Rompingdog
New Member
I am having a problem with my P38 diesel at the minute with a wierd hard to track down current drain.
When I go to start the thing up, two turns and then nowt! Stick the jump leads on and apart from the usual two or three half hearted tries at firing up, away she goes.
Leave it overnight and then the following day, same thing. A couple of slow turns and then bugger all.
Battery is brand new from the car parts shop and is the right type. It has been tested as I took it back thinking it was kaput, but it is OK. Allegedly!!
So, has anyone any ideas what the problem might be?
If I stick a voltmeter across the battery terminals when the thing is running, I have 13.5 volts showing with all ancilliaries on, rear screen heater, front screen heater, fan, fog lights, full beam, indicators, radio etc so the alternator appears to be doing its stuff.
Switch the engine off and then the voltage starts to creep down until after about an hour or so, the voltage across the terminals is around 11.8 volts and dropping slowly.
Iv'e tried putting the meter on amps in series with the negative leg of the battery and the disconnected lead to see what is happening but apart from 2 or 3 miliamps, there is nothing dramatic in terms of current drain. I would have expected to see at least half an amp, not the 2 or 3 miliamps
Something is definitely pulling the battery down, but I can't find what it is.
Unless the battery is buggered!
When I go to start the thing up, two turns and then nowt! Stick the jump leads on and apart from the usual two or three half hearted tries at firing up, away she goes.
Leave it overnight and then the following day, same thing. A couple of slow turns and then bugger all.
Battery is brand new from the car parts shop and is the right type. It has been tested as I took it back thinking it was kaput, but it is OK. Allegedly!!
So, has anyone any ideas what the problem might be?
If I stick a voltmeter across the battery terminals when the thing is running, I have 13.5 volts showing with all ancilliaries on, rear screen heater, front screen heater, fan, fog lights, full beam, indicators, radio etc so the alternator appears to be doing its stuff.
Switch the engine off and then the voltage starts to creep down until after about an hour or so, the voltage across the terminals is around 11.8 volts and dropping slowly.
Iv'e tried putting the meter on amps in series with the negative leg of the battery and the disconnected lead to see what is happening but apart from 2 or 3 miliamps, there is nothing dramatic in terms of current drain. I would have expected to see at least half an amp, not the 2 or 3 miliamps
Something is definitely pulling the battery down, but I can't find what it is.
Unless the battery is buggered!