Raptorman

iTrader: (1)

updating from my 'strange beeps' thread it turns out
that my battery is kapput.

Is it just a case of fitting new battery or does it affect the
alarm system in any way?

brendy76

iTrader: (6)

Nope work away, I swapped my bugeye item out and had no issues.

Raptorman

iTrader: (1)

Excellent

Just jump started the car and on the multimeter with engine running
the voltage was 13.8 but yesterday when I did the same it was reading
14.4.

With the engine off the reading was 12.85 but with the probes still
attached I could see the voltage going down in sequence i.e...
12.85
12.84
12.83
12.82 etc...

Is that normal?

bugeyeguy

my bugeye has a dead battery to, i managed to start it with jump leads earliar but didnt leave the engine running long enough to recharge fully, i tried to jump start again but the alarm just goes off.... any advice?

Dan wrx

iTrader: (2)

Don't jump start the cars, it can cause the ecu to surge and blow, get a charger and charge the battery overnight, jump starting is not a good idea at all

daveyj

iTrader: (1)

Replace battery. Job jobbed. You'll find if it jumps off cables it is usually a dead cell. You'll get a couple of weeks out of it by taking it off and charging it at night but this is a ball ache and a decent replacement can be had for around £70. I recently replaced mine with a Varta item. 4 year guarantee and a perfect fit.

Have you run a check on the alternator output just to rule that out?

Davros 1979

iTrader: (56)

Perfectly normal. Should stop dropping quickly around 12.5.

Leave it overnight and then retest.

daveyj

iTrader: (1)

In reality this is very, very rare. The AA, etc all jump start cars on a daily basis (had mine done not three weeks ago due to a dead cell in battery). I really wouldn't worry about that sort of thing too much. It'll only surge up to the output of the alternator/charging loom on the vehicle doing the charging and all alternator outputs are regulated to provide a trickle charge on a battery during use. It's a generally very safe practice.

Raptorman

iTrader: (1)

How do I test the alternator?

Davros 1979

iTrader: (56)

You already have by taking the reading with the engine running.

Raptorman

iTrader: (1)

Ah ok cool.

When the ignition is off does it cut the power to everything in the car
including the stereo?

Reason I ask is I have a crappy chinese xtrons stereo which the removable
touch screen had stuck in place after it stopped working, could this have
drained the battery?

I have managed to remove the touchscreen now, the car
started up fine.

johned

An alternator would not recharge the battery fully in any case so you would need to put the battery onto a charger or if it has had it buy another.

Inviroman

iTrader: (2)

If you have tracker fitted these can drain the battery if not going into sleep mode.
When you look at it you have the alarm/imobiliser/tracker all drawing off the battery, the boot light is a common issue, staying on.
If not using the car for over a week invest in a solar panel charger, Maplins do one for £20; 1.5w and works a treat.

Maz

iTrader: (34)

As above. Although finding a parasitic drain can be akin to looking for a needle in a haystack. I'm investing in one of these:
http://www.batterybrain.co.uk/prodde...BrainGoldType3

I don't use the car daily and was sick of charging the battery every few days. I do have a solar charger for sale if anyone's interested.

Inviroman

iTrader: (2)

These are ok for checking individual circuits at the fuse box.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3309217411...136%26_rdc%3D1