Battery earth Leakage?

[Rouseyboy]

About a month ago, my battery died - and I fitted a new replacement. Lovely.

But when I went to start on Saturday, the new battery was completely dead - not enough to even keep the radio memory. So I jump started, and drove about a mile around the block. Switched off, and restarted - no problem. So seems the alternator is fine.

I am guessing that there is some leakage somewhere, but I am not sure how to start finding it. I have a small test meter but am stuck now. Can I find it myself, or do I call in the auto electrician?

...Dave

[silverfox]

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Dave has your meter got a dc current range ( dc amps ). If it has disconnect your battery positive lead and connect your meter , one end to the positive battery terminal and the other to the positive lead, you will see any leakage shown on the meter. Then could remove one fuse at a time to see if the current drops when a particular fuse is removed. If it does this would indicate which circuit your leakage is on. Hope this helps. Terry

[Sheepdip]

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Hi Dave. Had exactly the same problem and likewise a new battery!

First check the obvious, boot light and glovebox (which was the case with me). What I did was stick an ammeter between battery and live cable which showed a reading, took out each fuse until it dropped (there was still some due to immobiliser) and found which circuits this affected.

Paul

[whereufromnosecity]

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Dave

I've had the same problem myself, i found mine by doing whats all ready been suggested

Mine turned out to be the grove box light (it was wired up all wrong), it's all easy enough to check just time consuming

Stu E

[riviera kid]

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Hi all classic one here. because most of us don't drive our cars daily we don't know how low are batteries are. we start them up and assume all is ok go for say a 60 mile drive we all think thats ok. not the case you will have a gradual discharge like you are having .boot light glove box light are notorious also check p./side door /interior light as because /lack of use Regards Tony

[V Mad]

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It doesn't take much to drain the battery in a month, about 0.1 amp will do it. but in 4 days it takes nearly an amp. If you dont have an ammeter,take off the battery earth lead and just touch it to the terminal you should be able to hear a faint spark which tells you something is taking current. Another trick is to us a small wattage bulb; this will glow if its taking current. Then as the others have said, take out fuses one by one to find the fault. Let us know how you get on.

[richardthestag]

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Rouseyboy wrote:

So seems the alternator is fine.

That is exactly what I thought when my battery used to drain, sometimes over a couple of days and once during a day while the car was parked up outside work.

Turns out that a knackeredalternator will happily charge the battery up when running but then when stopped will equally happily drain it.

Do you have one of those Tracker systems fitted? they have a small 12v backup battery and when these get knackered they will drain the main car battery trying to recharge.

[Rouseyboy]

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Update - glovebox and boot lights are fine.

I do not have an ammeter.

But I did notice that the offside sidelights were both out - front AND back, when testing the lights. I reached under the parcel shelf and gave the wiring loom a shake, and both lights came on again.

Could this be associated with the leakeage?