Car Battery Keeps Dying

FRIKA · 24-02-2007, 12:17 PM

Just wondering if its normal for my AU2 XR8 Battery to go flat after 1 week of not using it. Its a brand new battery and it think its at least a 520????

Personally I dont think so and reckon something is draining the battery.

Let me know.

Thankyou

Eu-GenixX · 24-02-2007, 01:05 PM

more info is probably needed... for a brand new battery to go flat in a week.. there must be an incredible drain... either that.. or it might just be a faulty battery.. take it back to where you bought it and tell them you want another one...

Tickford Kid · 24-02-2007, 01:36 PM

Pay to check that an interior light in the boot,glove box or back seats isn't left on.

FRIKA · 24-02-2007, 01:53 PM

This is my second replacement battery already. Unless its the brand I dont really know.

Yeah I will check the lights. Thats a good idea.

JC · 24-02-2007, 04:04 PM

I'm betting on glovebox light - it drained mine overnight once, as The headunit's removable face case was just stopping it from closing properly - by about 1mm! Recharged battery, turned case the other way and no more draining light left on overnight.

**GasoLane** · 24-02-2007, 04:24 PM

Go back to the battery shop and tell them. They should then test the car to see if anything is draining it.... the battery not the car

JC, I take it that it's not a standard headunit?

au2sw · 24-02-2007, 04:53 PM

just wondering if perhaps you are running an aftermarket amp? if so this could be a possible cause for battery drain, have had it a couple of times myself, mainly from lazyness of not running power wire direct from battery and using an accessory wire instead

:

JC · 25-02-2007, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasOLane

Go back to the battery shop and tell them. They should then test the car to see if anything is draining it.... the battery not the car

JC, I take it that it's not a standard headunit?

Correct, not standard - JVC.

It could also be that your alternator is on it's way out and is not actually charging the battery when the car is running. This would quickly kill any battery. It may also be overcharging it - same effect, different cause, same component at fault.

**Stav** · 25-02-2007, 10:25 AM

Hmm.Having worked on literally hundreds of thousands of vehicles for electrical installations then maybe I can help?

Firstly there is a check list of things to check.

Do you have a car alarm? They do drain the battery in a week if left on.If that doesnt fix it...maybe the battery backup in the alarm is dying and drawing excessie current when the car alarm is off.

Back boot light.Sometimes the back boot light stays on all the time.Stick your head in through the back seat to see if it is on.

Glove box light?
Amps...do these switch off when key is turned off? Many blinb bling installers dont know what theyre doing.If th power is constantly on it will drain the battery.
Power windows...when you get back in your car after an hour do your power windows still work as soon as you open the door? If so then someone has interfered with the ignition wiring under the dash and as a result interfered with the power off feature to your windows this could be your problem. If the battery is lasting a week it s highly likely to be a drain on the system by some accesory.
What other mods or accesories do you have?

FRIKA · 25-02-2007, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stav

Hmm.Having worked on literally hundreds of thousands of vehicles for electrical installations then maybe I can help?

Firstly there is a check list of things to check.

Do you have a car alarm? They do drain the battery in a week if left on.If that doesnt fix it...maybe the battery backup in the alarm is dying and drawing excessie current when the car alarm is off.

Back boot light.Sometimes the back boot light stays on all the time.Stick your head in through the back seat to see if it is on.

Glove box light?
Amps...do these switch off when key is turned off? Many blinb bling installers dont know what theyre doing.If th power is constantly on it will drain the battery.
Power windows...when you get back in your car after an hour do your power windows still work as soon as you open the door? If so then someone has interfered with the ignition wiring under the dash and as a result interfered with the power off feature to your windows this could be your problem. If the battery is lasting a week it s highly likely to be a drain on the system by some accesory.
What other mods or accesories do you have?

At the moment I am recharging my battery. When its recharged Ill do all the checks that you have recommended.

I have a car alarm. So ill check that.
I recently had an aftermarket stereo installed. Only the head unit. Amp, Sub and speakers are all factory and these have not been changed.
No other mods have been done.

Thanks for that. Lets hope I find the culprit.

FRIKA · 25-02-2007, 01:09 PM

Ok. just checked all the interior lights including boot & glovebox. Can confirm interior lights turn off automatically and boot light does not stay on. Glovebox i pushed the button and it turns of. However i touched the globe and it was real hot????? Do you think it maybe its the globe? Do they get hot real quick?????

**Stav** · 25-02-2007, 04:51 PM

Is th headunit a sony? If not I would bank on the back up battery being flat or the led being on in armed mode.This is enough to drain it in a week.

FRIKA · 25-02-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stav

Is th headunit a sony? If not I would bank on the back up battery being flat or the led being on in armed mode.This is enough to drain it in a week.

Pioneer. Definately not glove box light either.

I have bought a charger which I can now keep on when im not driving the car. Its basically a Trickle charger which can stay hooked to the battery for upto 6 months. Ill see how that works from now on.

91A · 28-02-2007, 01:44 AM

Using a charger is not the real cure as the drain is still happening. If you go on like this, you may finish up with a burnt out car in a burnt out garage attached to a burnt out house.

The best advice has already been given and that is to go back to the bayyery place and have them check the car as well as the battery.

Russell