Loving the car - but still one issue!!

[Bartholomewzman]

One for the club experts please:
Do have one key query for you - - the Battery has run flat twice now since owning it, and the first time I reckoned it might have been an incorrectly closed boot so leaving the light on for some days (bulb no removed!). Since then no real issues, but it went 'flat' again a few days back. Did a check for parasitic losses and found a 3amp loss going on. Pulled out EVERY fuse and relay in sight one by one - - NOTHING showed as a change on the meter - the 'loss' continues (so fitted a battery on/off switch in the meantime).
Suggestions as to could be happening please?
Cheers, Richard

 

[Mike Fishwick]

Did you also disconnect the alternator and the starter motor?
Are there any after-market accessories such as alarms of stereo systems?

 

[colb]

With the engine running check what the alternator is charging the battery, you should see at least 14volts. If it is charging, disconnect the alternator and do the parasitic drain check with the engine off see if the alternator is the cause of the drain. If the drain dissapears with it disconected that will be the cause, duff internals on the alternator.

 

[Bartholomewzman]

Thanks Colb, will seek a meter out to do the check - would never have thought to check that! Regards, Richard

 

[colb]

@Mike Fishwick mentions the starter motor as well and alarms and radio as possible causes so do drain checks on those as well as the alternator, one at a time and see if disconnection of any of these makes the drain vanish.

 

[Bartholomewzman]

I think it's an aftermarket radio - so I will pull that out tomorrow and see what happens, plus see about climbing underneath to check with disconnecting the Starter .

The Alarm doesn;t work, so not too sure how to isoalate that, if it's not already on a fuse in the main box. Haven't located anyone with a suitable meter yet, but plain disconnecting as above should hopefully yield some info!
Saw a chap in a 2.3 today at the local Tip unloading what looked like tatty bags of garden rubbish from his boot (shame!). Tried to get over to talk to him but he left too soon!

 

[t-tony]

I don't see an issue with taking garden rubbish etc. to the tip in my Z4 23i, I just give it a good hoover out afterwards. I just load it into those metre square boot bags, one on top of the other.

Tony.

 

[Bartholomewzman]

The smell - the smell!!!! Brave man, Richard

 

[t-tony]

Only smells if you let it get wet, I don't.

Tony.

 

[Bartholomewzman]

Ahhh - - technique at work!

 

[Stevo7682]

Radio a good shout zed 3 allergic to certain aftermarket radios.
Sticking seat motor switches have also come up as an issue.
Stephen.

 

[Duncodin]

Radio a good shout zed 3 allergic to certain aftermarket radios.
Sticking seat motor switches have also come up as an issue.
Stephen.

In my case it was seat motor. I got in the passenger seat. Put the seat all the way back. Next morning battery totally dead. Not a glimmer on the dash. Put new bty in and could tell by the spark there was a big load. Tracked it down to the passenger seat that was still trying to back itself into the boot. Switch hadn't rerurned to the middle position and motor keeps going even with ignition off. Strange that the motor doesn't burn itself out.

 

[Bartholomewzman]

Hi Duncodin, Another good suggestion and once this weekend comes I will be trying several more ways to check the drain as some good ideas have come throyugh from Forum Members. I had trouble with the drivers seat jamming, but that's now fixed.
Never thought about the passenger seat as that seems to be working fine, (so far only used by my wife,so placed fairly far forward . Not sure how the mechanism would source its electricity when the fuse is pulled, but will check, All the best, Richard

 

[Bartholomewzman]

Radio a good shout zed 3 allergic to certain aftermarket radios.
Sticking seat motor switches have also come up as an issue.
Stephen.

 

[Bartholomewzman]

Stephen, Will definately be checking this idea - tried briefly to try to remove the unit to disconnect, but it's well and truly fitted tightly, so leaving it to this weekend, Cheers, Richard

 

[Scotty597]

I went through this pain recently, tried what people have said already to no avail. Traced eventually to the Harmen Karden amp that wasnt switching off, drawing around 2 amps.

 

[Nodzed]

An option if your Zed is sat for weeks

Link to Item

 

[Bartholomewzman]

Hi all, we found a last minute easyJet flight to Mykonos so jumped at it and am now sitting at the harbour there gazing at the coming sunset!!! Sorry if that makes anyone cringe, but, hey, life's tough!!
Will be back to play with the car in a week's time.
Meanwhile lots of thanks for all the suggestions which have been well appreciated.

 

[t-tony]

I have a similar problem. A home in Florida which is sometimes vacant and a wife who is very good at finding very low priced air fares. Book tickets on Sunday, fly Friday.

Tony.

 

[Bartholomewzman]

Good morning Tony ( and it certainly is here too!!).
Fly whilst one can is my motto now - any personal contribution to global warning is on a par with the UK,s efforts to go for "Net Zero" ie: an almost total wasted gesture at a huge cost to its people!!!
Gripe over.