*******HELP NEEDED UGENTLY*******

[Daveyboy20]

Well, honeymoon period dramatically cut short with my cortina. And i have to cut the story short too as i need to fix it. Basically it was fine, nothing wrong whatsoever on drive home which took nearly 4 hours. Was fine at home and was fine the next morning no problems. Went out last night to get chips and the stereo started to turn off. I parked up to see why and noticed the interior light was dull tried to start and hey presto - flat battery. Jump started it and took it 15 minutes up the motorway with stereo off (ie. no extra drains) it was driving fine and when i got back i left the engina on and the lights and revved it to see if they were brightening with revs and they were. Came out this morning and i've got another flat. I need to get back to uni today at 11am and the damn thing has to be reliable as i need to use it to get home and to kates all the time. Apparently i has a new battery and as far as i can tell the alternator is ok. I'm shite at electrics i havent a clue, what should i do?

[Daveyboy20]

Also, just remembered that when the ignition is completely off, i can put on side lights AND headlights. I though this was odd as on me capri it was only sidelights i could put on. I know that i've left the rear window demister on permanently as the back window is always steamed up. Is this draining the battery?

[Daveyboy20]

Guess no-ones up, you lazy gets! I jump started it and its fine the lights do definately get brighter with revs so it cant be an alternator. Is it just coz i left the rear window demisters on perminately? i do need help big time guys so if any one has any idea at all....?

[Daggle]

Mornin,

Im not that good with electrics, but sounds like something is draining the battery if the alternator is working correctly, try disconnecting the rear window demister, does the radio switch off with the key, or does it have to be turned off by hand, coz that could drain the battery

 

Hope you get it sorted mate

[Pipster007]

If you have a meter, test the connections across the battery while the negine is running. If it's more than 13vdc, then the alternator is fine, less than 12vdc, then it's probably on the way out

[DanB]

Dave, get yourself a multimeter that's capable of measuring current. Most cheap ones will handle 10 amps with an in-built fuse:

 

Switch off the ignition and disconnect the positive battery terminal.

 

Remove all of the fuses from the car's fuse box

 

Switch off the interior light just to make sure this doesn't affect any readings when you reconnect the battery.

 

With the multimeter in 'current mode (10A)', connect the battery positive lead to one side of the meter. Connect the other side of the meter directly to the battery positive terminal. At this point you should have a 0amp reading. If you don't, then you've got a short circuit somewhere and it's a case of tracing through the wiring and disconnecting various circuits.

 

Assuming you do have a reading of 0 amps, start re-inserting the fuses back into the fuse box, noting the current readings. If the reading jumps after inserting one particular fuse, then the liklehood is that you've found the faulty circuit (to avoid error, make sure any auxiliary circuits such as an alarm are disconnected).

 

Once you've found the circuit at fault, it's a case of halving the circuit down to find where the fault lies.

 

Hope that doesn't sound too complicated.

 

Dan

[Mr Sam]

could it be something as simple as a dodgy earth?

 

what conditions the battery in?

[omj624p]

I had a very similar experience with my RS. Battery was new, alternator was ok, but it was still 'flat' every morning.

 

Turned out it wasnt actually flat, but a bad earth was making it seem flat.

 

Steve

[w p e]

try this start engine then take the earth lead off the battery. if the engine still runs the alternators ok if it stalls its not charging. if still running battery is duff

[Daveyboy20]

Thanks a lot for your help guys, i'm gonna get myself a multi thing and save these replies, i really need to know the basics of electrics! i went to a local sparkys and they tested everything, turns out the alternator was a bit dodgy and couldnt cope so i swapped it with my capri one and its much better you can see it on the interior light when i rev it now it gets really bright. The battery is still pretty flat but i have an hours drive now so that'll hopefully help. Im going out to buy a battery charger and a muilti meter thing now. I'm so relieved! Ive cooked my bloody arm on the manifold though its red and stinging just from being close to it!! oops! Thanks again fellas, honeymoon now starting again!!!

[mk2_boy]

cars eh!!

[bomber1]

oldskoolfords domt u just love em

at least u got it sorted