heres one for the books
Submitted: Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 16:09
ThreadID:
71953
Views:
3878
Replies:
6
FollowUps:
5
This Thread has been Archived
al
hi all
i have a gq patrol diesel that has an electrical problem, when left parked up for a week batteries go flat. has been to three different auto elec. who have had it in their work
shop for several days at a time none can find a problem. car has duel batteries and the usual accessories.disconnect all accessories batteries stay charged once you add more than three access. batteries go flat, does not matter what combination of access. are connected both batteries goes flat over a 24 hour period. none of the access. are turned on. tried a combination of different new batteries nothing changes. access. are engel fridge, winch,
driving lights, hf, uhf radios, Anderson plug for camper trailer and few other things.
i have 2 options according to one sparky burn it and claim insurance or rewire whole car. it is going to another sparky on Friday hope he has better luck.
al
Reply By: Traveller - Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 16:27
Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 16:27
Bad earth somewhere on accessories. Don't forget the clock running in the background. Maybe there is an earth leakage there?
AnswerID:
381457
Reply By: Member - Christopher P (NSW) - Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 17:56
Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 17:56
The clock consumes bugger all as it is digital. i agree bad earth or a bad switch in your accessories, a cheap test is to put a multimeter in
the loop with one access. at a time and determine any leakage/ voltage that is being drawn. if it hasn't already being done.
AnswerID:
381477
Reply By: Member - Allan B (QLD) - Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 18:26
Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 18:26
Al,
It is simply a matter of placing a milliammeter in the outgoing circuits from the battery and connecting one circuit at a time until the meter indicates the circuit drawing current. This is very basic electrical fault-finding and any auto-electrician or sparky who does not use this approach and cannot find the problem is not worthy of the title. No excuses. No apologies.
When it comes to auto-electrics, or power electrics, never muck around with less than an established tradesman with reputation.
My battery was running-down whilst standing. This technique revealed that it was the Piranha battery isolator drawing 150mA continually. Its gone in the bin....replaced by a Redarc! Problem solved.
AnswerID:
381483
Follow Up By: Member - Allan B (QLD) - Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 18:30
Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 18:30
Oh and I should have added:
If the above test indicates no current drain by the accessories or other wiring then the problem is almost certainly a self-discharging battery. Replace it.
FollowupID:
648963
Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009 at 09:58
Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009 at 09:58
My old GQ had more accessories than you could count and it was killing batteries quicker than I could buy them.
Turned out to be the battery isolator. I replaced it and all was
well for about 12 months then it started again. The car was killing isolators, never did find out why
I ended up with a manual isolator on the aux battery. It only cost $20 and worked a treat. Most of the time the batteries were wired in parallel but when I was camped for any length of time or if I was leaving the car with something running for more than a couple of hours I simply lifted the bonnet and turned a knob to isolate the aux battery.
I only reconnected the aux battery after starting the car.
Duncs
FollowupID:
649070
Follow Up By: Member - Allan B (QLD) - Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009 at 19:16
Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009 at 19:16
Now there ya go Duncs.
What brand(s) were the dodgy isolators?
And nuthin wrong with a manual isolator ...... so long as you've got a good memory!
FollowupID:
649205
Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009 at 19:33
Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009 at 19:33
I am really not sure it was the isolators that were at fault and for that reason I hesitate to name brands, one was a
well none Australian manufacturer.
A couple of different Auto Elect told me to sell the car. It had been owned by a magazine and used as the test bed for all kinds of accessories that were bolted in and ripped out wen the test was complete. There were wires all over the place, a genuine mess.
Duncs
FollowupID:
649207
Follow Up By: Member - Allan B (QLD) - Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009 at 19:42
Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009 at 19:42
I understand Duncs.
I have seen some pretty scary wiring in my time so I appreciate the Auto Elecs telling you to sell it!
FollowupID:
649209
Reply By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 19:53
Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 19:53
Do you have an imobiliser fitted ? (or a fridge :-))
KK
AnswerID:
381503
Reply By: Member - Stuart P (WA) - Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 20:32
Tuesday, Sep 01, 2009 at 20:32
you will probably find by disconnecting your alternator the problem will go , have had this before ,the rectifier has a faulty diode ,it will not show up a red light when ign is turned off.disconnect the battery wire off the alt and try
AnswerID:
381517
Reply By: sweetwill - Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009 at 12:31
Wednesday, Sep 02, 2009 at 12:31
hi Al.
my in car mobile phone set up would drain my battery after four days if left in the shed so I had it dismanteled and its fine now bill.
AnswerID:
381594