Battery Life

[nsimmo]

Hi

If I'm not using my Saxo, the battery goes flat after a few days, I've replaced the battery, but that has not helped. I checked the voltage with the engine running= 12.54V and I checked the current with the car standing =40mA. My next item to change is the alternator, but I'm loathed to change it as if I keep using the car I don't seem to have a problem.

Anyone seen anything similar or have any Suggestions?

Thanks

Neil

[vidal]

If your battery is going flat after a few days, is this when stood for a few days - in which case you have some drain on it all the time, alarms are a good culprit, or is it after using it for a few days? In that case, winter is always the worst time. Cold kills batteries, the use of heated screens, heaters and repeated cold starts will rapidly deplete a battery beyond the ability of the car to charge it, this is especially true on short journeys. It is also possible that the alternator is failing, but any auto-electrician will check this for you.

One other thought, have you got some stupidly huge amp, and not upgraded the battery?

V.

[devilsadvocate]

So you have a fully charged battery, which goes flat after a few days of being left, not started?

As v said, there must be something using the battery while the engine is not on.

Have you got an amp? - Maybe the the amp is always on cause its not been wired up right..

[Coonper]

Yes all it can be is something wired to a permanent live. I.e. head unit, amps, alarm, neon/led's, interior lights?

[nsimmo]

Hi

I don't have an amp fitted, I have recently replaced the std Citroen Radio/Cassette with a Sony Head unit, other than using the supplied loom adaptor, no other wiring changes have been made

Thanks

Neil

[nsimmo]

No Amp or alarm fitted, can any one advise the normal standing current on a 1.1 First (Y reg)

Thanks

Neil

[Coonper]

Is it since fitting the head unit that its been going flat?
It could be that it is linked to a permanent live somewhere behind the unit!
Cant remember what colour wire it is, but have a look at it! Might be yellow. Check that its not powering anything. Has it got a cd changer??

[FeArN]

Nice to see sum voltage and current readings :P. ur saying when ur car running ur battery voltage 12.54v? doesnt seem alot from my experince. for example my battery while car not started 12.78v and while car engine running 14.31v. sounds like a suspect alternator, whats the voltage before starting the engine? 40ma is not alot and seems fine. i could do a current check on mine to be sure but im almost certain this is fine! all connectons on alternator okay ect, charging light come on at all? ie when u rev engine? belt tight?

note im going off your reading, sure youve got good connections ect? you doing the current check correctly, usually this includes changing were you put the leads on the meter,and how you test. for a quick test for current draw without a meter, i usually disconnect the neg and just touch it on the terminal, nothing or ver small spark is very little current drain, sparks alot you know your draining current

checked mine 0.20ma, with no extra ie alarm. 40 milliamps is 0.04amps (very little)

dont places do free battery and alternator checks? worth just nipping it sumwere to get it checked

[FeArN]

The normal current drain on most vehicles should be about 25 milliamps or less. If the key-off drain exceeds 100 milliamps, there's an electrical problem that requires further diagnosis.

took from,http://ca.autos.yahoo.com/maintain/answer.php?battery_answer2.html
more info on that page

[Predator_R32]

yeah when the engines running the alternator should kick out about 14.4 volts :y:, probablies on its way out or the belt is too tight/loose

[nsimmo]

Hi

finally solved the battery problem, I had noticed that the new head unit I had fitted (Sony) was not keeping it's settings (clock/radio presets) - I read the Sony fitting notes and it mentioned that on some cars you need to swap the permenant live and the switched live - I had assumed that red went to red and yellow to yellow as per the standard head unit - I checked and they need to be reversed (red to yellow) - (yellow - red) and now the head unit keeps it's settings and the car battery retains it charge. - Hope this helps someone else!