CAR, random battery drain

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Any suggestions?

Charging is fine battery is nearly new. Every now and then the car is Dead I can't even unlock the doors.

At idle i read 14.25v

I have measured the drain off of the battery with everything off and it is 0.01-0.02A as far as I'm aware that is normal.

Case in point I last drove it Sunday Week no probs. I tried to start it Saturday and it was dead Battery showing 3v. I can't have left the lights on as they are automatic.

This has happened a few times now I can't work it out. Any ideas? It's a 2006 Fiesta.
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Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
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Fisty · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Karma :

Bikeless · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Karma :

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

I'll leave the back seats down so I can keep an eye on it. Thumbs Up

cheers good idea.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

jaffa90 · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Apr 2016 Karma :

A boot light should last ages with a good battery, when it happens again feel the starter motor and the alternator for heat, also at 3 volts ????????? disconnect the battery and it should regenerate to 12 volts.
If not then the battery is made in China/Taiwan.

RhynoCZ · Super Spammer Joined: 09 Mar 2012 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

It is killing the battery in 6 days (Sunday to Saturday) so not a massive power drain required. A 5W 12V bulb is pulling a bit under half an amp. An alarm on a car of ours pulled 0.7 amp and would kill the (fairly large) battery in 4 days.

All the best

Katy
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doggone · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 May 2004 Karma :

Something is faulty which is a live circuit when ignition is off, hazard light switch comes to mind.
With patience you could test across each fuse holder provided it was dong it at the time

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Presuming it's a fairly low draw, measure the current from the positive terminal with everything off.

This won't tell you where it is, but may give some pointers.

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

bugeye_bob · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Sep 2013 Karma :

whats the battery voltage when it is ok, engine not running?
then test again with the engine running but rev the engine, make sure its not over charging at any point.

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

ZebraDriver · Scooby Slapper Joined: 13 Feb 2011 Karma :

Could be a duff battery. I've had a couple that suddenly "disconnect" themselves internally and show all the signs of a flat battery then an hour later they are ok again. Driving along the road the same thing can happen and suddenly the lights are super bright and the blower will speed up.

ZD

linuxyeti · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Oct 2006 Karma :

^^^
What they said, I had a similar issue with my car battery last year, got to the point where I had to replace it. Sometimes it would last weeks, others it would last hours !!

Just because the battery is new, doesn't mean it's not faulty, on the plus side, if it is a new battery, you should get a replacement under warranty
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Chris45 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 23 Oct 2016 Karma :

Check all the earth straps. Had this problem on an old Toyota Carina many years back. If it's an ongoing, intermittent problem and the car is left standing for several days, disconnect the negative - at least you'll know the battery isn't being drained while it's standing Laughing

uberkron · Crazy Courier Joined: 12 Nov 2012 Karma :

A competent auto sparky will connect a scope and see when a drain occurs as well as how much.
We tend to find them fairly quickly.
If it's a big pain pay somebody. If it is not too inconvenient, welcome to chasing intermittent faults.
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chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

iooi · Super Spammer Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Karma :

Are you sure the auto light are turning off?

Could it be some other non oem powered device in the car that is the issue?
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chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

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