Battery woes

[muddyjames]

I seem to have something using the juice out of the battery.

I checked it yesterday. 14.04 volts when engine running, turned engine off and it was ike a count down timer on the multimeter and it stopped at about 12.78 volts

Today after about 24hours it was 12.23, then I put the glow plugs on and it dropped to 11.11volts and it really didnt want to start and just as I lsot all hope it fired into life.

I have a solar pannel in the boot connected to the constant 12v feed for caravans. It seems to be worse since then. Could the solar pannel be effecting it? Should I just wire the pannel direct into the battery avoiding the constant 12v? I cant think in my head it will make any difference.

One day soon it isnt going to start.

I had a 2hour run on Sunday week back. It has been started up and moved onto the road to work on it and then turned off again. Done that about 5-6 times.

Any ideas?

[skip]

on some solar panels at night there is some reverse leakage through the panels control circuits , and with long winter nights there could be more coming out than there is going in.

[muddyjames]

I rememebr reading that the solar pannel has a non return diode in it. It used to work well in the caravan to keep that topped up.

Any way I can check the pannel is taking the juice back in ?

[hobbit]

Disconnect it for a night, and see if the problem goes away

[muddyjames]

well it has had problems with battery going flat before, hence why i put the pannel in. It is also a PITA to take out as it is all wired into behind the dickie seats etc.  :roll:  :twisted:

[kevinragman]

:roll: I have the very same problem.  Had the battery off for 3 days and charged it and kept checking it.  Battery eliminated.  Put it back onto the car and checked it.  Over night it had dropped slightly.  24 Hrs on, it's dropped to 10ish volts.  Now just powering the central locking/interior lights.  Solar panel disconnected.   :roll:  :roll: Done all the earths and cleaned everywhere.  Damn annoying.  I don't do many miles at all but the battery drains quick, [!Expletive Deleted!] pushing it :!:  :!:

[muddyjames]

I bouight the battery brand new in December 29th last year. I would take it back but the shop I got it from is over 100miles away :(

[SteveGoodz]

I seem to have something using the juice out of the battery.

I checked it yesterday. 14.04 volts when engine running, turned engine off and it was ike a count down timer on the multimeter and it stopped at about 12.78 volts

Today after about 24hours it was 12.23, then I put the glow plugs on and it dropped to 11.11volts and it really didnt want to start and just as I lsot all hope it fired into life.

The volts drop with the glow plugs energised isn't too surprising. You are drawing about 50Amps after all. Does the voltage start to recover afterwards? It should do.

Any ideas?

You need to establish what the drain on the battery is with nothing switched on and to do this you'll need either a multi-meter or ammeter. Firstly, switch everything off on the vehicle and close all the doors. Next, disconnect the lead from the negative battery terminal. Finally, connect the meter between the battery post and disconnected lead to see what current is being drawn - give it about 20 seconds for everything to settle down. Anything more than a few hundred milliamps suggests an abnormal drain. Then we get into a whole different ballgame  :D

HTH

[mike142sl]

Batteries always take a battering in the cold weather. Mine (3yrs old) has started to need charging recently although I normally only drive a few miles each week so I am probably not giving the alternator chance to put the charge back in that I take out - inc the drain caused by the alarm/immobiliser. I've also got a tracker on there so that will be taking some juice as well.

I used to have a solar panel connected direct to the battery of the old RRC which kept the charge topped up fine. Might look at getting one for the Disco.

[landroverkeith]

mine is the same james..... bloody thing never wants to turn over in the mornings i just put it down to the cold. as my battery is only just over a year old

 :roll:  glad we moved to the new house with a sloping drive    id never hear the end of it if my car was dead and blocked the others behind lol

[Ja1983]

cold damp air and electrics arent the best of friends, but i would expect it to start after been stood for a day or three at least... alarms, immobilisers, radio (station memory) and the clock will all pull a bit out, but not normally enough to kill a battery... try borrowing a battery off something else, if all is well, you know the battery is burgered... if same symptonms then time to check theres no shorts.. also if possible, check the fluid in the battery... if low the lead plates warp, contact, and charge storage is reduced...

if its low, a few pennies at asda will get you a bottle of de-ionised water...

[muddyjames]

The volts drop with the glow plugs energised isn't too surprising. You are drawing about 50Amps after all. Does the voltage start to recover afterwards? It should do.

I didnt check to see if it regained. I will do when I get the disco back

Any ideas?

give it about 20 seconds for everything to settle down. Anything more than a few hundred milliamps suggests an abnormal drain. Then we get into a whole different ballgame  :D

HTH

Oh this sounds like it could end in tears then!!

I have had to leave the disco on a farm for a few days now (until tuesday pm) as I have my voluntary work van to take and bring back from somewhere.

One thing that may give a clue is that the SRS light on the dash is on. It has been on ever since the battery got disconected 2 years ago. Now that I dont have a problem with. the wierd thing is that sometimes the left S flashes dimly, sometimes the right S, even sometimes all the SRs flashes dimly. however, if I am lucky it doesnt flash at all!

Any clues?

[Guardian.]

the airbag light will switch off by laptop, if the batery goes dead the safety systems sometimes need resetting with laptop, as they have a voltage drop warning, my audi did this last month after a flat battery, mate plugged his laptop in and just reset them no sweat!

[muddyjames]

So I need a person with a laptop and the right pc program gubbins to turn it off.

But why does various parts of the SRS flash dimley? Does it normally do that or should it just be permanently on? Could it effect the battery condtition reason?

[Guardian.]

thats what they did to mine, most places have all the software for that sort of thing, as for dim and whatever , i havent a clue.

[SteveGoodz]

It's difficult to say if the SRS light problem is a symptom of a failing battery or the reason for the battery to drain  :?

The intermittent dimming/brightening of the SRS light could be caused by a poor connection somewhere but it could also be lots of other things too - intermittent electrical faults are a fatherless-offspring to track down  :x

[Evilgoat]

Missing the fact that batterys can and do age, they simply get to the stage where they do self discahrge.

Off-load volts for the battery should be about 12.5v so the drop after starting isnt that surprising. As already mentioned the glow plugs draw a lot of juice but it shouldnt drop that much, this suggests the battery is either discharged at this point or no longer able to supply its capacity.

It is possible to overcharge a battery too, leaving one constantly on trickle isnt actually that good an idea. As the battery charges it wnets hydrogen and oxygen, this has to come from somewhere and causes the electrolyte levels to drop. Take the caps off and check the levels, if you can see the plates, top them up but use de-ionised water, DO NOT USE TAP WATER IT WILL EXPLODE, so the plates are just covered. Remeber the acid is corrosive,it'll eat the body and your body too.

[Ralph]

I have allways used tap water, sure its not much good for battery but have never had one EXPLODE as you say. Thats either scaremongering or limited knowledge.

[Evilgoat]

I have allways used tap water, sure its not much good for battery but have never had one EXPLODE as you say. Thats either scaremongering or limited knowledge.

Edited:

I cant be bothered to justify myself or explain the risks as you obviously know them better than me. I'm sick of justifying my professional eperience and expertise on here so I'll leave it at:

If you feel the need to blow yourself up please do, but dont instruct other members to do it.

[Ralph]

I'm not telling other members to blow themselves up. Simply putting foward MY experiences, which is afterall what most people do on here which is what helps other people to get things done.

[Jake]

Battery problems?
I used to suffer with those.
I dont anymore
Twin super power starting me every morning  
 8)

[SteveGoodz]

I have allways used tap water, sure its not much good for battery but have never had one EXPLODE as you say. Thats either scaremongering or limited knowledge.

Evilgoat is neither scaremongering or exhibiting limited knowledge. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Because of the open cell construction of most lead-acid batteries (and the sulphuric acid/water electrolyte used) overcharging can cause electrolysis to occur. This creates an oxygen/hydrogen gas mixture in the cavity above the cells. This mixture is explosive. Tap water lowers the voltage at which overcharging takes place (because of it's impurities) and increases the likelihood of this occurring.

[sternyboy]

Where are you?

There's a good battery shop in Rainham, Kent. Battery Specialists South East 01634 262343.

May I suggest taking your battery to a specialist to test it. If they are as profesional as these people they will test it free of charge.

[muddyjames]

I am near Northampton.

I may go and get it checked out as if it is a duff I will have to do a horrible milega eround trip to get another.  :twisted:

[Guardian.]

i have just fitted a nice BIG 1100amp batery in mine that will start a dead anything.
not sure if my little 45amp alternater is gonna keep it tip top though, as i have fair old bit of drain with all my lights on, and moniter, and sat nav, etc, etc.

[Ralph]

i have just fitted a nice BIG 1100amp batery in mine that will start a dead anything.
not sure if my little 45amp alternater is gonna keep it tip top though

Forget starting the engine just put an electric motor in with that size battery, wheredid you fit it? boot maybe or trailer :shock:

[Guardian.]

he he, when my man at the garage saw it, thats the first thing he said, are you making it electric powered.
its not too big, its about 2ft long but pretty much same width and height  as a good h/d battery, only fing is they are over £200 so it better last!
and yes it sits in the back over one of the back wheels, it is quite heavy.
i like everything ott, perhaps this is why its only doing 9/10 mpg.

[Evilgoat]

Battery is on my hit list. I wont be going split charge but I have already got new cables, fusebox etc to go in. Just getting the willpower to do it. The harness I have for the starter is a drop in, brand new part from a Ford Ranger  :shock: