Technical Twinair battery draining fast and only 12.8V with running engine

[onnaj]

Hi,

I have a 2011 500 twinair with a 3 year old battery.

Last with a bit colder weather I couldn't open the car door with the remote and the car didn't want to start.

Seems the battery was dead and jump starting with another car wasn't working also.

After using a trickle charger (slow) charger the car would start right away.

When running with accessories on max (Aircon, heating, rear window and mirror heating, headlight, etc) the voltage meter stays on 12.8V and only falls back 0.2V or so with everything on. When everything is off and only the engine is running it stays at 12.8V. After a few times cranking the voltage with engine off dropped to 11.6V or so. With running it was around 12.5V.

I left the car for a week without driving and then I wasn't able to open the car with the remote again. The battery was showing 7.x volts only so completely dead.

After a complete recharge with the trickle charger and warmer weather it still stays on 12.8V with everything on and it keeps it's voltage after multiple starts.

Could a faulty battery causing the alternator to not be able to charge it well? I'd expect around 13.5V with a running engine.

Or do I have had luck and maybe both the alternator and battery are bad?

I've checked for lights that are staying on in the car but can't find anything that could possibly cause the drain of the battery

Thanks!

 

[jrkitching]

Has your car got Blue&Me?

A failed Blue&Me module will keep draining the battery until physically disconnected, and is a commonly reported issue.

 

[onnaj]

Yes i have Blue and me. How can I check this or disable the unit?

 

[jrkitching]

It's behind the rear three quarter trim panel. The only potential snag in removing this is the rear seat belt mounting bolt, which sometimes shears off due to corrosion on the outer threads. I believe you can just loosen the panel sufficiently to pull the connecting plug off the module without removing the bolt.

Have a look on youtube for the videos on this subject by 'love500' (@typecastboy)

 

[typecastboy]

Assuming your mileage is flashing and your blue & me probably not working (not in all cases of a parasitic drain), then it is most likely your Blue & Me. You can loosen the back panel just at the rear. It helps if you remove the rear seats too and get your hand in to just flick the catch and unplug it. If you want it repaired, I repair them for £60 plus postage back to you. If you want to get it repaired drop me an email [email protected] and I'll send you the repair form. You don't necessarily need to remove the panel entirely to remove it. It is held in by three rivets which you need to drill out or 3 nuts which if you have small enough hands, can undo from the cage with a small ratchet spanner or socket wrench. Some people cut a slot with a sharp knife or multitool in the rear panel where the seat belt bolt is. I've never done that and have broken a few but if you don't want to chance doing that it's a much better alternative and the panel will then just pull out.

I have a video on removing it here:

 

[onnaj]

Hi,

My mileage is flashing while I've programmed cruise control but not yet was able to install it

Otherwise the unit works okay, except that it won't connect all the time while my phones Bluetooth is too new for the car ;-)

 

[typecastboy]

Hi,

My mileage is flashing while I've programmed cruise control but not yet was able to install it

Otherwise the unit works okay, except that it won't connect all the time while my phones Bluetooth is too new for the car ;-)

The parasitic drain can come on, on its own without all the other features not working although I guess you don't know whether the cruise is the issue.

I charge nothing to test them. If you would like to take it out and send it to me, if it's fine, then you just need to pay the postage back to you.

 

[onnaj]

Can you also test them from an Upsilon which is basically the same model?

 

[typecastboy]

Can you also test them from an Upsilon which is basically the same model?

Yes, any vehicle including vans that has a Blue & Me I can test and repair.

 

[onnaj]

Yes, any vehicle including vans that has a Blue & Me I can test and repair.

That'd be great. What's your location? Think that shipping from Holland to UK might be expensive and troublesome with duties?

If I'd check the blue and me module with multiecuscan and there would be no results this still doesn't mean it might be draining the battery?

 

[typecastboy]

Yes, any vehicle including vans that has a Blue & Me I can test and repair.

I repair them from all over the world. If you mark up as a commercial sample with a 10 euro value it avoids any charges. When I send them back I mark them up as "returned goods" and mark as unrepaired. That again, unless there are any local charges from anywhere (Spain charges 8 euros regardless), then it's just postage. Postage to Europe is £12. Everything you need to know is on the repair form.