Quote:
Originally Posted by eddieace
Hi guys
Looking for suggestions on potential cause.
Story starts whilst at work car alarm goes off (parker for 4 hours), tries to unlock and wouldn’t unlock at first, then it did, tried to start car got a multitude of dash light in different orders, turned it off and various things stayed on headlights (half brightness) plus other bits.
Voltmeter showing 7 volts, jumped started car (battery 7months old)
Had several bouts of this now, not enough juice in it to even bump start it, alarm service message seen on dash, so pulled fuse, and still flattening battery, disconnected powersounder, still flatteneing battery, going to replace battery in this, this weekend and replug in see if that resolves the issue (but I doubt it)
Tried measuring amp draw without success, funny readings but I did notice the 2 small green leds on where the courtesy light buttons are located when everything should be off.
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if you are able to measure current and voltage then start simple. What's the voltage across battery with everything off (7v?) in which case the battery is toast, could try recharging but at 7v I don't see it recovering. Next, with engine on, what is the voltage across battery... I think 14.4-15v should be expected if the alternator is working efficiently. On these cars I don't know if they have a variable recharge so you may need to check the voltage across the alternator to know for sure it's good.
Then, figure out what the actual drain is, you need to measure the current across the battery with everything off. Id do this with, and without the alarm fuse in place. Maybe someone on here can tell you the normal 'minimal' current draw on a car with everything as it should be and car off. This might give you a clue, if yours is a lot higher. I had this problem on an old VW, and by doing this I figured out the stereo was in 'standby' not off, because it hadn't been wired correctly off a switched live.
since the alarms go bad on these cars my first thought was the alarm system, but I'd be guessing. Best to methodically test things rather than guessing..
when measuring current draw, you can sequentially remove fuses to try to isolate the circuit pulling current...