Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Auto Addict on 09 March 2008, 10:07:44
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The car is now on it's 3rd battery in 6yrs 2 months.
The original battery lasted 3yrs 1 month.
The 2nd battery lasted 3yrs 1 month.
Fitted a new 66amp Go battery on friday.
Reading :-
When fitted - 07/03/08 @ 16:00 hrs - 12.77v.
Stood overnight - 08/03/08 @ 09:20hrs - 12.52v
Driven approx 10miles - 08/03/08 @ 15:00hrs - 12.97v
Stood overnight - 09/03/08 @ 09:30hrs - 12.60v
Alternator is charging @ around 14.23v.
Will be going on a run today of about 30miles.
Will report reading again after.
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Hi
I no some batteries seem to go on for years, but the average life expectancy of a car battery is 3 years.
Low mileage users suffer because the battery is never charged properly, and high mileage users suffer because the battery is effectivly overcharged.
Once went to a lady broken down who told me she has new battery fitted every 12 months because "they just don't last do they" I cleaned the main body earth and problem dissapeared.
HTH
Mike
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The only thing I could suggest is to put your multi-meter on Amps and put it in line with your battery to determine current draw at rest. Then pull fuses in turn & see which fuse has the biggest affect.
My Astra is charging at 14.2A too, I looked Friday when it came back from the auto-spark.
Or ....... you could take the easy option of taking it to a good auto-spark. ;) ;) :y
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Battery terminals are kept very clean.
I don't do much mileage these days, will check to see what amps it's drawing.
I know the alarm system does draw on the battery.
Never got through so many batteries on a car :(
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The car is now on it's 3rd battery in 6yrs 2 months.
The original battery lasted 3yrs 1 month.
The 2nd battery lasted 3yrs 1 month.
Fitted a new 66amp Go battery on friday.
Reading :-
When fitted - 07/03/08 @ 16:00 hrs - 12.77v.
Stood overnight - 08/03/08 @ 09:20hrs - 12.52v
Driven approx 10miles - 08/03/08 @ 15:00hrs - 12.97v
Stood overnight - 09/03/08 @ 09:30hrs - 12.60v
Alternator is charging @ around 14.23v.
Will be going on a run today of about 30miles.
Will report reading again after.
After a 30 mile run the battery read 12.88v.
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The car is now on it's 3rd battery in 6yrs 2 months.
The original battery lasted 3yrs 1 month.
The 2nd battery lasted 3yrs 1 month.
Fitted a new 66amp Go battery on friday.
Reading :-
When fitted - 07/03/08 @ 16:00 hrs - 12.77v.
Stood overnight - 08/03/08 @ 09:20hrs - 12.52v
Driven approx 10miles - 08/03/08 @ 15:00hrs - 12.97v
Stood overnight - 09/03/08 @ 09:30hrs - 12.60v
Alternator is charging @ around 14.23v.
Will be going on a run today of about 30miles.
Will report reading again after.
After a 30 mile run the battery read 12.88v.
Sounds bout right to me AA......
0.2/0.3v drop overnight isnt much........as you say the alarm system will draw some power.
Also battery wouldnt have been fully charged when you bought it........depends how long it had been sitting on the shelf at the vx dealer.
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The car is now on it's 3rd battery in 6yrs 2 months.
The original battery lasted 3yrs 1 month.
The 2nd battery lasted 3yrs 1 month.
Fitted a new 66amp Go battery on friday.
Reading :-
When fitted - 07/03/08 @ 16:00 hrs - 12.77v.
Stood overnight - 08/03/08 @ 09:20hrs - 12.52v
Driven approx 10miles - 08/03/08 @ 15:00hrs - 12.97v
Stood overnight - 09/03/08 @ 09:30hrs - 12.60v
Alternator is charging @ around 14.23v.
Will be going on a run today of about 30miles.
Will report reading again after.
After a 30 mile run the battery read 12.88v.
Sounds bout right to me AA......
0.2/0.3v drop overnight isnt much........as you say the alarm system will draw some power.
Also battery wouldnt have been fully charged when you bought it........depends how long it had been sitting on the shelf at the vx dealer.
I would have thought after a 30 mile run, it would have been reading 13v +.
Can anyone give me a reading off their battery, I don't mean now in the dark, but when it's convenient please?
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The car is now on it's 3rd battery in 6yrs 2 months.
The original battery lasted 3yrs 1 month.
The 2nd battery lasted 3yrs 1 month.
Fitted a new 66amp Go battery on friday.
Reading :-
When fitted - 07/03/08 @ 16:00 hrs - 12.77v.
Stood overnight - 08/03/08 @ 09:20hrs - 12.52v
Driven approx 10miles - 08/03/08 @ 15:00hrs - 12.97v
Stood overnight - 09/03/08 @ 09:30hrs - 12.60v
Alternator is charging @ around 14.23v.
Will be going on a run today of about 30miles.
Will report reading again after.
After a 30 mile run the battery read 12.88v.
Sounds bout right to me AA......
0.2/0.3v drop overnight isnt much........as you say the alarm system will draw some power.
Also battery wouldnt have been fully charged when you bought it........depends how long it had been sitting on the shelf at the vx dealer.
I would have thought after a 30 mile run, it would have been reading 13v +.
Can anyone give me a reading off their battery, I don't mean now in the dark, but when it's convenient please?
Just for you AA.......12.80v and it was bloody parked 2 streets away >:( ;D
Ive done about 50miles in it today.......sundays are lazy days :y
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After a run the battery will read high. For an accurate measure you need to either load the battery for a few mins (turn the lights on) or leave it for a couple of hours at least.
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Typical >:(
Walked about 1/2 mile to my omega.........to get AA a battery reading in the cold........and hes nodded off >:(
;) ;D
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The car is now on it's 3rd battery in 6yrs 2 months.
The original battery lasted 3yrs 1 month.
The 2nd battery lasted 3yrs 1 month.
Fitted a new 66amp Go battery on friday.
Reading :-
When fitted - 07/03/08 @ 16:00 hrs - 12.77v.
Stood overnight - 08/03/08 @ 09:20hrs - 12.52v
Driven approx 10miles - 08/03/08 @ 15:00hrs - 12.97v
Stood overnight - 09/03/08 @ 09:30hrs - 12.60v
Alternator is charging @ around 14.23v.
Will be going on a run today of about 30miles.
Will report reading again after.
Are you having starting problems.. AA
DC
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It's quite normal for the battery voltage to settle a little after it's been charging. What you describe sounds normal.
Kevin
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The car is now on it's 3rd battery in 6yrs 2 months.
The original battery lasted 3yrs 1 month.
The 2nd battery lasted 3yrs 1 month.
Fitted a new 66amp Go battery on friday.
Reading :-
When fitted - 07/03/08 @ 16:00 hrs - 12.77v.
Stood overnight - 08/03/08 @ 09:20hrs - 12.52v
Driven approx 10miles - 08/03/08 @ 15:00hrs - 12.97v
Stood overnight - 09/03/08 @ 09:30hrs - 12.60v
Alternator is charging @ around 14.23v.
Will be going on a run today of about 30miles.
Will report reading again after.
Are you having starting problems.. AA
DC
Flat battery a few days ago......after not using his 2.2 for a few days ;)
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If problems continue, try to measure the standing current to see if someting is drawing current when the car is idle (wait a few minutes for the time delay on the lights / rear lighter socket to expire).
A duff power sounder is a suspect, I'd say.
Kevin
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Typical >:(
Walked about 1/2 mile to my omega.........to get AA a battery reading in the cold........and hes nodded off >:(
;) ;D
Sorry about that :(
I always leave the car for about an hour, after a run, before I check the battery.
I just think I'm getting paranoid, about it.
Thanks guys.
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Having worked as a trainee auto spark for about a year some time ago it was always these "niggles" that were the worst to diagnose although generally most people did have problems starting their car hence why they were at us but if you can start your car each morning without a problem and without the starter feeling sluggish I'd say the alternator is charging great and the battery is holding the charge but if your having problems starting after a few days of non use I'd be inclined to check interior lights (usually the one's most at fault were likes of glove box lights or boot lights). Locate the switches for these and press them (i.e. the switch which is depressed when you shut them) and obviously the light should go out, although for the boot it wasn't the first time we had to climb into the bloody things and get someone to shut them over to see if the light went out - maybe that's just cause we were trainee's mind u!!.
Decent auto sparks will run a serious of checks for you including a battery drain test although if it's new chances are the battery is OK and something else is causing probs, but I'd start with interior lights.
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Having worked as a trainee auto spark for about a year some time ago it was always these "niggles" that were the worst to diagnose although generally most people did have problems starting their car hence why they were at us but if you can start your car each morning without a problem and without the starter feeling sluggish I'd say the alternator is charging great and the battery is holding the charge but if your having problems starting after a few days of non use I'd be inclined to check interior lights (usually the one's most at fault were likes of glove box lights or boot lights). Locate the switches for these and press them (i.e. the switch which is depressed when you shut them) and obviously the light should go out, although for the boot it wasn't the first time we had to climb into the bloody things and get someone to shut them over to see if the light went out - maybe that's just cause we were trainee's mind u!!.
Decent auto sparks will run a serious of checks for you including a battery drain test although if it's new chances are the battery is OK and something else is causing probs, but I'd start with interior lights.
Cheers, I'll check, when it stops raining :y
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Checked all the obvious, no lights being left on anywhere.
Seems to drain by 0.5v per 12 hours (left standing).
Is this normal?
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Seems to drain by 0.5v per 12 hours (left standing).
The voltage doesn't really tell you much, to be honest. It will fall rapidly after driving and then settle to a prett6y constant value, IME. It also depends if you've got any load on the battery when measuring it.
If you're still concerned, put an ammeter in series with the battery (start on the highest range - 10 or 20 amps and be very careful not to turn on any heavy loads with it connected). Shut the doors and leave the car for 10 minutes or so, then drop the range on the ammeter until you can get an accurate reading of the current. You should find it's tens of milliamps. Certainly more than 100mA and I would be concerned.
If you think you've got a problem you can then start pulling fuses to eliminate circuits.
Kevin
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Seems to drain by 0.5v per 12 hours (left standing).
The voltage doesn't really tell you much, to be honest. It will fall rapidly after driving and then settle to a prett6y constant value, IME. It also depends if you've got any load on the battery when measuring it.
If you're still concerned, put an ammeter in series with the battery (start on the highest range - 10 or 20 amps and be very careful not to turn on any heavy loads with it connected). Shut the doors and leave the car for 10 minutes or so, then drop the range on the ammeter until you can get an accurate reading of the current. You should find it's tens of milliamps. Certainly more than 100mA and I would be concerned.
If you think you've got a problem you can then start pulling fuses to eliminate circuits.
Kevin
I've tried my multimeter accross the + and -, with it set to 10amps (max it will go), and I get an 'Out of range' reading.
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I've tried my multimeter accross the + and -, with it set to 10amps (max it will go), and I get an 'Out of range' reading.
On the amps range you need it in series with the battery. I.E. take the positive lead off the battery, one meter lead on the battery terminal, and one on the clamp that came off.
Connecting directly across the battery will short it out :o You may find it's blown the protective fuse in the multimeter.
Kevin
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I've tried my multimeter accross the + and -, with it set to 10amps (max it will go), and I get an 'Out of range' reading.
On the amps range you need it in series with the battery. I.E. take the positive lead off the battery, one meter lead on the battery terminal, and one on the clamp that came off.
Connecting directly across the battery will short it out :o You may find it's blown the protective fuse in the multimeter.
Kevin
:-[ :-[ :-[ :-[
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Just a thought:
I owned a car with a fault in an alternator diode which caused the alternator to get ever-so slightly warm when the ignition was turned off.
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Just a thought:
I owned a car with a fault in an alternator diode which caused the alternator to get ever-so slightly warm when the ignition was turned off.
Good point. :y I have seen alternators where the diodes go leaky and result in a gradual discharge of the battery.
Kevin
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Right, disconnected the battery, set meter to 10amp (which says will give a reading between 400ma - 10amp) got a reading of 0.361, which I presume is the power sounder?????
Set the meter to ma, got no reading at all.
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got a reading of 0.361
OK. Leave the meter on for a few minutes with all the doors closed and the keys out because there is a time delay relay that takes a few minutes to drop out. You may be looking at the current that's taking. See if it drops. If it doesn't drop I'd say you've got a problem with something.
Doers your power sounder work? (I.E. go off with the alarm and if the battery is disconnected?)
Kevin
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got a reading of 0.361
OK. Leave the meter on for a few minutes with all the doors closed and the keys out because there is a time delay relay that takes a few minutes to drop out. You may be looking at the current that's taking. See if it drops. If it doesn't drop I'd say you've got a problem with something.
Doers your power sounder work? (I.E. go off with the alarm and if the battery is disconnected?)
Kevin
Disconneted the battery, left it for 10mins.
Set meter to 10amps, connected in series, power sounder blipped.
Took the reading, display didn't vary, disconnected the meter, power sounder went off.
All doors were closed, and keys out of ingnition.
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AA - connect ammeter as before, 10A range. Leave for 20mins, then post back reading (ie, leave ammeter connected for those 20mins)
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AA - connect ammeter as before, 10A range. Leave for 20mins, then post back reading (ie, leave ammeter connected for those 20mins)
Will do.
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AA - connect ammeter as before, 10A range. Leave for 20mins, then post back reading (ie, leave ammeter connected for those 20mins)
Will do.
Readings after 20mins:-
Fluctuates between 0.014 - 0.032
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Readings after 20mins:-
Fluctuates between 0.014 - 0.032
That's more like it. I'd say you have nothing to worry about there.
Kevin
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Readings after 20mins:-
Fluctuates between 0.014 - 0.032
That's more like it. I'd say you have nothing to worry about there.
Kevin
:y
Thanks for all your help and advice, everybody.
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Readings after 20mins:-
Fluctuates between 0.014 - 0.032
That's more like it. I'd say you have nothing to worry about there.
Kevin
I concur - 15 to 30mA. Absolutely fine :y
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I'm back again with a battery query.
As you will remember, I fitted a new 66amp Vx Go battery in March.
Last Thursday, after a 30+ run, I decided to do an oil change, left the car for about 2 hours, to cool down a bit, and noticed, when I lifted the bonnet, the Hydrometer eye on the battery was black, not green.
Took a reading off the battery, it was showing 12.2v.
Checked all the usual, alternater charge etc. everthing was in limits.
Put the battery on charge, but the green light didn't come back on.
Battery charged up OK.
Any ideas?
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I'm back again with a battery query.
As you will remember, I fitted a new 66amp Vx Go battery in March.
Last Thursday, after a 30+ run, I decided to do an oil change, left the car for about 2 hours, to cool down a bit, and noticed, when I lifted the bonnet, the Hydrometer eye on the battery was black, not green.
Took a reading off the battery, it was showing 12.2v.
Checked all the usual, alternater charge etc. everthing was in limits.
Put the battery on charge, but the green light didn't come back on.
Battery charged up OK.
Any ideas?
If you havent had any probs with the battery I wouldnt pay any attention to it AA.......When I changed my battery a few weeks ago, the old one had its green light on.....but clearly the battery was knackered.......
The current readings you took a while ago seem perfickly normal :y
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AFAIK its not a "light" at all .. just a bit of green plastic on the end of a mechanical hydrometer ... as the SG of the battery changes with charge so the hydrometer float changes and moves the plastic between green and black ....
I have known of several of these either a) being useless or b) sticking ... if it's b a short sideways smack with the palm of the hand sometimes frees them up .... DON'T do what one guy did ... drop the battery from knee height ... he was very upset when the case split .. but it did free up the indicator ..... :(
:)
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Yes, I think your both right, I'll take it off and drop it from calf height ;)
;D
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Here we go again, got back from a weeks holiday on Sunday.
Before I went the battery was fully charged.
Dead as a dodo yesterday morning, reading 2.6v.
Fitted my spare, took readings, similar to those posted earlier.
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Here we go again, got back from a weeks holiday on Sunday.
Before I went the battery was fully charged.
Dead as a dodo yesterday morning, reading 2.6v.
Fitted my spare, took readings, similar to those posted earlier.
I wonder if you've got a problem with the charging side. We've proven nothing's draining it, so my next course of action would be to make sure it is charging fully.
You can check the charging by selecting a voltage range on your multimeter and connecting it directly across the battery. With the engine running at a fast idle and no electrical accessories on, you should see 14-14.5 volts. Switch on a few electrical loads (headights, heater rear screen, etc.) and it will drop a little but should manage more than 13 volts.
Also check that the battery terminals aren't getting hot during the second test as this is a common failure.
Does the alarm work OK on your car? Just thinking the other option is that the alarm's been sounding, or at least triggering, and drawing current, while it's parked up.
I'd put that flat battery on a charger overnight. It's not too old so chances are it can be rescued.
Kevin
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Here we go again, got back from a weeks holiday on Sunday.
Before I went the battery was fully charged.
Dead as a dodo yesterday morning, reading 2.6v.
Fitted my spare, took readings, similar to those posted earlier.
I wonder if you've got a problem with the charging side. We've proven nothing's draining it, so my next course of action would be to make sure it is charging fully.
You can check the charging by selecting a voltage range on your multimeter and connecting it directly across the battery. With the engine running at a fast idle and no electrical accessories on, you should see 14-14.5 volts. Switch on a few electrical loads (headights, heater rear screen, etc.) and it will drop a little but should manage more than 13 volts.
Also check that the battery terminals aren't getting hot during the second test as this is a common failure.
Does the alarm work OK on your car? Just thinking the other option is that the alarm's been sounding, or at least triggering, and drawing current, while it's parked up.
I'd put that flat battery on a charger overnight. It's not too old so chances are it can be rescued.
Kevin
I've already checked everything you have suggested, battery terminals do not get hot, according to my neighbours my alarm has not been going off whilst I have been away.
The alternator is charging OK with or without load.
The only thing I can think of is, somehow the deadlock system is drawing current, as nothing else seems to be.
With the car deadlocked, I can't check the drain. :(
The new battery has fully charged, I haven't put it back onto the car but it seems to be holding it's charge.
Thanks for your reply.
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Can't a partly broken wire "earth" away the battery's charge? If there is a small current (like the alarm or the clock) and one of the broken bits touches metal?
Maybe you have a partly broken wire?? (just thinking out loud ::))
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AA - can you try it for a while with, for example, power sounder unplugged (if its failing, it may be intermittently pulling reasonable draw from battery)?
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Power sounder is a good bet. Mine failed when the batteries leaked goo and it partially shorted the sounder driver so the sound was very low in volume but lots of current was drawn. If it's going off occasionally this could be draining the battery but didn't show up in your measurement of the current drain when idle - because it didn't go off.
You must have something intermittently drawing current.
Kevin
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as in interim solution, wont solve your problem, but i use a 12v solar panel charger from maplin, cost me 12 quid, i'll try and find the part no. for u
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AA - can you try it for a while with, for example, power sounder unplugged (if its failing, it may be intermittently pulling reasonable draw from battery)?
According to my neighbours, the alarm did not go off whilst I was away.
If I disconnect the battery, without switching the ignition on/off, the power sounder works OK.
At the minute, I'm trickle charging the battery overnight.
When it stops raining (will it ever) I'll have a go at disconnecting the power sounder.
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Bit of a result, took the new battery (a 66amp GO Battery) back to dealer today, and they've swopped it for a genuine 70amp Vx battery.
But only when I threatened them with Vx Customer Care.
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Nice one... :y
Sure sounds like the battery isn't holding charge, with luck it should be sorted now ..:)
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I told them the hydrometer wasn't working, manager said, Doesn't mean anything.
I said Why do they fit it then?
He said All we can do is check the battery, if it's a good battery, end of story.
I knew what it was going to read before I took it in - Yup - good battery.
That's it then said the manager.
No it isn't said I, it's only just over a month old, (I lied here) I said I've got batteries on other vehicles that are several years old and still glowing green.
Nothing we can do - said he.
So, says I, do I contact Vx Customer Care then?
Just a minute, he says, I'll have a word with the warranty manager.
Came back with the new battery, saying, We can't claim it back off Vx, but in good faith, we'll replace it.
Couldn't get out of there fast enough when I saw it was a genuine Vx battery,shrink wrapped as well, (£70 on TC) as opposed to £49 on a Go battery. :y