9 replies to this topic

[gwatkins15]

My cars being a little swine at the moment, few things going all at once. I replaced the alternator about 2 months ago as it was on its way out, then a new battery as the battery still wasnt charging. But now with new alternator and battery its still going flat over a few days. The stereo is unplugged so not taking charge, and it doesnt seem anything else is draining it. Could it be a dodgy alternator or what? any help appreiciated!

[Jordie]

check and clean earth in boot. can go rusty under boot floor.

get a volt meter and check battery voltage with everything off.
then check it with engine running but all accessories/lights etc off.
then check it with lights, heater, radio, hazards, rear window heater on.

record the voltages at each one and report back.

you can check the battery for ampage draw by removing the earth clamp from battery and using a amp meter between the battery and earthing point/cable. if this shows 'x' amps been drawn when everything is off, you have a power draw which will flatten the battery when stood.

x depends on if you have alarm, security led etc which would always draw something.

[gwatkins15]

thanks thats very handy mate, I'll whack the multimeter out tomorrow and check the voltages. The earth in the boot could be a possibility as well which I'll check. I removed the immobiliser that was fitted by the previous owner, but somethings still wrong somewhere

[TA2DMAC]

Does the red indicator light in the Speedo come on when you turn the key? It should come on before the car starts. It's actually part of the system. I found out from a few members here, that if it's blown or not working right it breaks the circuit. It should go out once you give a few revs to excite the alternator.

[Jordie]

if you have a multimeter and can use it, check and report back.

on the battery draw (amps) check, usually anything more than afew mili amps indicates a draw. if this is the case, you can remove a fuse from each system one at a time and check if it changes. if you find removing a fuse, makes the battery draw lower, than your fault is within the circuit that the fuse supplies/protects.

[dklawson]

Does the red indicator light in the Speedo come on when you turn the key? It should come on before the car starts.

+1 to that.

If the red light is not functioning as follows, report back.
1) red light off with the engine off and key removed.
2) red light on with the engine off and the key in the run position.
3) red light off with the engine running.

In particular, let us know if the red light fails condition #2... never comes on.

[gwatkins15]

the indicator always works, even when the battery cant turn the engine over. Its not the starter as every time the battery is charged its perfect.

We checked the draw before I had a new alternator, and the it wasnt putting back what was being taken out, so it was changed, but now it seems that wasnt the problem.

[dklawson]

the indicator always works, even when the battery cant turn the engine over.

I assume you mean it always works as described in the three conditions I listed above... not that the red light is always on.

[bmcecosse]

What was wrong with the old alternator - 'on it's way out'....? You haven't connected the battery wrong way round - have you? Must be negative earth......

[gwatkins15]

we thought as it wasnt putting the energy back into the battery that the alternator was knackered, thinking it would sort the problem.

as for the ignition light it always comes on in the 2nd position and goes off in the 3rd position, so it works fine. The batteries also connected properly!