Parasitic drain on P38....

UPDATE: put a voltmeter across the battery without the engine running and was just under 12.5v then started her up and it was reading 13.89v - does this mean it's less likely to be the alternator?

BruceVeedub said:

UPDATE: put a voltmeter across the battery without the engine running and was just under 12.5v then started her up and it was reading 13.89v - does this mean it's less likely to be the alternator?

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If your meter is accurate, I would expect to see 14.2+ volts at the battery with the engine at 2000 rpm after a few minutes. Roughly 12.5volts is a battery half discharged, 12.8 volts is fully charged.

richieb said:

Hi
is your ignition barrell where the key goes in coming out all the way when the key is taken out, mine sticks in so i have to tap it so it comes out otherwise the battery will go flat,

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Kin hell mine duz that too, is this common? is there a fix for this?

Dopey said:

Kin hell mine duz that too, is this common? is there a fix for this?

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Graphite lock lube and maybe a gentle blow with an airline. Lots of threads on this

Nice one.... thanks D

Just bought some from eblag, cheaper than Maplins

This is history of my similar problem; april 2011; i have new 105amp battery in a 2.5dt and get 12.5 overnight with 13.75 max when running. I do a lot of short journeys and regularly have a flatish battery (just about starts), I was advised that eventhough it reads near to 14v it may not be charging properly that there is a common fault in the valeo alternator therefore I was advised to fit a new brush set/regulator set - available from woodauto.com
My RR is a 95 2.5dt, fitted with a valeo, so search for A13V176 or 2542126.*
However i bought from german fleabay for less money. The surprise was that it was an english made part from mobiletron, part VR-VW010.
It's easy to replace, no need to remove the alternator, easy to get to by removing the back cover.*
I fitted it and straightaway charging is up at 14.4v So happy days hopefully.
However when the cold weather came recently December 11 it became increasingly harder to start but a jump started it ok, so I had the battery tested and got a new battery under warranty as a cell had failed. This is a Yuasa 663. However the 640 or 664SHD are the recommended ones with 1000cca but are twice the price of the 663 which is working perfectly for a few days now. Hope this helps, you are not alone!!!

nobody's alone when it comes to having a p38 with problems.