Something draining my battery!!!

[ally_raf]

I was wondering of anyone could help me. There seems to be something which is draining my battery and leaving me with a flat when I go to use my car. There doesnt seen to be anything obvious I have now proved that my initial theory of interior lights draining it is wrong! The strange thing is the randomness of which it happens. Sometimes it happens every 7 days and sometimes every 1 or 2.

I know this is a pretty huge area and there could be hundreds of possible causes, but has anyone had similar problems or know of any common ones?

[Andy_CC]

Intermittant fault on the alternator or power supply to/from alternator???

[onlydiesels]

make sure that everything is switched off,disconnect the battery earth lead (make sure you`ve got your radio code) connect a test meter (set on amps) between the battery earth post and the earth lead and check the meter to see if any amps are being drawn,around 0.5ish amps is acceptable,if it`s more than this,pull each fuse out one by one,checking the meter after each removal,if/when you see a drop in the reading,that tells you that the fault is on one of the circuits which the pulled fuse controls.so then you have a good idea of where to start looking. might sound complicated but it`s quite straightforward.

just to add, DON`T attempt to crank the engine over with this set up in place as this will draw more amps than you`re meter could take (most auto test meters are only rated at 10 amps)

hope this helps

[STEVIE]

Hi mate i had this on my megane it turned out to be a duff battery the car is a 2003 model and it happened 1 year after i got it in 2004
worth a check

steve

[snoopdutt1985]

hi, im having exactly the same trouble, initially thought it was just a duff battery, and i had some other issues with service lights and airbag which i thoguth were connected but just turned out to be faulty clip under passenger seat.

i have since changed battery only to have it go flat every two weeks or so.
i cover enough mileage at various times to warrent it not to die after a full trickle charge.

alternator has been checked and is fine, no electronical leaks when all locked up

two seperate auto sparks have looked at it and RAC out to it on more than one occassion.

i have the 1.6 VVTi on a 52.

i have hit a brick wall and am ready to sell up if the used prices wernt so sh1t!

cheers

Andy

[paulrom]

hi there i have much the same problem and have covered pretty much the same ground and have still found nothin


someone must be able to help

[vladknez]

+1

(2003, 1.6 16v pertrol, manual, 117k km)

Happened yest morning. Flat battery. Last time it happened was about month ago. I cannot find any connection to what is causing this. Totally random!
It happened more often some time ago, and after I put a new battery, it was fine... for some time . Then, it started again.
Mechanic changed smth called "bendix" in the starter engine (at times, it was making some crazy sound while starting) ... while, it did cure the crrrr sound and it starts ok since then ... it didn't cure the battery_goes_flat probelm.
I had RESTARTS while driving (I've seen some other people had it). Lasts about 2 seconds. That happened with the old battery (that was more and more frequently going flat). Now, the feeling you get after your car has just restarted on you, and your servo is dead, your brakes are dead (almost), and you are in a curve going straight into the car comming at you from the opposite direction ...is, well, priceless. I thought, soon, I will be singing with the "choir invisible".

I once spent whole day with an electrician, and, we did almost ev "onlydiesels" suggested. NOTHING! Ev works fine. Did all kinds of combos (start the car, turn it off = no el leak. Double lock the car = no leak. Do this, do that ... turn it off = no leak! ... we found nothing! It fills the battery alright, it has no leaks. Few days after that, flat battery!

What can make the battery go flat in a night (10 hours or so)? It's not the lights, it's not the boot light, glov-dep light ... nothing visible.

I drive the car every day, but, I am never sure will it start the next morning. MEGA frustrating!

Now, as "snoopdutt1985" suggested, I am thinking more and more to sell it, but ....
-prices
-I invested some money in repairing things (not relevant to this prob)
-and, I tested some other cars ... and, more and more I like my Megane. (bummer)

So, I have the intention to repair this and to keep the car, of course, if it can be repaired. So, .. help please!

Sorry for the long post, but, after reading so many formums, and, NOT finding a solution to this ... well, I hope you understand.

Regards,
Vlad

[ally_raf]

This is a turn up for the books, it turns out that Meganes are so amazing that they can diagnse and fix themselves. Its been 6 weeks since my car was doing this and seems to have heeled itself!!! bizare

[strimm]

Hi there,

I recently had a similar problem, i.e. battery draining within 1 week, intermittent misfire the night preceding the battery failing etc. - please check this post on the RAC forum to which I replied

https://www.rac.co.uk/web/forum/showthread.php?t=5883

- a new cam-sensor was fitted 6 weeks ago and so far so good.

Regards

Strimm

[radical009]

hi

I had the same problem it turned out to be pre heater unit, leave car for than 6 hours totally dead