hi,on monday i woke up to my battery being so dead that even the immob light wasnt flickering! so i jump started it and went to work,put everything electrical on for the 22 mile journey,no probs whatsoever,so i know its not the alternator! so i tried it next morning,same again! i put a brand spanker of a battery in,it was fine for 2 days! then the same again!! the only strange thing i found was that the electric ariel wasnt going down when i turned the stereo off,instead it goes down about 5 mins after i turn the engine off! i checked the connections at the stereo and theyre fine. any ideas anyone?? one thing i have noticed is that even with the ignition off and doors locked the electric windows switches are still alight,is this how they are normally?
ta
325i battery killa!!
Moderator: martauto
-
Guest
Sounds like the alternator to me if the new battery was ok for a couple of days. Just because your electrical systems work when the engine is running it doesn't mean that the battery is definitely getting enough charge. I'd get somebody to check the alternator before you look elsewhere. You may have a drain somewhere but I'd look at that afterwards.
-
Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
You need to connect a milliammeter in series with the battery earth lead to see if there is any excessive battery current flowing when everything is turned off.
A current of about 50mA is normal, depending on what bit's you have fitted.
There have been several threads on this recently.
A current of about 50mA is normal, depending on what bit's you have fitted.
There have been several threads on this recently.
I put my multimeter on my battery and set my interior lights to OFF so they wouldnt light up when the door was opened.
I opened the doors and it still used power!
I thought it would only use power when the light is in action?
I opened the doors and it still used power!
I thought it would only use power when the light is in action?
the window switches light up when you open the door.
or they do in my e28, think the e30's the same.
alternators can cause weird symptons, i dropped my new engine in last week and had no end of strange running problems, it was missing and spluttering sometimes but always started up fine. spent a whole day swearing at it but didn't get anywhere. eventually it got dark and i realised the headlights and dash lights were flickering! alternator was dead/ half dead. swapped it over and problem gone.
you need to check the charge path from alternator to battery - there's a thick + lead that goes from alt to starter then from starter to battery, a bad contact will give dead alt symptons. similarly check the main engine earth strap which gives the alt its ground connection without which it won't charge the battery.
or they do in my e28, think the e30's the same.
alternators can cause weird symptons, i dropped my new engine in last week and had no end of strange running problems, it was missing and spluttering sometimes but always started up fine. spent a whole day swearing at it but didn't get anywhere. eventually it got dark and i realised the headlights and dash lights were flickering! alternator was dead/ half dead. swapped it over and problem gone.
you need to check the charge path from alternator to battery - there's a thick + lead that goes from alt to starter then from starter to battery, a bad contact will give dead alt symptons. similarly check the main engine earth strap which gives the alt its ground connection without which it won't charge the battery.
ok,update,when i got home from work last night i disconnected the battery,then in the morning re connected it and vroom! away i went! so its not the batery or alternator im sure,what things stay powered when the ignition is off? all i can think of is clock,stereo memory,interior lights and hazard switch,anybody think of anything else?? anyone reckon the fuel pump relay or one of the relays could be stuck open letting the power out constantly?? if i leave it overnight its so drained event the immob light doesnt flicka,help!!
Terry
Terry
I waited til dark then went out and peered under the edge of the boot lid... that's how i saw the light was on... the other thing you might want to check ( although i don't kno how this would tie in with the door switches lit) is the glove compartment light... failing that, looks like you have a short circuit somewhere and I'd suggest an auto electrician. You don't want her catching fire mate.
In fact... skip the light checks and just get her looked at. That kind of power drain on a new battery usually does mean a short circuit.
In fact... skip the light checks and just get her looked at. That kind of power drain on a new battery usually does mean a short circuit.