Walshie1987

Active Member
Morning,

Another week another problem! This time I have a real issue with something I can't figure out, battery drain

I don't do many miles as I work from home so every few months I have to put the car on charge, which is fine. But recently I have to put it on charge every 2 nights, even when driving distance. For example I drove from Sheffield to Manchester and back last week, 1hr 10mins each way, went to start the car the next morning and it was dead.

What I've tried and didn't work:
1) Putting another battery on, same effect - tried two batteries both the same and they are both good.
2) Checked Alternator, appears to be charging (14v at battery when engine running)
3) Changed Final Stage resistor - no affect
4) Checked climate control module - no issue, turns off when it should
5) Pulled Alarm fuse - don't know why, I've never heard my alarm sound, so wondered if an old owner had disconnected siren, my theory was it could have been going off without me even know - long shot but made no effect.

I did have it jacked up last week to fix the handbrake tension pin that has ruseted out, but put it all back together without any warnings on dash, also drove absolutely fine - can't see anything wrong here?

Any other ideas would be massively appreciated.

It's annoying as the car has 9 months MOT and I decided to get a new car in October anyway, but I need to try and somehow limp the RR through until October and she doesn't seem to want to play :D

Thanks in advance!
Chris
 
Cheers Datatek. Yeah it does have headlamp wipers, I'll research that, what do you mean by not parking properly?
 
Cheers Datatek. Yeah it does have headlamp wipers, I'll research that, what do you mean by not parking properly?
Not going to the normal position when they stop wiping. Only need to be a little way away from the home position to cause a battery drain.
 
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Not going to the normal position when they stop wiping. Only need to be a little way away from the home position to cause a battery drain.
Ah yeah I understand.

Don't suppose you can tell me a quick test / fix? Just researching it too as I'm doing this. Could I just unplug it or remove a fuse for a few days to test it?

Thanks again 👍
 
Ah yeah I understand.

Don't suppose you can tell me a quick test / fix? Just researching it too as I'm doing this. Could I just unplug it or remove a fuse for a few days to test it?

Thanks again 👍
Not sure on your car, on the P38 they can be unplugged, worth a try but may give a fault code.
 
Bonnet switch can also give problems, and CD unit not sleeping properly. If I remember correctly disconnecting the bonnet switch makes it think bonnet is closed, so you can then lock the car (with window open), and do current draw checks on the fusebox.
 
you checked accross each fuse with ammeter?
Not yet, trying the simple things first, but I can see its going to get to this pretty soon

1) used a battery tester? state of charge and condition are not the same thing,
That's a good point, I haven't got one, but will buy one If I have the same issue. It would be a coincident if both of the batteries are no good, but it's deinitely not unheard of!

Cheers for the reply
 
Took the hit and bought a New Yuasa Battery (yeah I know from halfords - but has a 5 years guarantee on it 😂)

Turns out the old battery was a 019 but CCA and Ah were really low! Something like 650cca

Anyway fitted the new 020 (950CCA 110Ah) and fired up first time and still started this morning which is new to me 😂

Will update if any further problems,

Thanks for your help!

Cheers
Chris
 
For further there is a fuse for headlamp washer/ wipers, mine the seller told me he pulled the fuse as it was causing battery drain, iv never put it back in and had no issues. Also when car is locked after about 20mins you should see the red light on gear lever go out (one for Park) that is meant to show the car has gone to sleep properly.
 
For further there is a fuse for headlamp washer/ wipers, mine the seller told me he pulled the fuse as it was causing battery drain, iv never put it back in and had no issues. Also when car is locked after about 20mins you should see the red light on gear lever go out (one for Park) that is meant to show the car has gone to sleep properly.
Cheers Rich, do you know what fuse that was? (Im been lazy, I could always check the manual) They are still disconnected at the minute, but I might re connect them, I think everything was just down to the battery been old, wrong and almost dead 😂
 

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