Willem82

Member
Hi Guys,

I have purchased a P38 2.5 DSE and will be using it once or twice a week.
Sadly it seems to drain itself to the point where it wont start within a couple of days, so its no good if i don't use it in the week, but need it at the weekend!!
I got the volt meter out and it was at 11.5v or so after two days and it wouldn't crank, which is only only 1v dropped from what it's at fully charged. I managed to jump start it, i think the extra charge from the regular 12v battery in my MX5 track car is ok when its only dropped a V or two, but if it's been left for two weeks i'm sure that just won't do it with the diesel needing 900A and the MX5 battery being 480A!

So, I've already found a guide on how to check if the BeCM is going to sleep etc. the remote locking aerial is already disconnected, but it has an aftermarket stereo, so i'm suspecting thats may be the cause. However, before i have time to investigate i need to use thing!!!!

I'm also thinking if its not the stereo then i've got a whole lot of trial and error work to do, which is time consuming and which i just can't be bothered with at the moment.



So i'm thinking there may be a temporary solution, one of these jump start kits:
RS125 RoadStart® Emergency Power Pack 12/24V 3000/1500 Peak Amps: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

What are your guys' thought on these, i'm thinking the RS125 with 3000/1500 amps will be more than enough for the diesel even if the battery is fully drained.

I prefer it to a spare battery and jump leads as it can be mains charged and also stored in the back of the car on trips without worrying about it too much

Anyone got experience with these things?

Cheers!
 
Hi on my motorhome i used a solar panel all the time it is better for the battery to have a maintainence charge applied
 
i'm wondering whether one of those solar panel things is enough to keep the battery from draining. do you have any idea how much current it produces?

As for the maintenance charger, I dont really want a lead running to the car from the house. but its a hell of a lot cheaper!
 
i'm wondering whether one of those solar panel things is enough to keep the battery from draining. do you have any idea how much current it produces?

As for the maintenance charger, I dont really want a lead running to the car from the house. but its a hell of a lot cheaper!
Aldi,as from yesterday maintenance charger about£13. I have used one for years.:) solar panels are available in various outputs
 
Last edited:
Hi Guys,

I have purchased a P38 2.5 DSE and will be using it once or twice a week.
Sadly it seems to drain itself to the point where it wont start within a couple of days, so its no good if i don't use it in the week, but need it at the weekend!!
I got the volt meter out and it was at 11.5v or so after two days and it wouldn't crank, which is only only 1v dropped from what it's at fully charged. I managed to jump start it, i think the extra charge from the regular 12v battery in my MX5 track car is ok when its only dropped a V or two, but if it's been left for two weeks i'm sure that just won't do it with the diesel needing 900A and the MX5 battery being 480A!

So, I've already found a guide on how to check if the BeCM is going to sleep etc. the remote locking aerial is already disconnected, but it has an aftermarket stereo, so i'm suspecting thats may be the cause. However, before i have time to investigate i need to use thing!!!!

I'm also thinking if its not the stereo then i've got a whole lot of trial and error work to do, which is time consuming and which i just can't be bothered with at the moment.



So i'm thinking there may be a temporary solution, one of these jump start kits:
RS125 RoadStart® Emergency Power Pack 12/24V 3000/1500 Peak Amps: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

What are your guys' thought on these, i'm thinking the RS125 with 3000/1500 amps will be more than enough for the diesel even if the battery is fully drained.

I prefer it to a spare battery and jump leads as it can be mains charged and also stored in the back of the car on trips without worrying about it too much

Anyone got experience with these things?

Cheers!
First off, jump starting the P38 is a dangerous game, it may lose sync so it will not start or you may damage ECU's.
secondly, 11 volts is a completely discharged battery, 12.8 volts is fully charged, not a lot of voltage difference between full and empty. the battery may have a duff cell.
You can isolate battery drain simply by pulling fuses one at a time. You say you have the guide the check if the BECM is going to sleep but you do not say if it is. A duff RF receiver may keep it awake even with the aerial disconnected. A duff alternator will also drain the battery.
Best get a maintenance battery charger.
 
Aldi,as from yesterday maintenance charger about£13. I have used one for years.:) solar panels are available in various outputs

NICE ON!! Gonna go get one as soon as i finish work! £14 is cheap as. Will need to fix a long cable to it though, as the car's quite a way away from a plug socket.


Datatek, i haven't done the check on BeCM sleeping yet, not had a chance!

Just wanted to show i had done some research already, as the 3rd or 4th post in most "battery drain" threads i've found says "DO A MFing SEARCH YOU R-TARD" or words to that effect!! HA HA HA!!!

I might get a chance to do the "sleep test" on the weekend so will report back
 
First off, jump starting the P38 is a dangerous game, it may lose sync so it will not start or you may damage ECU's.
secondly, 11 volts is a completely discharged battery, 12.8 volts is fully charged, not a lot of voltage difference between full and empty. the battery may have a duff cell.
You can isolate battery drain simply by pulling fuses one at a time. You say you have the guide the check if the BECM is going to sleep but you do not say if it is. A duff RF receiver may keep it awake even with the aerial disconnected. A duff alternator will also drain the battery.
Best get a maintenance battery charger.

Thanks for this info too, i had no idea, i looked in the manual and it gave instructions, i assumed (as you do) its fine! maybe not after 16 years!!!
 
I just got one of those £14 Aldi chargers and is charging out off road Disco, works well but not as well built as the *lidi* ones!
 
Are those solar ones worth anything in these situations?
ive got one in the caravan that keeps it toped up but I only ever go in there once a blue moon and use the lights for a few minutes at a time so not much drain
 
Hi its not about charging the battery with a solar panel its more to do with combatting any drain you have in your system. the solar panel just keep the battery at 13.4 float charging voltage. its worked for me for the last 10 yrs
 
Are those solar ones worth anything in these situations?
ive got one in the caravan that keeps it toped up but I only ever go in there once a blue moon and use the lights for a few minutes at a time so not much drain
A solar panel of sufficient wattage will certainly keep the battery topped up. Bear in mind that the BECM consumes 30ma when asleep so your panel will need to provide a lot more than that as it will only charge in daylight and most of the time it may not give more than 50% of it's stated output. I have a 12 watt (1 amp) panel with a regulator to stop overcharging, works a treat.
 
So, ran out of juice in Tesco car park on Friday! But made it there to start with!

It started without a problem, albeit a bit slowly after being sat still for two days. Low on voltage, it was at about 12.2v. BUT it started!

Decided to get me one of those solar power charges, a 6A jobbie. Not used it in anger yet because the cigarette sockets in the front are only on when the ignition is on... so need to run the wires to the battery, pain in the ass, was hoping to keep it on the dash, looks like i need a plan B there.

Anyway, i bought the solar charger from Argos, parked up got the charger, got back in the RR and fired up the engine, no problems, fired quicker than she did when i left home.

Then I decided to go to Tesco and pick up some bits and bobs there, parked up, went in, shopped, came out again, turned the key, chug chug chug c'mon baby... no, no dice.
Had to call the RAC...
Bit of luck, the guy was nearby, and even though I was told an hour and 15 on the phone by the RAC, the local guy turned up in 15 mins,phew!

Turns out the battery in the RR is only 590CCA 70Ah, and when the recovery guy did a battery test on it, it's only got 360a left in it!! The "starter test" only got 7v out of it!!!!

WHAAAAAT!!!! this is "supposed" to be a new battery, my arse!

Anyway, new battery ordered, a lovely juicy Alphaline 130Ah 1000CCA (linky)

So, will see how that goes, as there's always a drain on the battery i might still find a way to plug in that solar charger, or i might bring it back.

Maybe the battery will be a permanent solution!!!!!
 
new bat will probably solve it.

if you do lots of short runs then the old low weak bat mightn't have a chance to recover from the starter.

the new one will also mean you can last longer between top ups if you leave the vehicle for a week or so at a time.
 
So, ran out of juice in Tesco car park on Friday! But made it there to start with!

It started without a problem, albeit a bit slowly after being sat still for two days. Low on voltage, it was at about 12.2v. BUT it started!

Decided to get me one of those solar power charges, a 6A jobbie. Not used it in anger yet because the cigarette sockets in the front are only on when the ignition is on... so need to run the wires to the battery, pain in the ass, was hoping to keep it on the dash, looks like i need a plan B there.

Anyway, i bought the solar charger from Argos, parked up got the charger, got back in the RR and fired up the engine, no problems, fired quicker than she did when i left home.

Then I decided to go to Tesco and pick up some bits and bobs there, parked up, went in, shopped, came out again, turned the key, chug chug chug c'mon baby... no, no dice.
Had to call the RAC...
Bit of luck, the guy was nearby, and even though I was told an hour and 15 on the phone by the RAC, the local guy turned up in 15 mins,phew!

Turns out the battery in the RR is only 590CCA 70Ah, and when the recovery guy did a battery test on it, it's only got 360a left in it!! The "starter test" only got 7v out of it!!!!

WHAAAAAT!!!! this is "supposed" to be a new battery, my arse!

Anyway, new battery ordered, a lovely juicy Alphaline 130Ah 1000CCA (linky)

So, will see how that goes, as there's always a drain on the battery i might still find a way to plug in that solar charger, or i might bring it back.

Maybe the battery will be a permanent solution!!!!!
I fitted a permanantly live socket in the boot so I can leave the panel on the rear parcel shelf. With the Alphaline battery mine will stand for 3 weeks no problem.
 
Permanently live socket in the boot is about #172 on the list of things to do!!!

Battery installed now though, perfect fit, very pleased and only £99.95 delivered.
 

Similar threads