Punto ELX 2000 1.2

I've read many threads on this issue but have not managed to get to the bottom of this specific problem.
It starts like many other Punto stories, the battery dies overnight (or two days), something is pulling power from the battery while the car lies idle.

Main suspects.
1. Car Radio
2. Car Alarm
3. Power Steering

In an effort to isolate the problem I disconnected three wires from the - (neg) side of the battery (one is an earth) - the result was that the car started this morning without any problem. However the power steering would not work with these wires disconnected. (Everything else runs fine - electric windows, radio, etc)

So of the three wires, one is the earth, but I don't know which of the two others - these two are welded together - has anyone got an idea of which of these I might try disconnecting?

How old is the battery? Get it drop tested to make sure the cells are in good working condition, if not replace it with a standard rectangular battery (you have to remove the battery plastic cover to fit a normal (cheaper) battery)

Is the radio standard or aftermarket? Does it work with ignition off?

Most factors will test a battery for free. Best to eliminate a failing battery before doing further research.

power steering is relay driven, so you could easily find the power for the PS unit and remove it overnight

However - i really do dowt its the PS here....

Moneys on the radio

But what alarm system do you have fitted? is it a Aftermarket or an original?

Ziggy

Put ammeter accross the battery with the ignition off doors locked and bonnet up and see how much is being drawn.

Blindly blundering around with theory's won't solve your problem, however looking at the state of your battery how old is it when was the last time you topped up the water and wonder if you should consider a new one

AndyRKett said:

Put ammeter accross the battery with the ignition off doors locked and bonnet up and see how much is being drawn.

Blindly blundering around with theory's won't solve your problem, however looking at the state of your battery how old is it when was the last time you topped up the water and wonder if you should consider a new one

Click to expand...

Not quiet

Pull the negative terminal off - Put the amp meter inline
So Neg terminal - probe - Multimeter - Probe - Car Neg Clamp

I believe 300ma was the maximum drainage recommendation....

Ziggy

I would say anything more then 30mA will be too much. 300mA will drain a brand new battery 44Ah fully charged in about 44/0.3 = 150 hours or 6.25 day. That will be too little. I had about 60mA from my radio and that was actually killing my not so new battery in the winter in 2 days.

Ziggy122 said:

Not quiet

Pull the negative terminal off -

Click to expand...

Please your self, I do tend to do things the complicated way

Look up Kirchoffs Laws

AndyRKett said:

Please your self, I do tend to do things the complicated way

Look up Kirchoffs Laws

Click to expand...

I thought ammeters were low resistance therefore ohms law says that you will have a very high current flow through the meter, basically just shorted the battery?

Dan

Current MUST be measured in-line as Ziggy said. If you don't you will short the battery, blow the fuse in the multimeter and you may get a little fright!

Voltage can be measured across the battery.

So it's best to make sure you have the right setting before you start probing

von Helsing recommends leaving garlic on the battery after dark.

Hi i am Alan I had a similar fault it turns out that the boot light was on all the time, suspect faulty switch take out bulb cured. Still trying to find switch.

Switch is in the boot, under the panel on the boot lid. Think its in the latch itself