Battery Draining

[Speedo]

I could do with some advice on this

I've got a 2001 Fiat Punto, which works great when it's started but the battery seems to drain. If I run daily it's ok, but go away for a few days then come back and my battery is plain dead. Engine might turn over once then it just dies, even the clock resets. I'm guessing it's not the battery that's dead as it can hold charge if used often, but that would mean it's an electrical fault draining it I presume. What would I look for to try and trace the problem? Or should I just go out and buy another battery in case that is the problem? I'm getting a little tired of borrowing a neighbour + his car to get mine started . When we are jump starting it starts instantly..

[IainB]

Ah hunt the battery drain thief
It could be as simple as a boot interior light staying on - easy way to find that, climb in and get someone else to close the hatch/boot.
Otherwise its going to be a case of connecting a meter to the battery and selectivly pulling fuses until you find the culprit

[Butuz]

Could also be an actual dodgy battery of course.

Butuz

[Flibb]

Quickfit type places often do free battery checks, of couse they will try and sell you new wheels, tyres, shock, a new car, etc at the same time. Also a car battery is ment to last around 2-3 years. You can get better lifetime ones (Samson), they are gteed to last the life of the car. We have used several samsons in the landrovers, never had a problem exchanging them. Think they are still going.

[5lab]

can be quite easy to solve this

put a multimeter on the battery and see how much current is being drawn. i dont know what the figure is, but its probably about 10x the amount that is needed to keep the clock/stereo in tact. then go to your fusebox and pull fuse 1 out. if the current isnt altered dramatically, put it back and try fuse 2. and so on and so forth, until you find the one thats sucking all the power. then look in your owners manual and see what runs off that fuse.

of course, it might just be the battery.. i've seen one that died in under 3 months before. check the fluid levels if you can (you cant on all batterys), and see if theres any sign of fluid leaking anywhere (white powdery residue is often a good sign)

[Zak33]

It could be as simple as a boot interior light staying on - easy way to find that, climb in and get someone else to close the hatch/boot.

Thats the likely fault, but not the best way to do it...

pull the seats forward from inside .

Eazieb.....tsk tsk....he coulda got well trapped there by his mates

[IainB]

Thats the likely fault, but not the best way to do it...

pull the seats forward from inside .

Eazieb.....tsk tsk....he coulda got well trapped there by his mates

Bah - damn those quick replies at work
But it does depend on if you have friends you trust

[Speedo]

Thanks for the replies . It's not the interior boot light, that'd be nice and easy . First thing checked were the interior lights, everything is off. All the electrics appear off (bar the clock of course).. I'll have a run around with a multimeter when I have a chance. Did get a new battery from Halfords, though they sold me one the wrong size . Have to get a lift back later on to get one that does actually fit..

[Konan555]

Once you've flattened a lead acid once - they're never right again without a deep recovery.

[Howard]

Try unplugging your stereo and then leaving the car for a few days. Sometimes they can drain batteries if they're permanently wired and not with the ignition. Luckily mine doesn't

[Nox]

has it got a 3rd party car alarm/immobiliser? another common culprit.

Nox

[kencloughley]

hi.i have a 00 punto hlx that has a starting problem.it starts fine on a daily basis but after 2 days the battery goes flat.immediately i put in a new battery but that did not solve the problem.its charging fine.no interior or boot light is on.i disconnected the radio and still it goes flat.it appears that something is draining the power but it is not easily recognizable.has anyone any suggestions please

[Zak33]

hi.i have a 00 punto hlx that has a starting problem.it starts fine on a daily basis but after 2 days the battery goes flat.immediately i put in a new battery but that did not solve the problem.its charging fine.no interior or boot light is on.i disconnected the radio and still it goes flat.it appears that something is draining the power but it is not easily recognizable.has anyone any suggestions please

hiya fella. welcome.

Does it have an amp hidden away that's on all the time? or any other aftermarket stuff? Alarms drain power in a scary way.

Lastly.. new battery means nothing sadly, as the market is loaded with new CHEAP CRAP batteries and the economy is forcing parts places/garages to stock cheaper and cheaper rubbish.

So IS the battery man enough for the job?

[audi-a3]

I have an 2004 audi, my battery is draining continuously. It started out just being when i didn't use my car for 2 days but now it is everytime i turn my engine off...i travel 25 miles to work so it would normally start the next morning but the last 2 weeks i have had to jump start everyday 2-3times a day the weird thing is the radio still works when the the car wont start, this used to go into safe mode when the battery died. I have had it in 3 diff autoelectricians. One had it for 2 days with my doors off and everthing with no luck. They thought it was the radio but i have had this replaced with no luck. Sick of spending money on it and sick of jump starting it !!! The last garage reset the car clearing all fault and my break and tail light which had gone out -came back on??!! For some reason I've got a feeling it's got something to do with the electrics from ignition to battery...can anybody shed ANY light? This is not an obvious thing like a boot light??? HELP !!!!

[GoNz0]

the obvious answers a new battery?

gave up on my car and got a new battery as i only drive it at the weekends and winter put a stop to that, its been fine since.

go a to proper battery place and they can put the drop tester on it to confirm if its shagged.

amazes me how people think something else is wrong even when it gets worst with time.. they don't last forever

[audi-a3]

the obvious answers a new battery?

gave up on my car and got a new battery as i only drive it at the weekends and winter put a stop to that, its been fine since.

go a to proper battery place and they can put the drop tester on it to confirm if its shagged.

amazes me how people think something else is wrong even when it gets worst with time.. they don't last forever

Got a new battery a new battery, very reluctant to at first but the autoelectrician said test to out over the weekend and if it runs fine then come in today and pay for it. No problems so far...but wont a new battery just hold its power longer than an old one? There could still be that fault there??