derwendolly

derwendolly

Well-Known Member
Full Member
My W reg D2 td5 has very recently decided to discharge the battery leaving me unable to start it. A 10 min charge of the battery was all it needed in order to start the vehicle. I have had everything checked by my usual mechanic and all appear to be working well with no discharges evident. The battery is only 1 year old and reads as in perfect condition,and the car is always very well maintained. I have done a full check and nothing has been left 'on' that uses power. The battery goes from fully charged to being able unable to start the vehicle in 2 days. There is no hint of a glow on the battery indicator on the dash - even in the dark!

I don't know if this is relevant, but it all started after the service which was done a couple of weeks ago although , other than changing all the oils, filters etc, very little else was done as things had all been replaced only 4 months ago when it was re-chassied.

I have invested in a Sealey Power Pack but I really don't want to reply on this to be able to start the car - every 2 days! I am off on holiday to France for three weeks from the beginning of September so would like to get it sorted before I go.

Any helpful ideas of things to look for, change etc., please????? Is it worth changing the alternator even though it does not appear to be at fault?
 
I had a similar problem, massive battery discharge, although mine took about 4 hrs. Turned out it actually wasn't charging. The cause was the main battery,chassis, gearbox earth lead. So took it off cleaned the contact points , put it back, it's been fine since and was free
 
How good is your battery? The TD5 is a big lump to start and even a fairly well charged but not heavy duty job sometimes struggles. Other than that, I'd check connections to the terminals are good and tight, then look at the earth connections as jaygti says. That could just be it, as you mention a new chassis.
 
I have spent time with the mechanic this afternoon and he has discounted the earth ideas as well as the alternator but has said that he will try another battery in the vehicle to see if the same thing happens. The battery in it is just about 1 year old ( the last one went troublefree for 13 years - the original ) and is a heavy duty one. It always registers as 'fully charged' when I go over to his workshop. There is a possibility that this is because I have always just done a 12 mile drive to get there with the vehicle charging as I go!
 
had this on and old vauxhall found it was the lights in the sunvisor sticking on and with a carlton i had it was the glove box light staying on. Could be way off on this one but costs nothing to check.
 
The Mad Hat Man said:
diode failure?
Click to expand...

That was his first thought but he has checked this and seems satisfied that that is not the problem. He's starting with the battery before going on to the alternator etc. I just wish I knew something about cars!! The battery does seem possible as I have to charge it to get the car started and then drive to get to him so it this might be the reason why it always reads as 'normal'.
 
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thought it was mine! said:
had this on and old vauxhall found it was the lights in the sunvisor sticking on and with a carlton i had it was the glove box light staying on. Could be way off on this one but costs nothing to check.
Click to expand...

They are one thing that I had hadn't checked, but I have now and they are both NOT illuminated.
 
derwendolly said:
That was his first thought but he has checked this and seems satisfied that that is not the problem. He's starting with the battery before going on to the alternator etc. I just wish I knew something about cars!! The battery does seem possible as I have to charge it to get the car started and then drive to get to him so it this might be the reason why it always reads as 'normal'.
Click to expand...

it's simple to see... charge the battery in the evening but disconnect it... reconnect it in the morning and if it will start ok the problem is a drain... did your mechanic measure the drain with ignition off? ... the diode pack has 8 diodes within and if 1 or 2 are gone it wont show on rudimentary check but will cause drain
 
sierrafery said:
it's simple to see... charge the battery in the evening but disconnect it... reconnect it in the morning and if it will start ok the problem is a drain... did your mechanic measure the drain with ignition off? ... the diode pack has 8 diodes within and if 1 or 2 are gone it wont show on rudimentary check but will cause drain
Click to expand...

Now that I can't say. Whilst I was there he was doing some measurements with the ignition ON and some with it OFF but what they were I am clueless about - sadly. The drain is over a two day period. If I run the Disco every day then it keeps on starting but if I do not go out on alternate days then that is when it needs recharging. I hope this makes sense.
 
I know you say the batt is only a year old . But I would try a new one . I had a prob with mine a bit like that , if left for more then a day it would not start ! If I started it but only moved it off the drive to get my van out. The next time I tried to start nothing . All came down to the batt ! It tested good . But just could not handle the cold cranking of my D2 what size batt you got on it ?
 
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ask somebody who knows what he's doing to measure the drain with ignition off...if it's over 0.08 A/80mA(it's max for D2) there's a parasistic drain which needs investigation... if not the battery is "tired" and tyou need a new one... in that case dont buy one which has below 950 CCA...if you want to DIY read this http://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Parasitic-Battery-Drain
 
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It looks as if the battery is the cuprit - only 500a - so I have bought a Varta 'G8' which is 830a. I hate things that don't do their job as I am stuck if the don't work! A big thanks to all for your very valuable help.
 
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derwendolly said:
It looks as if the battery is the cuprit - only 500a - so I have bought a Varta 'G8' which is 830a. I hate things that don't do their job as I am stuck if the don't work! A big thanks to all for your very valuable help.
Click to expand...

if it will be very cold winter that 830 Varta will let you down untill spring... 950CCA is the safe option for a Td5
 
sierrafery said:
you're wrong... i have a 1000CCA/120Ah Numax which fits exactly in it's place... after a 850 Varta let me down after nearly 2 years
Click to expand...

Ah well, I will keep your recommendation for the next time I buy a battery - 1year? or 2, perhaps. You can't will 'em all! As long as I don't get stranded in France next month. Anything must be better than the 500A one that is on it now!
 
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