New battery and drained in an hour

Goodfella said:

Well i give up for today, couldn't get it going to take to Halfords so will just charge it again overnight. Its been connected for a few hours and current reading is flickering between 5.11v and 8.2v while relay is clicking under the engine fusebox.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions so far, appreciate them all .

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If charging a few hours and only showing that voltage the battery is fooked for certain!! :doh:

Sorry when i said connected i meant the battery terminal connected not the charger and that was the resulting voltage after a few hours of standing still.

I disconnected it again, the clicking noise stopped and the voltage then read 11.2v immediately after without charging, so the readings are all over the place.

Double checked on a new meter so the meters are not faulty.

have yu found what the clicking noise is yet?

No, I'll let the mechanic know tomorrow as I assume you have to lift the fusebox to test the relays and thats not something i'm confident doing.

I fi keep this car i think i need a basic auto electrics course at an evening college!

yu shud be able to check which relay , just by putting a screwdriver on the relays one at a time and sticking the other end into yo ear .

Well its back on charge now but will try that in the morning. Cheers.

From what you are saying now, my money's on a knackered fusebox, or if you're very lucky, a relay at the very least.......keep us posted!

A clicking relay is just as likely to be a sign of low battery voltage as anything else.

Datatek is right, you'll probably find the clicking is a relay and it's more than likely a consequence of the flat battery not the cause, especially if it does not click when you first connect the charged battery.
I think you said the battery voltage increased when it was disconnected if so this would also back-up the drain theory.

stchris356 said:

Datatek is right, you'll probably find the clicking is a relay and it's more than likely a consequence of the flat battery not the cause, especially if it does not click when you first connect the charged battery.
I think you said the battery voltage increased when it was disconnected if so this would also back-up the drain theory.

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It could also suggest duff battery, high resistance cell.

Come on GOODFELLA, you've had three days of help and suggestions, come back and tell us what you've found.

Yes because I'm an electrical investigative competent NOT. Ha.

Nothing has changed today I'm sad to report. The car is getting picked up shortly by the mechanic and he says the first thing he will do is take the alternator off tonight and see if it still drains without it....

Anything that has been suggested that I've been able to check myself I've done but there was no change. It has been left standing today fully charged and disconnected and it has held 12.5v all day but that's to be expected I gather.

Be assured i will post up immediately i get an update or diagnosis as i appreciate the time and effort all you guys have taken to reply.

The fusebox looks immaculate and shows no corrosion (if that can be seen), it starts perfectly when it's fully charged, but shows between 5-8v within an hour of being stood still - disconnecting the battery straight after shows readings around 11.2v. There are no interior lights stuck on draining it and have checked glove box light aswell. This new battery does not heat up like the old one, which was quite warm before it was replaced.

Sorry i have nothing more conclusive to say.....

Cheers mate, didn't mean to sound ****y but this is how we all learn

some other poor buggers misfortune!

cant yu just unplug the cables from the back of the alternator?

Well i think you must be able to disconnect it because he pointed to the back of it and said I'll just disconnect it there, but don't knnw if its a plug or what.

Update - Apparently the battery still drained overnight with the alternator disconnected at a rate of 15amps. mechanic has noticed that both heated screen relays are too warm and has taken them out which has dropped the drain to 0.8amps, which he says is till too much and there is still a problem somewhere. The relays may not be the problem but connected to the cause somehow.

He can't do anymore with it so has asked his electrician to come and sort it on Thursday so I'm getting the car back later until Wed night.

So what do you think? the remaining drain of 0.8amps remain a mystery and i forgot to ask if i can use the car with that amount of drain or just to leave it alone until it's fixed.

have yu checked the battery drain FAQ in the Q's and A's section?

No But will do shortly, maybe I can solve it tonight, that would be great!

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f38/battery-drain-few-ideas-97870.html

chances are - its an interior light/vanity light/ glove box light etc.

funnily enuf - it says in there - 10A+ - heated screens......

Goodfella said:

Update - Apparently the battery still drained overnight with the alternator disconnected at a rate of 15amps. mechanic has noticed that both heated screen relays are too warm and has taken them out which has dropped the drain to 0.8amps, which he says is till too much and there is still a problem somewhere. The relays may not be the problem but connected to the cause somehow.

He can't do anymore with it so has asked his electrician to come and sort it on Thursday so I'm getting the car back later until Wed night.

So what do you think? the remaining drain of 0.8amps remain a mystery and i forgot to ask if i can use the car with that amount of drain or just to leave it alone until it's fixed.

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If the relays are hot and energised, could still be a fusebox problem.