk glass, new clear side and lower indicators . the car is still draining without any apparent fault--no interior lights or boot lights on---. when the ignition is turned on ,i can here the aerial getting powered up, it will go up if the radio is on , or stay down if not, but is powered up any way--cud this be a fault ?
the alarm is a sigma.
any help will be greatfully recieved, thx

Martin F · 19th June 2009, 05:51 PM

First thing to do is to get your multimeter out and check the drain from the battery with everything switched off, IIRC it should be less than 50mA.

If it's more than this then you need to start trying to isolate which circuit is draining the battery and the best way to do this is to start removing one fuse at a time until the current drain goes down.

However be aware that a lot of aftermarket alarms can cause current drains, especially if they have internal batteries which perhaps have failed due to age.

SUNNY TT · 19th June 2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin F

However be aware that a lot of aftermarket alarms can cause current drains, especially if they have internal batteries which perhaps have failed due to age.

Yep, this happened to me a few years ago, it was the battery in the siren of my clifford alarm that was causing a big drain. The car wouldn't start after a few days if not used, even when the battery was fully charged.

dorset steve · 19th June 2009, 06:24 PM

thx martin and sunny for a quick reply, alarm installer away till wed, will spk to him then, i will try the multimeter tommorrow, hopefully ,see how we do thank u both.

TopGunTT · 8th July 2009, 07:18 PM

My clifford used to drain my battery, Ended up getting a red top battery, Not cheap but worth it.

Martin F · 8th July 2009, 07:28 PM

Why didn't you fix the fault?

TopGunTT · 8th July 2009, 07:35 PM

I never knew what the fault was, I just thought clifford alarms and there flashing led drained the battery. Don't have any problems now and can leave the car standing without worrying about it not starting. The fault may still be there?

Martin F · 8th July 2009, 08:46 PM

Maybe your previous battery was the fault then. Perhaps it was coming to the end of its life.

19th June 2009, 04:07 PM	#1
dorset steve still amazed Jap Spec GZ - Auto (TT) Join Date: May 2007 Location: wareham dorset Posts: 23	battery draining Hi all, if i dont use my jap tt for about 2 weeks the battery dies, i charge it up and then it starts and runs perfect, until its not used for a while, then drains. At xmas i replaced the battery ,thinking it was knackerd (it was 4 years old) due to draining, i thought it was because the car hadnt been started (its under a cover) and the fact the severe winter had taken its toll. I leave the battery in the car over winter in case it can be used. So-- new battery fitted , i have now replaced the j-spec lamps with uk glass, new clear side and lower indicators . the car is still draining without any apparent fault--no interior lights or boot lights on---. when the ignition is turned on ,i can here the aerial getting powered up, it will go up if the radio is on , or stay down if not, but is powered up any way--cud this be a fault ? the alarm is a sigma. any help will be greatfully recieved, thx

19th June 2009, 05:51 PM	#2
Martin F Administrator UK Spec - Manual Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 10,226	First thing to do is to get your multimeter out and check the drain from the battery with everything switched off, IIRC it should be less than 50mA. If it's more than this then you need to start trying to isolate which circuit is draining the battery and the best way to do this is to start removing one fuse at a time until the current drain goes down. However be aware that a lot of aftermarket alarms can cause current drains, especially if they have internal batteries which perhaps have failed due to age. __________________ Martin UK6TT + Bits & Bobs 'Remember folks, the inside lane isn't just for Xmas' MSOC FAQ MSOC Members Discounts MSOC Resources

8th July 2009, 07:28 PM	#6
Martin F Administrator UK Spec - Manual Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 10,226	Why didn't you fix the fault? __________________ Martin UK6TT + Bits & Bobs 'Remember folks, the inside lane isn't just for Xmas' MSOC FAQ MSOC Members Discounts MSOC Resources

8th July 2009, 08:46 PM	#8
Martin F Administrator UK Spec - Manual Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 10,226	Maybe your previous battery was the fault then. Perhaps it was coming to the end of its life. __________________ Martin UK6TT + Bits & Bobs 'Remember folks, the inside lane isn't just for Xmas' MSOC FAQ MSOC Members Discounts MSOC Resources

19th June 2009, 06:24 PM	#4
dorset steve still amazed Jap Spec GZ - Auto (TT) Join Date: May 2007 Location: wareham dorset Posts: 23	thx martin and sunny for a quick reply, alarm installer away till wed, will spk to him then, i will try the multimeter tommorrow, hopefully ,see how we do thank u both.

8th July 2009, 07:18 PM	#5
TopGunTT Member Jap Spec RZ - Auto (TT) Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Somerset Posts: 151	My clifford used to drain my battery, Ended up getting a red top battery, Not cheap but worth it.

8th July 2009, 07:35 PM	#7
TopGunTT Member Jap Spec RZ - Auto (TT) Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Somerset Posts: 151	I never knew what the fault was, I just thought clifford alarms and there flashing led drained the battery. Don't have any problems now and can leave the car standing without worrying about it not starting. The fault may still be there?

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