Mud-club
Vehicle & Technical => Discovery => Topic started by: morfis on February 24, 2008, 12:32:32
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Hi folks,
went out to the bus this morning and it seems electricaly dead - central locking not working, opened with key, no lights on dash.
Did the same a week ago - new battery was available so dropped that in and it started ok, went out to shops, came back - two hours later it wouldn't start. Disconnected battery and left it on charge for a couple of hours before going away for a few days (not in the car). Yesterday I reconnected the battery and it started fine.
Any suggestions on how to diagnose the problem would be appreciated.
oops , forgot model - 98 disco 1
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Pull out glowplug fuses, make sure that any heay consumers (Rear window heater, headlights etc) are off them put a meter in series with the battery, make sure its rated at least 20A and then pull fuses out till the drain goes away. Its possible its a leaky Diode in the alternator
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Thanks. What would a typical normal drain current be (glowplug fuse removed, standard TDi wiring)?
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Current drain with glowplug fuse removed, ignition off - 200mA which doesn't seem excessive?
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At a guess I would say the diode pack on the back of your alternator is knackered mate.
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200ma sounds a little high to be honest, only things drawing current should be ECU battery backup (if it has one) Alarm and possibly radio, all should be in the <10ma range each. Some alarms in standby draw nanoamps.
Its not worryingly high but its enough to say, nail a battery in a few days. Pulle the feed to the battery off of the laternator and then see what happens.
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Thanks for the suggestions.
I had disconnected the radio as well (because there is nonstandard wiring to nokia car kit on the same feed). Alarm is standard disco fit.
Will try the alternator feed today.