Electrical problems, help please
Thread Starter
Bananas!
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,199
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From: South Lincs RSOC
Electrical problems, help please
Hi all,
I starting to get a lil pissed of with my electrical problem on my rs turbo.
I starting to get a lil pissed of with my electrical problem on my rs turbo.
When I got the can back in April, it need a new battery as the one on it couldn't hold a charge. That was ok for a till it came to me servicing the car, as I ended up doing a bit of work in the dark, so used my lead light that runs off a 12v car battery, so I ended up running the bat down. I charged it up in my garage and put back in the car, that lasted about 2day and it was flat again, all by its self. so guessing I must have cooked the battery on the charger, I when out and got another battery, that was oks for about a week and then it was running its self flat again, so doing some testing, and worked out the alternator might be buggered, so I put new one on it.
Guess what the problem didn't go away. now thinking a had a power drain somewhere. Doing some more testing yesterday, me and my mate thought it was my head unit draining the power as when I put it in, I out it on a permanent live, so it would keep my settings, always done that with every head unit iv ever had. So yesterday I unwired the head unit, and took the car out for about half hour drive and came home. before removed the the head unit the battery was sitting at 12.6v and it the space of 20mins it dropped to bout 10v, so head unit out, and went for the drive.
came home and it was back to 12.6v not running just been out to check it and over night its dropped to 10.5v.
Now its charging at 14.8v when running.
Now the only other thing I starting to think is, Iv not got a heated from screen as its not an original screen. but i can still push the button anf the light comes on the button, but the car still has a head rear screen, but this seems not to work, as you can press the button ans it doesnt light up and not clear the screen, but sometimes if the car is struggling to start the light come on the rear screen button.
Has anyone got any ideas, I,v got the battery on charge in my garage now, on a low rate of charge and 12v charge.
Please help as I really cant be doing with this prob at the mo as I'v not long got a new job working nights and i need the car to get there.
Guess what the problem didn't go away. now thinking a had a power drain somewhere. Doing some more testing yesterday, me and my mate thought it was my head unit draining the power as when I put it in, I out it on a permanent live, so it would keep my settings, always done that with every head unit iv ever had. So yesterday I unwired the head unit, and took the car out for about half hour drive and came home. before removed the the head unit the battery was sitting at 12.6v and it the space of 20mins it dropped to bout 10v, so head unit out, and went for the drive.
came home and it was back to 12.6v not running just been out to check it and over night its dropped to 10.5v.
Now its charging at 14.8v when running.
Now the only other thing I starting to think is, Iv not got a heated from screen as its not an original screen. but i can still push the button anf the light comes on the button, but the car still has a head rear screen, but this seems not to work, as you can press the button ans it doesnt light up and not clear the screen, but sometimes if the car is struggling to start the light come on the rear screen button.
Has anyone got any ideas, I,v got the battery on charge in my garage now, on a low rate of charge and 12v charge.
Please help as I really cant be doing with this prob at the mo as I'v not long got a new job working nights and i need the car to get there.
Thread Starter
Bananas!
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 0
From: South Lincs RSOC
please anyone?
It does seem to be the head unit that has cause my problem, dose anyone know why wiring the head unit is killing the battary, as its never done it in any other car I'v had with a head unit wired that way round.
It does seem to be the head unit that has cause my problem, dose anyone know why wiring the head unit is killing the battary, as its never done it in any other car I'v had with a head unit wired that way round.
Thread Starter
Bananas!
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,199
Likes: 0
From: South Lincs RSOC
Someone please help, as of finishing work on tuesday at 6am the car was good. but since then been out to the car this morning and the battery has drop to 8.5v just sitting there, so its looking like it may not being the head unit now im running out of ideas.
why o why do i do it!!!!!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 351
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From: harworth doncaster
1st drop test the batt if you havnt, then run the car it need to be 14.4v when you stop the car take the batt off n put it in the house on a peace of wood (keep it warm) then do the same then let me know whet the result is
20K+ Super Poster.
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 24,596
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From: uk
The heated rear screen may work only when the engine is running, as often on some cars, more notably for front but some rear screens the relay is fed the live it needs from the IND terminal on the alternator(charge light).
It's possible the relay is duff, and actually powering the rear screen a bit all the time, not enough to make it appear working, but enough power sap overnight etc to make a big difference.
Unplug the rear screen relay and see what effect it has, as it's "not working" anyway this won't be any inconvenience.
Your charge rate is ace, a new battery will cope with being fully flattened and recharge ok, not so when a few years old.
To find a power drain, remove all fuses whilst you have a 5 watt bulb placed between the battery terminal and the lead that came off it, put each fuse back in turn, when something consumes power the bulb will light, you should not have anything more than a very faint glimmer, as some stuff uses all the time, clock/alarm etc.
tabetha
It's possible the relay is duff, and actually powering the rear screen a bit all the time, not enough to make it appear working, but enough power sap overnight etc to make a big difference.
Unplug the rear screen relay and see what effect it has, as it's "not working" anyway this won't be any inconvenience.
Your charge rate is ace, a new battery will cope with being fully flattened and recharge ok, not so when a few years old.
To find a power drain, remove all fuses whilst you have a 5 watt bulb placed between the battery terminal and the lead that came off it, put each fuse back in turn, when something consumes power the bulb will light, you should not have anything more than a very faint glimmer, as some stuff uses all the time, clock/alarm etc.
tabetha
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