Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Auto Addict on 25 October 2009, 12:17:29

Title: Flat battery
Post by: Auto Addict on 25 October 2009, 12:17:29
Reading 11.47v, only 12 months old as well :(
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Andy B on 25 October 2009, 14:43:53
Your alternator OK? Anything powered up that shouldn't be? You've not been supplying power to your caravan have you & flattened it?  ;)  ;)
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Welung666 on 25 October 2009, 14:54:07
B, I've got the one off the 2.2 here, fully charged and holds it if you want it? :y
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: omegadti on 25 October 2009, 14:57:25
I have just had a problem with mine - showed good voltage when charged but not enough power to start the car - the battery was less than 2 years old so sent it back and they confirmed a faulty battery and an offer of replacement, or refund as I had replaced the battery while waiting for the answer.
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Auto Addict on 25 October 2009, 17:42:49
Everythings fine, alternator charging to correct voltage OK.

MarksDTM looked at it about 12 months ago, found a sticking relay to the rear aux. socket that was draining it, relay was removed.

This car is on it's 4th battery (counting the orig.) currently running on a genuine 70 amp Vx battery not their cheapo one.

Never owned a car that drains batteries so much. >:(

Charging it up at the moment, running on the spare.
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Auto Addict on 25 October 2009, 17:43:56
Quote
B, I've got the one off the 2.2 here, fully charged and holds it if you want it? :y

Thanks for the offer, it's OK, I've got a spare that I keep fully charged.
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: tunnie on 25 October 2009, 17:45:52
did you check the charge at the battery? mine had a corroded lead running from the alternator.

The alternator itself was chucking out the right power, but not everything was reaching the battery. Replacement terminus on the positive has fixed it. Using a Vx Go battery now, even has the green light on it  :o
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Auto Addict on 25 October 2009, 17:54:00
Quote
did you check the charge at the battery? mine had a corroded lead running from the alternator.

The alternator itself was chucking out the right power, but not everything was reaching the battery. Replacement terminus on the positive has fixed it. Using a Vx Go battery now, even has the green light on it  :o

Yup, no corrosian anywhere.
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: pedroMV6 on 25 October 2009, 18:14:05
Same problem - and worse - with my Carlton.
it would drain overnight and even after a full charge, wouldn't start the car twice in a day.
Repaced starter motor, then alternator.
Replaced battery, still the same.
Voltage readings were spot on.
After a few months, I renewed all the wiring (because GM wire of that era is crap, it corrodes inside the sheathing and goes hard) from battery - alternator - starter and still did it.
Took new battery (a 18 months old by then) to be checked, 12V as it should be, but not many amps.
Tester showed me that there was one (or more) dead cells.

OK, so bought a bigger battery - Varta 70A, but higher CCA than old Carlton battery. Alternator charges it just fine.

He said the reason that the old battery could have worn out so quickly was dodgy main cables (the ones I had replaced after fitting previous) battery, or (and to be honest, more likely), bought a duff battery to start with.
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: feeutfo on 25 October 2009, 18:32:12
i'm not likely to think of anything the master would not have checked.

Only thoughts,

are the battery clamps crimped to the cables firmly? Not loose or getting hot?

Kevin Woods battery guide is very comprehensive it seems to me. Worth a go if you have a meter?

Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Auto Addict on 25 October 2009, 18:59:59
Quote
i'm not likely to think of anything the master would not have checked.

Only thoughts,

are the battery clamps crimped to the cables firmly? Not loose or getting hot?

Kevin Woods battery guide is very comprehensive it seems to me. Worth a go if you have a meter?


Yup, everythings been checked.


Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Kevin Wood on 25 October 2009, 19:03:02
Intermittent fault draining it perhaps? How long had it been standing since last used?

Kevin
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Auto Addict on 25 October 2009, 19:14:58
Quote
Intermittent fault draining it perhaps? How long had it been standing since last used?

Kevin

24 hours.
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: KillerWatt on 25 October 2009, 19:21:00
Quote
Quote
Intermittent fault draining it perhaps? How long had it been standing since last used?

Kevin

24 hours.
My old man had an intermittent fault just like this years ago, turned out to be the manifold heater relay intermittently sticking on.

Now I know the Mig doesn't have a PTC, but it does have other high current devices that are fed via relays (eg, heated screen).

I'd also stick an ammeter in series with the battery and measure the quiescent current.
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Auto Addict on 25 October 2009, 19:21:45
I'll have a proper investigation tomorrow, didn't have alot of time today.

Maybe another trip to Nottingham, and get the old AVO on it, again. ;D
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Kevin Wood on 25 October 2009, 19:41:30
Quote
My old man had an intermittent fault just like this years ago, turned out to be the manifold heater relay intermittently sticking on.

Now I know the Mig doesn't have a PTC, but it does have other high current devices that are fed via relays (eg, heated screen).

I'd also stick an ammeter in series with the battery and measure the quiescent current.

Happened to me too. Rear heated screen relay welded shut and the first I knew was when the police phoned me at 3 o'clock in the morning to ask me to shut my car alarm up. ;D

There's me running around in my dressing gown trying to find the alarm (this was a Laguna and they're well hidden). Ended up with a couple of damp towels on the scuttle and wait for it to get bored. ;D

Kevin
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 26 October 2009, 08:39:36
I need notice for the AVO, its currently on 110 tons of loco!

Your biggest issue AA is all your short runs, it results in the plates sulphating up.
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Kevin Wood on 26 October 2009, 09:40:55
Quote
I need notice for the AVO, its currently on 110 tons of loco!

Your biggest issue AA is all your short runs, it results in the plates sulphating up.

.. so try 25 MPH instead of 45 MPH to make them a little longer.  :y

Kevin
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Auto Addict on 26 October 2009, 16:07:39
Quote
I need notice for the AVO, its currently on 110 tons of loco!

Your biggest issue AA is all your short runs, it results in the plates sulphating up.

What do you mean, short runs, I'll have you know I average 1.5 miles a day. ::)

Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Auto Addict on 29 October 2009, 16:26:14
Bit the bullet, and bought one of these.

http://www.ringautomotive.co.uk/product_detail.asp?prod=1372

Not cheap, but brilliant piece of kit.
Title: Re: Flat battery
Post by: Auto Addict on 01 November 2009, 10:12:03
Can't praise this charger enough, a golf trolley battery, which I thought had had it, now works again. :y