cabrio zo

For nearly a year my rust bucket (cabrio) has suffered from intermittent flat battery problem (always worst in the cold) its had new batteries and a new alternator. I thought maybe the starter motor was on the way out and was drawing extra power to try to start it, but left it over night and could tell by the slow central locking that the battery had flattened without even trying to start it.
Took amp out as that seemed to be pulling some power, but this obviously wasn’t the cause. The boot light has never worked, so don’t think that could be a drain. If use the thing regularly in the day its ok (obviously keeping the battery topped up – the alternator is charging fine) I’m stumped, and at my wits end with it now

Z

IANS2RST

iTrader: (1)

if its the car in your sig then its probably the fuse board, common problem on mk 5/6 escorts. you can either replace the board or isolate the circuit causing the drain & hardwire it outside the fuse box both are a pain in the arse

Fudgey

iTrader: (4)

is your boot light staying on???????????????

fold dow the rear seat and sit in the car, if its on you got an earth fault to the switch

cabrio zo

Yep thats the critter, thanks for your reply, J mentioned the fuse board (had to have one replaced/repaired on mk5 130 XR3i) didn't realise were prob on my reg, great

Z

cabrio zo

Cheers Fudge. Though the boot leaks so wondered if some of the electrics have got damp and fusing out or something, you never know

Z

Smit

iTrader: (5)

Ello Stranger

I had a problem with my runaround (Mk5 Escort) killing the battery every week or so..I did the same as you and brought new alternator/battery and the bastid thing still wasn't fixed!

I found out that the engine Earths on the car was absolute crap!

Think there should be 2 on yours. I simply took them aff using a 17" gave them a new connector and sanded down the connection surface with a bit of harsh wet n dry...and connected them back up

Ain't had aproblem since..piss's me of because i'd spent the money on an Alternator n Battery when the weren't needed!

Worth a shot i say

cabrio zo

Hey stranger, see nothings changed with you! (Breaking bits! lol) Know what you mean Smit, it was probably due an alternator anyway (its on 117k now! lol) yep J mentioned the earth too. Going to sound stupid now, where are they (if yours was Zetec mkv probably the same place)

Smit

iTrader: (5)

The earth leads i'm on about are what earths the Engine/Gearbox to the actual Chassis! As the alternator charges the negative charge is on the actual engine..Then this is transferred throught these earth wires to the chassis then hence to the battery!

So if these connections are absolute shite then the battery will not be recieving the full charge the alternator is giving out, Hence the battery draining

There should be 2 Earth leads....One will be on the top of the gearbox where it's bolted to the block! there are 2 bolts which are higher than any other...the lead should be on the front of the 2!

The other one is on the drivers side engine mount. Top left of engine bay (cambelt side) there will be a engine mount which holds the engine to the inner wing. The earth will be on the 2nd bolt down

i replaced both chassis end and engine end connectors...Worth a shot for the sake of a quid

vroooom ptssssh

if it has an electronic boot release check that, mate had same probs with his.

cabrio zo

lol this is bottom of the range model, not lucky enough to have electronic boot release! (Though not sure if any of the cabrios have that)

Cheers Smit, should've had a look at lunchtime (or maybe the weekend when got time to get the jack out, J'll love that on his only day off )

Z