hi guys,

today i had to jump my 2005 blob for the second time this week, i had a new battery about 3 months ago as a cell had gone in it, so i jumped it the first time thinking its just because it hasn't been used for a week, so was suprised when it was flat again today, so i jumped it again and put a meter on it which first showed it charging at just over 13v, then at 14.4v which as the battery was flat should be right, then it dropped back to 13v after a minute or so and stayed there until i put the heater on then it stayed at 14.4v. so does this mean the regulators on its way out on the car? lucky its still under warranty as im taking it to the stealers next week for them to check and order if need be.

Any one else had this?

 

No, it means you have a 'smart' alternator, it only charges when it senses a drain on the battery.

Just run with your side lights on and it should be fine

Do a search on here titled 'smart alternator'

 

ive got a 95 wrx mine was chargein at speed but in trafic not enough with lights an blowers on was makein all the lights flash an not chargein enough swaped for a new alternator bobs yuh wots its sorted

 

but if the battery is flat then should it not charge flat out?

 

johny boy, your car has a different charge system, ie continually charging

I think not adehook, try getting her started and running with the lights on, if that doesn't solve it then look further

 

I had a problem similar to this and your car has a smart alternator which has i understand its doesn't charge the battery unless you got stuff like your lights on etc.I think it the battery which is at fault.

 

i might just take the battery off charge it up on the charger, get it back on , it does seem to be charging like a smart alternator should like b13bat says, but i carn't see why its flat again, i'll cell check the battery on monday, but it should be fine as its fairly new and has 3 year warranty, but if thats fine i must have a discharge somewhere,

another think is my key fob is playing up by not taking the immobiliser off sometimes, but i swapped to my spare key and that seems fine, although i only used it 2 or 3 times, could there be a fault with the alarm system discharging the battery faster?

 

If you have a tracker fitted this could also be the cause of the problem, some thing to do with the on board batteries going down and draining the main battery, sovled by changing the board in the tracker unit

 

i don't think it has one, not that i know of anyway