New angle on mysterious battery drain

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SpudH

SpudH

Well-Known Member
Posts
1,256
Location
County Kerry, Ireland
While bodging a decent cup holder into the dash of my Rangie I noticed a constant noise coming from under the dash. Like a fan, clock or a computer running. I initially thought it was the actually clock but no. A little more investigating confirmed it was coming from the instrument cluster.
Pulled the multiplug on the front of clocks, noise gone. Plugged it back in again noise back:confused:

What moving parts are in the instrument cluster with no key in the ignition and how much power does it draw?
 
wammers said:
Hevac internal temp sensor fan? But not in instrument cluster.
Click to expand...

No, it was definitely the instrument cluster. I took it apart and traced it to the rev counter needle vibrating on the stop rest. I don't know if it has any significance, it can't be drawing a whole pile of power but it is odd that it has power when the ignition is off.
 
SpudH said:
No, it was definitely the instrument cluster. I took it apart and traced it to the rev counter needle vibrating on the stop rest. I don't know if it has any significance, it can't be drawing a whole pile of power but it is odd that it has power when the ignition is off.
Click to expand...

The rev counter is driven from the alternator so maybe some sort of fault in the control unit?
 
SpudH said:
traced it to the rev counter needle vibrating on the stop rest. I don't know if it has any significance,.
Click to expand...

Its a faulty Alternator
try removing the rev counter output and see if that fixes it - i reckon yu are getting a drain thru the alt from the battery.
 
SpudH said:
While bodging a decent cup holder into the dash of my Rangie I noticed a constant noise coming from under the dash. Like a fan, clock or a computer running. I initially thought it was the actually clock but no. A little more investigating confirmed it was coming from the instrument cluster.
Pulled the multiplug on the front of clocks, noise gone. Plugged it back in again noise back:confused:

What moving parts are in the instrument cluster with no key in the ignition and how much power does it draw?
Click to expand...
both my p38s do this , after removal of the ing key a very faint noise for approx 15-20 mins ,also note that when left in park there is a very dull red light on next to the gear selector , as the noise stops the dull red light goes out . does this indicate the becm being awake for this time and the noise and red light stoping signal its going into sleep mode?
if you open the door etc the cycle starts again :)
 
klf400 said:
both my p38s do this , after removal of the ing key a very faint noise for approx 15-20 mins ,also note that when left in park there is a very dull red light on next to the gear selector , as the noise stops the dull red light goes out . does this indicate the becm being awake for this time and the noise and red light stoping signal its going into sleep mode?
if you open the door etc the cycle starts again :)
Click to expand...

Yes the light going out is the BECM going to sleep:)
 
You don't need to resynch if you setup a parallel link with meter first. Then remove it so the meter is the only thing in circuit.

ie get a bit of wire with croc clips each end. One end battery other positive lead. Then remove lead and insert meter. Remove initial lead. Refit is reversal. Battery never disconected and no resynch required.

F.
 
I'm a serial disconnector of the battery and have never had to resynch. I now have the immobilser turned off in the BECM as my RF Receiver is dead so I'm covered anyway.
 
fookin hell I couldnt cope with all that just to disconnect my battery , recync , bcem, rf reciever etc etc , I wonder why the p38 ever goes wrong lol :doh:
 
The Mad Hat Man said:
duz ya insurance co know?
Click to expand...


Have you seen my Rangie? It certainly won't be high on anyones wish to rob list.:D:D:D

I think it was Wammers who put it best 'If the owner or dealer with two correct keys and an EKA code can't get the bloody thing to start then I wouldn't hold much hope for a young guy with a hoody and a slim jim'.

Where I live car theft is not an issue and the insurance company would have to recover the car to discover the immobiliser switched off. I don't even know if you can turn it off with Test Book, it might just be a Faultmate feature, the best indie in my area has 2 non-starters with months and when i told him how I sorted mine he said he couldn't do that with Autologic. Anyone successfully robbing P38's is going to either a) have your keys or b) know how to get round the whole system in which case he'd make a fortune on the straight fixing them!
 
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