JamesH

iTrader: (21)

We use it mainly at weekends and sometimes in mid week. We had no problems with it since we got it 4/5 Months ago. It went for an MOT the other week, it passed and everything was fine, but we fitted new springs, the mechanic left the bonnet open all weekend so obviously the interior light was on all of the time. So again, obviously the battery went flat
We got it back, and the alarm would not stop going off, we managed to fix it end the end tho, and then the next time we went to use it the battery was as dead as a fart, and everytyime you turned the ignition the bastid alarm wouldn't shut up.
We have temporarily dis coneccted the alarm to see if that was the problem, but we went to start it again last night, and had the same trouble, it just wouldn't start, the battery was dead-ish. But it started with jump leads like last time fine, after a quick run around in it it was fine again, just like it was the time before. We had discovered last time that the boot light was staying all 24/7 so we took the bulb out and thought we would have no more trouble with it, but obviously we have.
We don't think that it is the battery itself as that has a 4year warranty and was recharged in may 2002.

Any help or ideas would be very useful as it is doing our heads in

Anonymous

on the sierra the heater motor constantly runs. To stop it u need to push both levers (hot/cold and vent direciton) down. i was told this by ford them selves. Another thing to try is take the battery off over night and reconnect it in the morning and if it starts then u know it aint the battery, oh give it a good charge the day before and let it stand over night. The last thing to try is get a volt meter and check the outpu on the alternator by starting the car and registering the voltage between the battery terminals.
Good luck
James

JamesH

iTrader: (21)

Thanks I will try this!

Anonymous

Sounds like an earth fault. Bastards to find.

JamesH

iTrader: (21)

What is the best way to go about it, if it is an earth fault?

Anonymous

If the battery was flat,when you give it a run round and park it up again all you have done is put a surface charge in the battery. Try putting battery on a long slow charge.When you consider alternator output is roughly 75 amps and the battery is around 500amps cold cranking power you would need to drive for quite a long time.
You can also measure current drain on the battery with a digital amp meter.
To do this connect meter between battery positive and positive leads, make sure you actualy diconect all the positive leads and reconnect them all to one side of the meter as you want the current to flow through the meter.
Start by opening a door and see how many amps the courtsy light draws.
Any readings you have your not sure of take a fuse out one at a time until current draw stops and then you found your fault.

Anonymous

Or take it to a garage like i did and get charged £56 labour and 16p for the parts