fiesta battery drain problems

richyrich2009 · 19-11-2009, 10:38 AM

Hi got a problem with my fiesta 2003 1.4 tdci zetec.
just happened recently and no work has been done on the car,the battery light is on all the time when the ignition is on and whilst driving.
Nothing has been left turned on.
next morning battery is as flat as a pancake (3 volts)
re-charged battery overnight and left to stand for 12 hours voltage check was 12.4 volts.
When fitted to the car and engine is running the voltage is 14.5 volts
yet the battery light is still on and the battery is flat again next morning.
Any ideas would be great
Cheers

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martysmartie · 19-11-2009, 12:33 PM

Sounds as though it may be a faulty battery and it can not hold the charge, could also be faulty alternator as if a diode or other component fails inside they can drain the battery without ignition being on, although your battery is getting a healthy reading.

Martin

richyrich2009 · 19-11-2009, 12:51 PM

Hi martin,
The battery after charging was ok and also when left to stand over night.
I have tried a drain test by removing the earth wire and the only thing that made a difference was when i disconnected the alternator.
Also when i put my test meter on the alternator live connector and the earth (chasis) with the live wire disconnected and the battery both wires disconnected i get a reading of 200 when testing resistance.
Which does not seem right to me.

london_chris · 19-11-2009, 01:07 PM

think that age fiesta is fitted with a smart charging system which is quite complicated,
look for ford smart charging system on google to understand a little more about it, and testing methods.

http://www.petercoopercarrepairs.co....t_charging.htm

there is a little breif information about the focus system, being ford i would imagine is not dis-similar to the fiesta?

hope this helps

tabetha · 19-11-2009, 03:14 PM

It's the rectifier side of the alternator that has packed up, not uncommon, this can easily drain your battery within an hour if bad enough.
tabetha

richyrich2009 · 19-11-2009, 03:52 PM

Tabetha
Is that definately the problem then as a new alternator will cost me approx £200 (a bit steep) with £50 quid refund when i return the old unit.
But have not been able to source any reconditioned units yet.
I just wanna be sure before i fork out that kinda dosh
Cheers

xr2wishy · 19-11-2009, 04:07 PM

i'd say alternator is knackered (diode pack/rectifier, so charges and discharges the battery when faulty every cycle) and possibly the battery is guff too.
recon alternator should be around £50, don't bother buying brand new what's the point recon is as new.

richyrich2009 · 19-11-2009, 04:35 PM

xr2wishy

best price i have found a Recon for my model is £180 and cannot find anyone who has one in stock.

tabetha · 20-11-2009, 05:58 PM

Recon should be around the £60 mark for yours, alternatively do it yourself, easy one to do on these, hardest part is taking off!!
Pm me your exact car details and I'll see what I can get it for.
The only sure fire way of ruling this out is to disconnect it all the time and see if it stops doing it, but a bit impractical esp on your car.
tabetha

richyrich2009 · 23-11-2009, 06:50 PM

Thanks for the info guys.
got it sorted

Tabetha
Had to get it in a hurry and no scrapyards by me had any. so i ended up paying £175 for a brand new one. or local carparts shop had a recon one for £180. but thanks anyway

19-11-2009, 12:51 PM	#3
richyrich2009 Virgin Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: westmids Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	fiesta battery drain Hi martin, The battery after charging was ok and also when left to stand over night. I have tried a drain test by removing the earth wire and the only thing that made a difference was when i disconnected the alternator. Also when i put my test meter on the alternator live connector and the earth (chasis) with the live wire disconnected and the battery both wires disconnected i get a reading of 200 when testing resistance. Which does not seem right to me.

19-11-2009, 03:52 PM	#6
richyrich2009 Virgin Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: westmids Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	fiesta battery drain Tabetha Is that definately the problem then as a new alternator will cost me approx £200 (a bit steep) with £50 quid refund when i return the old unit. But have not been able to source any reconditioned units yet. I just wanna be sure before i fork out that kinda dosh Cheers

19-11-2009, 04:07 PM	#7
xr2wishy Bodger of Blackburn Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (2) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: blackburn Posts: 3,855 Rep Power: 10	i'd say alternator is knackered (diode pack/rectifier, so charges and discharges the battery when faulty every cycle) and possibly the battery is guff too. recon alternator should be around £50, don't bother buying brand new what's the point recon is as new. __________________ http://www.xrtwo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=41968

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19-11-2009, 12:33 PM	#2
martysmartie PassionFord Post Whore!! Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (1) Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6,723 Rep Power: 13	Sounds as though it may be a faulty battery and it can not hold the charge, could also be faulty alternator as if a diode or other component fails inside they can drain the battery without ignition being on, although your battery is getting a healthy reading. Martin

19-11-2009, 01:07 PM	#4
london_chris PassionFord Regular Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 467 Rep Power: 9	think that age fiesta is fitted with a smart charging system which is quite complicated, look for ford smart charging system on google to understand a little more about it, and testing methods. http://www.petercoopercarrepairs.co....t_charging.htm there is a little breif information about the focus system, being ford i would imagine is not dis-similar to the fiesta? hope this helps

19-11-2009, 03:14 PM	#5
tabetha BANNED BANNED Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: uk Posts: 24,621 Rep Power: 0	It's the rectifier side of the alternator that has packed up, not uncommon, this can easily drain your battery within an hour if bad enough. tabetha

19-11-2009, 04:35 PM	#8
richyrich2009 Virgin Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: westmids Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	xr2wishy best price i have found a Recon for my model is £180 and cannot find anyone who has one in stock.

20-11-2009, 05:58 PM	#9
tabetha BANNED BANNED Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: uk Posts: 24,621 Rep Power: 0	Recon should be around the £60 mark for yours, alternatively do it yourself, easy one to do on these, hardest part is taking off!! Pm me your exact car details and I'll see what I can get it for. The only sure fire way of ruling this out is to disconnect it all the time and see if it stops doing it, but a bit impractical esp on your car. tabetha

23-11-2009, 06:50 PM	#10
richyrich2009 Virgin Garage is empty, add now Trader Score: (0) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: westmids Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the info guys. got it sorted Tabetha Had to get it in a hurry and no scrapyards by me had any. so i ended up paying £175 for a brand new one. or local carparts shop had a recon one for £180. but thanks anyway

23-11-2009, 06:50 PM
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