terryW Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 A 29 year old VW camper Van has just joined the family but has a habit of draining the battery. It has a new battery, charges well and starts first time. But when left the battery goes flat. I have disconnected all additional/ancillary connections to the battery leaving just the original vehicle connections and find that with the ignition switched off something is drawing about 40 mA. I would have thought with ignition off no current should be drawn. Any thoughts anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Does it have an alarm - these are the cause of much grief to batteries - especially afterfit ones! Does it have a control panel for the habitation side as these too are known offenders? Sorry but I'm not familiar with VWs - but someone who is will soon be along - probably? If you can tell us what converter and/or model it is it might help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryW Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 Thanks anyway tracker. Yes tried to disconnect anything that that doesn't look original but after 29 years of multi-owners who knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyishuk Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Not sure when alternators were introduced, but the diodes on the alternator may be leaking charge when the vehicle is static. But good enough to work to charge the battery. Rgds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryW Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 tonyishuk - 2011-08-01 8:01 PMNot sure when alternators were introduced, but the diodes on the alternator may be leaking charge when the vehicle is static. But good enough to work to charge the battery.Rgds Never thought of that, I was trying to think what electronics would be associated with the engine and never though of the alternator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1footinthegrave Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Not much help really but I have a 2003 Avensis with the same problem, have took it to local garage, searched internet forums, replaced the alternator, pulled and disabled everything in turn, alarm, you name it I've done it. My solution is a battery isolator switch on the negative side not ideal but does the job. Available quite cheaply as well, no more flat battery. Do a Google search for parasitic battery drain, quite a common headache apparently for some ! ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryW Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 1footinthegrave - 2011-08-01 8:35 PMNot much help really but I have a 2003 Avensis with the same problem, have took it to local garage, searched internet forums, replaced the alternator, pulled and disabled everything in turn, alarm, you name it I've done it. My solution is a battery isolator switch on the negative side not ideal but does the job. Available quite cheaply as well, no more flat battery.Do a Google search for parasitic battery drain, quite a common headache apparently for some ! ! Sounds like a good tip. At the moment they are disconnecting the battery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 I wouldn't have thought 40ma was worth worrying about, it is less than any modern vehicle would draw. has it had a newer radio fitted, for the last 20 or more years radios have a separate always live supply to the memory circuit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1footinthegrave Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 Have a read here, over 25-50 milliamps, something is using too much battery according to this guide http://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Parasitic-Battery-Drain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 1footinthegrave - 2011-08-02 11:36 AM Have a read here, over 25-50 milliamps, something is using too much battery according to this guide http://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Parasitic-Battery-Drain When I went to school 40 was less than 50. (lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecal Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 Hi Terry,What model and build is your VW? T2, T3????Regards,Brendan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryW Posted August 2, 2011 Author Share Posted August 2, 2011 onecal - 2011-08-02 2:11 PMHi Terry,What model and build is your VW? T2, T3????Regards,Brendan Hi Brendan, it's my daughters T3. They aquired it a couple of months ago to see if they liked it and fell in love with the life immediately, out in it most weekends. The idea was that if they liked it they would do it up but having spent some time in it they have now discovered what we would have told them, had they asked, two adults, two kids and three dogs is a bit tight in a VW! But now they have the bug and will be looking for a starter coachbuilt at the end of the summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecal Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 Hi Terry, Pull a fuse and check, and then another until the 40 ma as you quote drops. You now have found the faulty circuit , Yes the Alt' needs to be checked, also the fusebox as it gives trouble on this model aswell as the inside overhead light shorting out Regards,Brandan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryW Posted August 3, 2011 Author Share Posted August 3, 2011 Thank Brandan and everyone else for their help. I thought my days of scrabbling around under bonnets was over, but they're having so much fun on a tight budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.