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        General >> Problems >> Battery Being Completely Drained
        
(Message started by: DJWerkz on May 1^st, 2006, 7:10pm)

Title: Battery Being Completely Drained
Post by DJWerkz on May 1^st, 2006, 7:10pm

Well my run of using the car has been short lived, seems like I have some kind of electrical fault on the car which has necessitated in me disconnecting the battery.

Battery keeps being drawn completely flat and I also noticed that there were other little weird electrical things going on too, such as the digital computer read-out keep switching back to Euro measurements and on start-up the needles on the dials not flicking over and back again.

I have test lamp that you use to check whether any circuits are drawing current from the battery but when I disconnected the negative battery lead today and placed the test probe in place the lamp lights but then blows immediately. Went through two bulbs today thinking the first must be faulty.

I have to strip out the dash again as I know the heater box has a mechanical fault so I will go through the electrical system and see what I can find.

Title: Re: Battery Being Completely Drained
Post by Paul B on May 1^st, 2006, 7:17pm

Well, I don't have any other wierd faults but my battery gets drained just like yours does.

Its a good battery on it too, but if I only do light use on the car (which is all is getting at the moment) it can drain a freshly charged battery to completely dead in 4 days.

If I park it up and leave it for, say, a weekend with no use, the same will happen.

The other faults you descibe are 'normal' when the battery loses charge.

Need to get testing asap with this. Its driving me nuts! >:(

Title: Re: Battery Being Completely Drained
Post by DJWerkz on May 1^st, 2006, 7:18pm

Yes, mine discharges that quickly too.

Title: Re: Battery Being Completely Drained
Post by jonnycab on May 1^st, 2006, 8:01pm

I had that problem. The guy at my local auto shop suggested trying a calcium battery, as most new cars have them & they are alot stronger. I bought one & fitted it & I haven't had anymore problems.

Title: Re: Battery Being Completely Drained
Post by Mickey_2.9 on May 1^st, 2006, 9:00pm

I also had this problem back in January, it turned out to be the battery. It was a newish battery that I had keeped from my Granada Scorpio. I took it back and the guy tested it, it was only working on 5 cells. He gave me a new replacment, problem sorted!
Maybe worth getting the battery checked?

Title: Re: Battery Being Completely Drained
Post by Simmo on May 1^st, 2006, 9:09pm

The power of the battery is all important,new or otherwise. This article explains the reasons and the type required to meet the demands of the Scorpios' electrics. http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/battery.htm.

Title: Re: Battery Being Completely Drained
Post by sector-9 on May 1^st, 2006, 10:56pm

DJ - with the igntion and everything turned off (including the interior lights!) there should not be enough current flowing to flatten a healthy battery in a matter of days.

If you've got a multimeter then set this to current measurement (10A or greater - you'll probably have to reposition the leads) and see what is being drawn with everything turned off. If it's more than a few hundred milliamps then you'll need to start pulling fuses out until it drops; that'll give you an idea which circuit is causing the problem. If the current drain is still high even with all the fuses removed then try disconnecting the alternator - it's not unknown for one of the diodes in the rectifier pack to fail and discharge the battery.

Of course, don't turn the ignition on with the multimeter connected and certainly don't attempt to start the engine!

If current drain is minimal with all fuses in then it could just be a failing battery.

Darren

Title: Re: Battery Being Completely Drained
Post by landbarge on May 11^th, 2006, 12:16am

Had a similar problem on my 2.9 last year. Checked the fuses, charge to the battery all seamed ok. Replaced battery, problem persisted finally no charge, no nothing. Long walk to work and during lunch went to the nearby alternator/electrics specialist. Long story short; alternator will drain any battery if there is wear to the internal components.

Car was picked up on a truck and the alternator replaced (new) by the end of the day; great service. No problems with the battery since. Total cost £127.00.

Title: Re: Battery Being Completely Drained
Post by Thunderchild on May 11^th, 2006, 10:28am

The most likely cause for this is water in the fusebox. This is a well known problem on the Scorpio and gives all sorts of strange symptoms most of which you describe as having on your car. Have a look in the fusebox next to the battery and check for moisture. If there's any there then you need to dry it out and make sure that you have a battery cover in place.

HTH

Thunderchild

Title: Re: Battery Being Completely Drained
Post by DJWerkz on May 12^th, 2006, 10:31am

Heater box now finally removed and replaced. Have changed all the motor switches and the HBC. Just trying to locate a crash pad assembly as mine is so brittle most of the fixings have cracked/broken.

Took the new battery out and would you believe it it was only rated at 55AH 440cc {} So much for the motor factors providing me with the right battery.

As for my test meter I checked it and it only had an incorrectly rated bulb inside, was 3v when it should have been 12v.

I have now converted the battery leads over to round terminal type connectors and am looking at one of the Vauxhall high-capacity battery's. My brother-in-law is an ex-Vauxhall (thanks to the Luton plant closing) employee but has lifetime discount, he says they do a 90Ah battery, we are just checking dimensions.

Should be OK, alternators on all V6's are 100amp.