Ello!
Got an issue with my electrics (again)!
A few months ago I had an amp fitted which was installed wrong and was draining the battery, which Marc corrected and it seemed to be running fine.
Recently had some work done to car and everything ran beautifully for a few weeks, but then all of a sudden came back to the car after a week (only drive on weekends) and the heaters and alarm work but car didnt tick over. I thought it was the starter motor again, but mechanic came over, jumped started it and he said the battery is pretty much drained and suggested I get an Electric Drain Check.
Is there anything anyone would recommend or is anyone want a job to come up to Hertfordshire to have a look at car, if so, PM me your charge please.
Danke
Battery Draining – Job for anyone
Moderator: martauto
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Speedtouch
- Old Skooler

- Posts: 14123
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Canterbury
Use a multimeter to measure the current drain between the battery + terminal and the (removed) battery clamp with everything switched off - it should be in the order of a few mA.
Any more indicates a drain; a common ones are the bootlid or glovebox light staying on, so check that they go out.
Any more indicates a drain; a common ones are the bootlid or glovebox light staying on, so check that they go out.
///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
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Bini
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 55
- Joined: Sat Jul 27, 2013 11:00 pm
Ok thanks.
I take it I place the multimeter on the battery area to get reading?
Not technical in anyway (but slowly learning)
I take it I place the multimeter on the battery area to get reading?
Not technical in anyway (but slowly learning)
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Speedtouch
- Old Skooler

- Posts: 14123
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Canterbury
Yes, disconnect a bettery terminal and connect the multimeter in series between it and the battery.
Start with the multimeter set to the 10A range, or you risk blowing the small fuse inside it. If it reads close to zero, switch to the mA range for a more accurate reading.
Start with the multimeter set to the 10A range, or you risk blowing the small fuse inside it. If it reads close to zero, switch to the mA range for a more accurate reading.
///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
-
Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49360
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Make that the battery negative terminal and clamp!Speedtouch wrote:Use a multimeter to measure the current drain between the battery + terminal and the (removed) battery clamp .
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Bini
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 55
- Joined: Sat Jul 27, 2013 11:00 pm
Cool. ThanksBrianmoooore wrote:Make that the battery negative terminal and clamp!Speedtouch wrote:Use a multimeter to measure the current drain between the battery + terminal and the (removed) battery clamp .
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Speedtouch
- Old Skooler

- Posts: 14123
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Canterbury
What difference does this make when measuring current drain?Brianmoooore wrote:Make that the battery negative terminal and clamp!Speedtouch wrote:Use a multimeter to measure the current drain between the battery + terminal and the (removed) battery clamp .
///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
-
Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 49360
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Makes no difference to the measurement, but it avoids having a 13mm spanner glowing cherry red and welding itself to the bulkhead, before the battery explodes!
NEVER use tools on the battery + before the negative is disconnected.
NEVER use tools on the battery + before the negative is disconnected.
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Speedtouch
- Old Skooler

- Posts: 14123
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Canterbury
Good H&S point, well made.
///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
