4 replies to this topic

[ian27]

hi my 1997 escort ghia x, zetec engine, the battery keeps draining after about two hours and then wont start unless i use jump lead, i have changed the battery twice and the alternator, and both have been tested and they are fine, please help

[timgdean]

Hello,
When you say fine how did you check this ? When running you should get arround 14.4v at the battery. Put your hand on the relays above the fuse box is there any warm? Try the 'big' loads heated screens , could be a relay stuck closed.

Try removeing all the fuses (make a note of the positions and values, then reinsert 1 then take it out , do you notice a voltage drop?

t.

[ian27]

timgdean, on 26 November 2011 - 05:29 PM, said:

Hello,
When you say fine how did you check this ? When running you should get arround 14.4v at the battery. Put your hand on the relays above the fuse box is there any warm? Try the 'big' loads heated screens , could be a relay stuck closed.

Try removeing all the fuses (make a note of the positions and values, then reinsert 1 then take it out , do you notice a voltage drop?

t.

halfords tested both, and they was running at 14.00 volts they said its fine, the battery was doing its jod as was the alternator. what would i need to find the prodlem

[timgdean]

multimeter would be a good start. , worth checking if relays do get stuck. any warm ones?

stick the multimeter on 20v on the battery and have a play.

t

[Automondeo]

timgdean, on 26 November 2011 - 05:29 PM, said:

Hello,
When you say fine how did you check this ? When running you should get arround 14.4v at the battery. Put your hand on the relays above the fuse box is there any warm? Try the 'big' loads heated screens , could be a relay stuck closed.

Yep, it would need to be a very big load to pull your battery down in 2 hours, heated screen relay would also be my first port of call.

Do you get a big spark when you remove one of the battery terminals?, any big arching there would tell you something was pulling a lot of juice from the battery.
When you changed the battery, was it a new fully charged one you put on? Or was it one that you or someone else had spare? A knackered battery will often show 12v on a meter, and will happily show the 14v the alternator puts out, but it will not hold a charge, and it will be down to a fraction of it's rated amperage.
Like mentioned above, see if you get a large voltage drop when you turn something like the lights on. Charge the battery up off the car, then refit it. Check the voltage and then turn the head lights on, if the battery drops down below 12 volts it's knackered.