[flash]

yup - no worries

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[gryphon]

I have chased this gremlin in two consecutive 968s. I can never find a drain on the battery greater than 0.06 amps and yet find a dead battery in less than two weeks. I'm convinced the cars are playing with me when I leave the garage. A trickle charger works of course.



Tom

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[flash]

lol - i think you may be right - they just want to be driven - they don't like to be left idle too long - ya know, this seems a lot like something else..............

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[xrad]

If I leave the hood up, it drains in a week. If I leave the hood down, it drains in four weeks...maybe something to do with the alarm system...

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[rhudeboye]

[quote name='xrad' post='59405' date='Sep 9 2008, 04:36 PM']maybe something to do with the alarm system...[/quote]



Now there's thought. My 2 way alarm is pretty sophisticated as its always communicating with the transmitter. However this has never been an issue in the past.



http://www.clifford.com/Products/Product...ductID=705

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[Cloud9...68]

Speaking of trickle chargers, has anybody ever used those solar powered units that you put in the dash, and plug into the cigarette lighter to charge the battery? Do they work well?



I just installed a new battery, and to save some weight, I purposely bought the smallest, lightest (and coincidentally the cheapest) battery I could find. It's close to 20 lb lighter than the one that just died. Here in Austin, cold starting is never an issue, so I think I can get away with it. But keeping it topped up as much as possible seems like it would be a good strategy. Thanks.

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[flash]

i have one, but never used it before - it just dawned on me where i can use it though - would be a perfect gadget for the battery in the trailer



as for alarms, i never use mine, because i never lock the doors, so i don't think that is the problem

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[rhudeboye]

Checked the glove box and there is no light in there. Closed the hood and looked under the car and saw no light. So I guess the hood lamp is going out. I did hear something odd. A steady knocking noise coming from the passenger side. As I leaned over I was sure it wasnt from insode the cabin, rather it was under the hood. The noise stops as soon as I pop the hood or open the door. Seeing as the battery is located over there I'm very suspicious of that noise. If you take your thumb and tap it on wood that's kinda what it sounds like.

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[flash]

sounds like a goofy central locking thing

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[94SilverCab]

I vaguely remember something like this at RS Barn...it was something odd like an ABS relay..sorry faulty memory...maybe Pete will weigh in...



Jay

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[rhudeboye]

Well, he's only a phone call away.



Stay tuned. I'll let him (and me) get his coffee first.

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[gryphon]

[quote name='xrad' post='59405' date='Sep 9 2008, 04:36 PM']If I leave the hood up, it drains in a week. If I leave the hood down, it drains in four weeks...maybe something to do with the alarm system...[/quote]



Same story here except it's my trunk instead of hood. But the amp draw never changes, trunk up or trunk down.....until I go to bed. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



The problem I see with the solar chargers is that they are designed to work inside the vehicle, such as on the dash. They do not seem to be waterproof. Hence you can't easily cover your car and use them.



Tom

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[Cloud9...68]

[quote name='gryphon' post='59515' date='Sep 10 2008, 05:29 PM']The problem I see with the solar chargers is that they are designed to work inside the vehicle, such as on the dash. They do not seem to be waterproof. Hence you can't easily cover your car and use them.



Tom[/quote]

Yes, I understand, but I was thinking of using it when I park the car while in a store, or at the track between runs. I'm just a little concerned that with my low temp fan switch, the fans stay on for several minntes after I turn the car off, which will put some strain on the battery. But if people have done OK with theose tiny Odyssey batteries, the one I bought should be fine.

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[968gene]

Try this...the next time you have run your battery down, connect a jumper cable from the negative terminal to the engine. If the car turns over more and starts then you may have a faulty negative terminal end. I did. There was no visible corrosion on the cable or connector.

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[gryphon]

[quote name='968gene' post='59525' date='Sep 10 2008, 05:24 PM']Try this...the next time you have run your battery down, connect a jumper cable from the negative terminal to the engine. If the car turns over more and starts then you may have a faulty negative terminal end. I did. There was no visible corrosion on the cable or connector.[/quote]



THAT is a very smart idea. It probably won't be too long before I have a dead battery, likely the first time I go out of town and forget to hook up the trickle charger.



Tom

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[Mark]

This was one of the issues solved on my car by putting in the new cables from the new sponsor Higher Connections. My battery would generally be dead within 48 hours before that and I went through two new batteries. This morning I went out to my car and realized the interior light was on for over two days and the car had not been driven in over 10 days. Cranked over strong as can be on the first shot.

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[rhudeboye]

[quote name='Mark' post='59595' date='Sep 11 2008, 01:56 PM']This was one of the issues solved on my car by putting in the new cables from the new sponsor Higher Connections. My battery would generally be dead within 48 hours before that and I went through two new batteries. This morning I went out to my car and realized the interior light was on for over two days and the car had not been driven in over 10 days. Cranked over strong as can be on the first shot.[/quote]



impressive. But I'm not sure I follow it logically. Worn cables, tho not insulated well, wouldnt necessarily drain power without a source sucking it out. Right?

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[flash]

well, yes, and no - worn cables won't allow full transmission of current - therefore, your battery won't be charging, and it ends up dead, no matter if you hook it up to a charger or not - it's the same with a bad connection - this is exactly what was happening to me not too long ago - not the "slow drain" problem, but definitely the "failure to fully charge" problem

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[gryphon]

[quote name='rhudeboye' post='59611' date='Sep 11 2008, 04:15 PM']impressive. But I'm not sure I follow it logically. Worn cables, tho not insulated well, wouldnt necessarily drain power without a source sucking it out. Right?[/quote]





Nor in my case when I leave an ammeter on the battery and see a minimal drain of 0.06 amps and later find a dead battery (actually three different batteries).



Tom

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[flash]

he's on his way

   

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