Help Needed Please Urgently

Mint

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
East Anglian Crew
Joined
Sep 23, 2012
Points
222
Location
Stafford
Model of Z
2.2 & 3.0 Sport
...the button for up and down was not fitted, only backwards and forwards
It's just one button on mine, it has up/down and forwards/backwards.
 

hard top

Zorg Expert (I)
Dutch Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Points
213
Location
Netherlands
It's just one button on mine, it has up/down and forwards/backwards.
Yep, same on mine but the passenger seat button only showed two arrows showing backwards and forwards where as the drivers seat showed four arrows also showing up and down.
 

smiffy

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Points
147
Location
Lowestoft
Model of Z
Z3 2.8 pre-facelift in Montreal Blue
If you fancy a cruise to the seaside, I'll have a go at it for you. I have decent OBD kit and I'm an electronics engineer so probably stand a decent chance of finding it. Its still going to be 100 miles each way even if you are NE hertfordshire though.

A short term fix could be a solar panel that plugs into the cigar socket, but that does depend on how quick it drains down and how deep it drains. Is it completely dead after a week or is it lights are on but "click,click,click" not cranking?
 

Low Rider

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Points
191
If you fancy a cruise to the seaside, I'll have a go at it for you. I have decent OBD kit and I'm an electronics engineer so probably stand a decent chance of finding it. Its still going to be 100 miles each way even if you are NE hertfordshire though.

A short term fix could be a solar panel that plugs into the cigar socket, but that does depend on how quick it drains down and how deep it drains. Is it completely dead after a week or is it lights are on but "click,click,click" not cranking?
I've used a solar panel don't waste your money. Much better to put the battery on charge.
I would drive the 100 miles enjoy a trip out and get to the bottom of this problem.
@smiffy Your a star
 

Dickymint

Zorg Legend
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 2, 2015
Points
75
Location
Somerset
Model of Z
Z3 2.2i Sport
the cigarette lighter stays live on my car so I have to unplug everything, also the radio stays live and can be turned on when the keys are out, now if you have a aftermarket radio it could drain the battery, in the Alfa my Alpine drained the battery until the red and yellow wires were swapped and that was using a proper DIN plug and the ignition turned off the radio though it was ok with the Kenwood before that :)
 

Nodzed

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
M Power
Joined
Feb 18, 2016
Points
231
Location
Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Model of Z
Z3M Imola and Z4 (e89)
Tracey I wouldn't automatically assume its a power drain. Just because you have not got a charge light on the dash doesn't mean a thing. If the regulator on the alternator is playing up this may not activate the light, recently had this issue on my fathers Jeep Cherokee, similar problem to yours but was during the winter so his only lasting a few days, we assumed it was the battery and bought a new one, then checked the out and realised it was the alternator, so I know this can happen and it doesn't take much of a drop in voltage for the battery to become drained especially if your doing short runs, using a lot of electrical power and then parking it up. Check the easiest first, get the alternator output checked. I would assume most good small garages would check this for free or a nominal charge.
Niall
 

Tracy Dee

Zorg Guru (III)
The M44 Massive
Joined
Aug 3, 2015
Points
145
Location
Hertfordshire
Thank you to all so far.
Yes it has an aftermarket radio Alpine cde 984R
After a full week it has lights but click click click
Tracy
 

Antm72

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
May 4, 2015
Points
246
Location
South Yorkshire
Model of Z
2.8
Is the starter lazy at all when the battery is charged again a faulty starter can internally short causing a drain to earth internally.
If you have a friend in the AA/Rac im sure they are covered in your car as a passenger get them round call them up and get them to test the battery.
They will charge then test for drain call them when its flat they may answer it.
 

Tracy Dee

Zorg Guru (III)
The M44 Massive
Joined
Aug 3, 2015
Points
145
Location
Hertfordshire
If you fancy a cruise to the seaside, I'll have a go at it for you. I have decent OBD kit and I'm an electronics engineer so probably stand a decent chance of finding it. Its still going to be 100 miles each way even if you are NE hertfordshire though.

A short term fix could be a solar panel that plugs into the cigar socket, but that does depend on how quick it drains down and how deep it drains. Is it completely dead after a week or is it lights are on but "click,click,click" not cranking?
That's really kind of you to offer to take a look just wish we were nearer .
Hoping a kind sole nearer might come forward with the same equipment and knowledge if not I may have to take up the offer it's just finding the time to travel so far.
Really struggling with this dam issue iam having thoughts of getting shot.
Many thanks again nice to know someones offered.
Tracy.
 

windym

Zorg Guru (II)
British Zeds
Joined
Oct 10, 2015
Points
123
Hi, one thing what condition is the alternator belt in, they can slip and become loose, this will effect the charge going back to the battery.

Andy
 

Jack Ratt

Zorg Expert (I)
Supporter
British Zeds
The West Country
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Points
200
Location
TRURO, CORNWALL
Model of Z
2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
@Tracy Dee

With everything turned off could you check the flow across each of your fuses to see which circuits are live. Some will be live, but it may be a good starting point, if for example you find a live circuit that should be dead with everything turned off.

I had a similar power drain on my old Merc and my mate found it this way. I'm not an electrician and may have over simplified it, but it's how I understood my mates explanation. In my case the problem was something to do with the passenger seat belt butler. When you sit in an old Merc coupe, the seat belt is handed to you by a robotic arm. When you plug in the seat belt, the robotic arm retracts. In my case the robot motor still ran. You couldn't hear anything but it drained the battery over 4 or 5 days.

Now I know the Zed doesn't have this, but perhaps the way we solved the problem could help you.
 

Tracy Dee

Zorg Guru (III)
The M44 Massive
Joined
Aug 3, 2015
Points
145
Location
Hertfordshire
Just looked at belt it's good condition and tight.
Sorry not mechanically minded so doing checks or repairs is beyond me.
Tracy.
 

windym

Zorg Guru (II)
British Zeds
Joined
Oct 10, 2015
Points
123
Hi, where about are you, I may have time next week.

Andy
 
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