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How to diagnose what is running down the battery

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Old 19 April 2004, 07:39 PM
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Dracoro
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Default How to diagnose what is running down the battery

The (quite new) battery on my my95 v6 omega gls keeps running flat. This happened with the previous battery so I got a new battery from vauxhall. Been fine for a month but now it's running down every few days (could be every day now for all I know as I only use the car once or twice a week).

So I'm fairly confident that it's not a fault of the battery. The battery is recharging OK and there's a good feed from the alternator. This leads me to the conclusion that something is draining the battery while it's not in use. The car has standard security and stereo and no other non standard stuff in the car.

Is there a way or a tool so I can find out what is draining the battery? Or any other tips to help?

thanks in advance.
Old 19 April 2004, 07:46 PM
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rr_ww
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Connect an Ammeter in Series to the earth termonal on the battery and the lead itself. Pull out the fuses one by one until it stop drawing. Then find out what it was and thats the cause.

HTH
Old 19 April 2004, 07:56 PM
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Dracoro
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sounds sensible. where do I get an ammeter? £££??
Old 19 April 2004, 07:59 PM
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Last time I had this probelm I did what RR_WW did....pulled every friggin fuse and still had a 3amp draw from the battery

Turns out there was a tracker installed, which the charger for the auxillary battery had shorted out.

I lost alot of hair over that one I can tell you
Old 19 April 2004, 08:16 PM
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rr_ww
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Trackers dont seem to last very long do they. I've heard of several that have caused serious power drains.

Still I suppose if its got a flat battery and a tracker they might find it difficult to steal
Old 19 April 2004, 09:47 PM
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Dracoro
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Pretty sure I haven't got a tracker in a 9 year old gls model omega! (even if it is a v6 )

Where can I get an ammeter that will do what I need? Hellfords? General auto factors? electronics place? Good if there's a place on tottenham ct road as I work nr there.
Old 19 April 2004, 11:48 PM
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David_Wallis
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or you could use a clamp meter.

try maplin.

www.maplin.co.uk
Old 20 April 2004, 01:00 AM
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speedking
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This sort of thing will do the trick.

For your battery to go flat in a day you are losing about 1Amp which should be fairly easy to find.
Old 20 April 2004, 09:20 AM
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Leslie
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Its usually a tracker which causes this, anything else must be an electrical fault somewhere. A multimeter should help you to find it.

Les
Old 20 April 2004, 10:56 PM
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THE M25 FLYER
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A total stab in the dark but if its got a boot lamp fitted open up the lid and try to feel the bulb asap to see if its bloody hot (staying on) i.e dodgy switch.Or get some one to shut you in the boot so you can check it that way, otherwise amp clamp,keys out,interior lamps off and pull one fuse at a time to isolate the culprit.
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