[Darryl]

As the title states, I have recently developed a battery drain. The car is driven most weekends but will sit most of the time during the week. There are periods when I will drive it back and forth to work a couple of days during the week based on my schedule and the weather. Anyways, so long as I drive it, it will stay charged I'm guessing to nearly full as there are no problems cranking, no dim lights upon ignition, etc. Alternator seeems to be doings its job.



Now on to the noise...Ever since I've owned the car, every now and then, I'll get a grinding noise when I try to start it. It's similar to the noise you get when you try to start a car that's already running. If this noise occurs, car won't start, shut it off and it immediately turns over next try, never a problem twice in a row. Figured is was a bad solenoid or starter showing signs of age and I'd replace it eventually. Now with the battery drain, I'm guessing something is amiss. Brand new battery that's been fine since installation a few months back.



I won't have any time to do anything this week, but wanted to get some feedback from everyone so I can do some poking around with my multimeter this weekend to see if I can narrow down the drain. If anyone can say definite that it's a starter, I'd be inclined to go ahead and get one on the way so I have it. Sources? I have to order some BMW parts for a repair for my neighbor, so I figured I'd combine the orders at Pelican...thoughts?



- Darryl

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[jpk]

I don't think the starter would cause a battery drain like that, but, since you're having issues with it, you may want to replace it just to avoid problems down the line. You might also just check that it's properly tightened, if it's loose, it might be binding sometimes.



To figgure out what's going on with the battery, you want to look at how much current is drawn when everything is shut off. Most meters can handle up to about 10 amps current draw. You need to disconnect one of the battery cables, and connect your meter between the battery and the cable end. Up 0.1 amps would probably be considered normal, but it should probably be more like 0.05 or so. If you see much more than that, start pulling fuses and relays untill you find the offending circuit, then start looking at eveything on that circuit.



Before you go too far; you might want to check your glove box light. The switch is known to stick. Also; since you have a cab, the trunk light might be stuck on.



Also, since my car also sits around in the garage a lot, I use a battery maintainer; just a automatic "float mode" trickle charger. Well worth the money in prolonging the life of the battery.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

actually, i'm guessing youhave a couple of things going on, one of which is likely the starter



it sounds like the bushing in the nose has gone away, making the shaft misalign - this can easily lead to the bearing in the starter going out and causing the motor to internally bind and short out - this can also lead to tearing up the ring gear on the flywheel



as for the "drain", more investigation would be needed to find that one - how fast does it drain?



i would start by looking at the connections and wiring to the starter - if is down there, the drain would be big - then i would one by one pull fuses while watching a meter



i would NOT put a trickle charger on it until i identified the drain - if it is a dead short (like a bad wire or cable) you could easily start a fire

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968gene]

grounds! quick and easy to clean and no $. solved my issue(s).

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

by the way - glad that worked out

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Darryl]

[quote name='968gene' post='42385' date='Oct 15 2007, 09:56 PM']grounds! quick and easy to clean and no $. solved my issue(s).[/quote]



Yes, I think I will start by checking and cleaning the grounding point by the starter...there is one there correct? I seem to remember reading that there is a large one there? I also remember folks talking about checking the wiring going to the starter for rubbing that may cause shorts.



With regards to how fast it drains...sorry I forgot to mention that in my initial post. It will drain far enough to make it not start after about 10-12 days of sitting. When you turn the key to the first position, all dash lights come on, radio works, etc. but not enough juice to even think about turning over. Everything appears normal until it tries to turn over. Fires right up if I jump it off one of my vans or my truck. Luckily all I have to do is push it out of the garage and there's always a truck or van nearby.



Flash, no trickle charger in my future so no fear of fires! If it turns out to be evasive, I'll be doing the "one-at-a-time" fuse pull method, but as also mentioned, I think a starter would be a good thing anyway...not like it's hard to replace! Sounds like you'd recommend that too as a "while you're in there" based on your gruesome description of shafts misaligning and bearings in my nose!!



Thanks for the quick ideas...keep 'em coming.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968rz]

Could it just be time for a new batt? Even a .5 amp draw on a weak batt would make it die fast.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[ldeprat]

[quote name='Darryl' post='42370' date='Oct 16 2007, 01:15 AM']As the title states, I have recently developed a battery drain. <snip> Anyways, so long as I drive it, it will stay charged I'm guessing to nearly full as there are no problems cranking, no dim lights upon ignition, etc. Alternator seeems to be doings its job.[/quote]



Sounds like the starter gear is slipping. For a quick test, try reaching under the car and giving it a few taps on the housing with a hammer. If that doesn't solve it, take it apart and clean it. These starters usually last a very, very long time.



That still doesn't address the battery drain issue. How old is the battery? Not sure what you mean by the "alternator seems to be doing its job." Does it charge the battery up to spec on the voltage meter? How long have you driven the car nonstop?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Darryl]

[quote name='Luis de Prat' post='42401' date='Oct 16 2007, 06:57 AM']Sounds like the starter gear is slipping. For a quick test, try reaching under the car and giving it a few taps on the housing with a hammer. If that doesn't solve it, take it apart and clean it. These starters usually last a very, very long time.



That still doesn't address the battery drain issue. How old is the battery? Not sure what you mean by the "alternator seems to be doing its job." Does it charge the battery up to spec on the voltage meter? How long have you driven the car nonstop?[/quote]



New Optima Red Top 35 battery was installed January of 2007...only 9 months ago. It has been fine up until a month or so ago when it began not turning over after sitting all week. What I meant by the "alternator is doing its job", was simply that after being dead/jump start and driving for a while, it seems fully charged and has no problems turning the car over.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

i have the same battery - the optima is a deep charge battery, so it may take a real drive to charge it fully (about 45 minutes)



10-12 days is a bit short, but mine will drain in 3-4 weeks - my guages don't go nuts, but it does die - even my mgb didn't do this - very annoying really - the only thing i can find that is drawing power is the memory of the deck, the clock, and the alarm

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Darryl]

[quote name='flash' post='42407' date='Oct 16 2007, 08:50 AM']i have the same battery - the optima is a deep charge battery, so it may take a real drive to charge it fully (about 45 minutes)



10-12 days is a bit short, but mine will drain in 3-4 weeks - my guages don't go nuts, but it does die - even my mgb didn't do this - very annoying really - the only thing i can find that is drawing power is the memory of the deck, the clock, and the alarm[/quote]



My daily commute is about 45 min each way...and if I drive the car a couple of days in a row, no problems whatsoever.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

hmmm - sounds like something small is staying on (gps antenna, etc)



i would check and clean the main ground at the battery (very common to have corrosion under it at the sheet metal), and check your door switches (especially the glove box)

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Anchorman]

I have a four-year-old Diehard. I've left the car sitting outside for as much as three weeks and it started like it had been run the day before. So - I'm willing to state, without equivocation, that there is no "natural" drain. Clock, etc., don't add up to a hill of watts. Something else is going on.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Darryl]

Just read Bruce Ward's Gummy Starter Syndrome DIY and Dave G. post...can't see the pictures now...drat...post too old? Anyway, could be worth a shot. I'd love to see those photos if anyone can help. If I get a little time this afternoon, I'm going to check the voltage at the battery terminals in its current state - plenty of lights, radio, trunk release, etc. but not enough to crank! I'll report back...



- Darryl

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968gene]

Darryl, take a look at my post

http://www.968forums.com/index.php?showtopic=4367

I cleaned all of the grounds an life is much better. If the battery to chasis ground is dirty (as in my case) the ground to start thee car has to travel another route to make the connection. I proved this by "jumping" from the battery directly to the engine (without another battery in the picture) and the engine fired up easily. Before cleaning the grounds, my battery would die in a few days, presumably because it was never fully topped off.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Kim]

I replaced the battery in my cab last month - it just stopped holding a charge. Eventually it would not start even after it was just turned off. The alternator showed that everything was marvelous. Maybe you just need a new battery.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Darryl]

[quote name='968gene' post='42457' date='Oct 16 2007, 07:46 PM']Darryl, take a look at my post

http://www.968forums.com/index.php?showtopic=4367

I cleaned all of the grounds an life is much better. If the battery to chasis ground is dirty (as in my case) the ground to start thee car has to travel another route to make the connection. I proved this by "jumping" from the battery directly to the engine (without another battery in the picture) and the engine fired up easily. Before cleaning the grounds, my battery would die in a few days, presumably because it was never fully topped off.[/quote]



I read that post and I think the best place to start is a good cleaning of lots of things - grounds, starter, etc. Ironically enough, pretty much the only thing I've done to the car in the past 2 1/2 years of ownership has been clean stuff. Most if not all of my issues to date have not required replacement parts and that's after buying the car sight unseen! Go figure. Hopefull I'll have time for exploring this weekend.



- Darryl

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968gene]

[quote name='Darryl' post='42471' date='Oct 16 2007, 09:54 PM']I read that post and I think the best place to start is a good cleaning of lots of things - grounds, starter, etc. Ironically enough, pretty much the only thing I've done to the car in the past 2 1/2 years of ownership has been clean stuff. Most if not all of my issues to date have not required replacement parts and that's after buying the car sight unseen! Go figure. Hopefull I'll have time for exploring this weekend.



- Darryl[/quote]



Jumped in the 968 yesterday and it fired right up. I was concerned that it had sat for several weeks (with the alarm on) and that the battery might be dead. I really think the cleaned grounding points helped with a resistance issue.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.