11 replies to this topic

[Avl_Paul]

On my mid-90s SPI, my battery is draining within a few days of being parked. I was measuring the current draw with the keyoff to determine if I have some kind of slow drain and it was only ~28mA. The car does have the immobolizer powered / ECU powered. Has anyone tested this and know what the draw should be on an SPI when keyed off? It would help me to know the goals when I start trying to figure out what is causing it.

Thx.

[ginigwunkle]

maybe just a carp battery?

i had the same issue, left for a few days and wouldn start, i put a new optima red top in and starts everytime now!

even after being left for weeks at a time....

[midlife]

Try dissconecting the radio then check for a drain we have often found a faulty unit to cause small drains.

[Dan]

A fully charged standard battery should be able to run 28mA for around 6 weeks. Check your fan belt and charging circuit, it could be the battery too as you say. I recently had a problem with a brand new battery supplied by Halfords that was no good and a similarly small current drain appeared to be flattening it overnight, what was actually happening was that the battery simply would not get beyond around a third charged nomatter how long you charged it for. When I managed to convince someone at Halfords that their little green box from Bosch is garbage and you need to test a battery at full load too as well as while charging they gave me a new battery and all has been good since.

[Avl_Paul]

A fully charged standard battery should be able to run 28mA for around 6 weeks. Check your fan belt and charging circuit, it could be the battery too as you say.

Aha - excellent point. Didn't even think to do the math. The previous owner bought this battery earlier thsi year but I've no idea where he bought it so this gives me an excuse to buy an Optima. I've already replaced the fan belt and had the alternator checked so I bet you are right about the battery.

[ginigwunkle]

id deff reccommend the optima if you have the cash! i have the u4.2l and it just fits like a dream!

[WiredbyWilson]

how much are these optima batteries, as atm a standard battery has risne about 20% in price!!

[ginigwunkle]

well.................lol

the one i bought, y4.2l optima red top is arround £200 on the net, i get discount at a local store and got it for £144

[WiredbyWilson]

well.................lol

the one i bought, y4.2l optima red top is arround £200 on the net, i get discount at a local store and got it for £144

*falls over*

[stickycreambun]

but wouldnt you pay that for all the times you cant get started!

[WiredbyWilson]

im lucky to have 2 other cars and jump leads. plus rac would it really offer me a lot more than a standard varta battery with a 3 yr warranty?

[ginigwunkle]

there said to last at least 2 times as long as anyother battery.....some come with 4/5yr warranty so thats 8-10yrs

also no maintenance and also ....

start a car after stood 1yr with no charge!!!!!

just read the reviews

the cranking power on these is immense, mine has 980cca! the std mini is 300!

Edited by ginigwunkle, 17 January 2008 - 03:34 PM.