Ford Scorpio Forum - Print Page


    
      
        Ford Scorpio Forum
        (https://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl)
      

        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> Flat Battery 
        
(Message started by: jon_viola on Nov 15^th, 2009, 4:14pm)

Title: Flat Battery
Post by jon_viola on Nov 15^th, 2009, 4:14pm

Tried to go to work this morning and the battery was dead. It's new as is the alternator. The lights had not been left on and all the doors were shut properly. The car had not been used since Thursday. Anyone got any ideas why?

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by Technology2005 on Nov 15^th, 2009, 4:50pm

Well given the lovely autumnal weather we have been blessed with this weekend the first place I'd be looking would be battery cover and/or drain holes to make sure the fuseboxes aren't sitting in a nice puddle.

David

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by Matt on Nov 15^th, 2009, 6:26pm

might just be the drain of the security system, its always active when locked.

as said though check around the battery and drivers fuse box for excess water, the drains can easily get blocked

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by Geoff_W on Nov 15^th, 2009, 6:53pm

When you say dead, what do you actually mean?

No power at all.
Lights, windows, radio seats etc but just a click / spinning needles.
Or something else?

What sort of voltage do you have indicated from the battery?

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by tonyboy on Nov 15^th, 2009, 6:58pm

Here's a link for the battery HTH ..... http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/battery.htm

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by tonyboy on Nov 15^th, 2009, 7:14pm

Here's another link to check the drainage of the battery.........http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/electsystemtest.htm

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by Highlander on Nov 15^th, 2009, 9:20pm

As Geoff said, is it dead completely?

Is it an auto and maybe starter inhibited?

Tried it in Neutral?

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by Snoopy on Nov 16^th, 2009, 7:53am

If the battery keeps going completely dead I would suspect the alternator is faulty, even though it is new or reconditioned the battery drain of that magnitude has to something big, to flatten a battery that quickly. well worth checking to see qhat the current drain is when left parked.

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by jon_viola on Nov 16^th, 2009, 10:27am

Thanks for this, i'll check battery drain this eve. The car was completely dead, but come to mention it the battery light is still on at start then goes off when you rev it never to return at any time or engine speed just immediately after starting.

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by Geoff_W on Nov 16^th, 2009, 4:59pm

Jon,

If the battery is dead there will be no drain to check, unless you have recharged it and no battery light.

Please can you be more specific?

Absolutely no noises, clicks or dashboard lights, interior lights, radio then?

No sound of engine turning over or relays?

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by jon_viola on Nov 16^th, 2009, 6:59pm

Dead. No nothing. No lights. No battery at all.

So dead my power pack wouldn't start it either and i had to jump it from the Missus car.....

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by Geoff_W on Nov 16^th, 2009, 8:32pm

Jon,

For it to be that absolutely dead, I suspect either a major earth or wiring fault, possibly linked to your immobiliser, provided that the battery is not faulty(if it is new I would suggest that you take it back so that it can be recharged and checked).

Alternatively as Snoopy says the alternator may be putting absolutely no power in, however you should be getting warning lights in that case.

UPDATED Looking back I see that you have been having a number of fuse box related problems. Are you sure that the master plug on the fuse box has not come adrift?

I also note that you have a diesel, typically the load on the diesel is high and the wrong capacity battery or a lower capacity alternator will simply not hack it.

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by jon_viola on Nov 16^th, 2009, 8:50pm

Could I ask where the master plug is?

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by Highlander on Nov 16^th, 2009, 8:53pm

I think Geoff means the large plug on the front of the drivers side fusebox however the starting and ignition system is run through the battery side fusebox.

If the diodes on the alternator are broken it will drain the battery fast and not show a warning light on the dash

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by Geoff_W on Nov 16^th, 2009, 8:55pm

Good point Stuart

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by Highlander on Nov 16^th, 2009, 9:03pm

Jon did you replace the alternator with a new one or a used one?
Was the new battery fitted before the alternator was changed?

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by jon_viola on Nov 16^th, 2009, 9:23pm

The alternator was new, the battery fitted about a week before (kwickfit)

Title: Re: Flat Battery
Post by Highlander on Nov 16^th, 2009, 9:53pm

The old alternator could have destroyed the new battery possibly?