battery drain

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
meexi
Posts: 273
Joined: 24 Apr 2002, 04:33
Location: Letham,Angus
My Cars:

battery drain

Post by meexi »

okay chaps thinking caps on my xantia has a problem with a draining battery it will go for months no problem but then it will be flat with no warning the only thing that is the same is that it is always wet so waters getting into something but does anyone know where?
2004 C3 XTR HDI 16V 92bhp
2004 Xsara Picasso Exclusive HDI 16V 110bhp
1989 Peugeot J5 Hymer B694 2.5td intercooled 8v 96bhp
jeremy
Posts: 3959
Joined: 20 Oct 2002, 16:00
Location: Hampshire, UK
My Cars:
x 2

Post by jeremy »

There is a trunking crossing under the front of a Xantia which is notorious for filling with water and rotting the cables it contains. I wonder if this is the problem?

There are a number of postings (not recent) on this topic.
jeremy
Peter.N.
Moderating Team
Posts: 11563
Joined: 02 Apr 2005, 16:11
Location: Charmouth,Dorset
My Cars: Currently:

C5 X7 VTR + Satnav Hdi estate Silver
C5 X7 VTR + Hdi Estate 2008 Red

In the past: 3, CX td Safaris and about 7, XM td estates. Lovely cars.
x 1199

Post by Peter.N. »

How long does it take to go flat? If very quickly and there are no flames and smoke, check the glow plug relay. The best way to find the problem is to connect a meter in series with one of the battery connections (take the connector off and connect it to one meter lead and the other to the battery) On the 'Amps' range you should have no more than a few milliamps flowing with everything turned off, check it when wet and again when dry and see if there is any difference.
meexi
Posts: 273
Joined: 24 Apr 2002, 04:33
Location: Letham,Angus
My Cars:

Post by meexi »

eventually got it started drove it home 7 miles left it in garage over night and then tried it next morning started no problems. i thought that the windscreen leaking would only leak if it had been replaced and not properly sealed?

have not tried the ohms meter on it yet but will let you know.
2004 C3 XTR HDI 16V 92bhp
2004 Xsara Picasso Exclusive HDI 16V 110bhp
1989 Peugeot J5 Hymer B694 2.5td intercooled 8v 96bhp
meexi
Posts: 273
Joined: 24 Apr 2002, 04:33
Location: Letham,Angus
My Cars:

Post by meexi »

still having problems something draining the battery very quickly.
peter.n how do you check the glowplug relay

i can charge the battery off the car put when i put it on the car it just drains it


please help!
2004 C3 XTR HDI 16V 92bhp
2004 Xsara Picasso Exclusive HDI 16V 110bhp
1989 Peugeot J5 Hymer B694 2.5td intercooled 8v 96bhp
admiral51
Donor 2023
Posts: 2625
Joined: 24 May 2007, 10:11
Location: poole dorset uk
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: C5 X7 2009 2.0 HDI VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]
C4 2010 2.0 HDi Exclusive VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]
x 378

Post by admiral51 »

shot in the dark i know but it has been known for the alternator to drain the charge out of the battery-unusual but it does happen

colin
steelcityuk
Posts: 1053
Joined: 03 Jul 2006, 21:51
Location: not applicable
My Cars: not applicable
x 1

Post by steelcityuk »

If the plastic scuttle at the bottom of the windscreen isn't sealed correctly water just runs down the 'screen and in thru the heater air intake. Happened on my Xantia. I removed mine, cleaned up both surfaces and resealed with clear silicone.

Could you try pulling fuses with the ignition off to see which one sparks due to load? This could help narrow it down.

Steve.
not applicable
Sturdybloke
Posts: 191
Joined: 04 Dec 2005, 01:19
Location:
My Cars:

Post by Sturdybloke »

Ignition switch could be playing up. Happened on my Xantia when the old switch was playing up. Would drain the battery over 2 days or so

Turn everything off, take the key out. Engage the steering lock and in a dark area (like your garage) jiggle the locked steering wheel and look at the instrument binacle to see if any lights illuminate.
Peter.N.
Moderating Team
Posts: 11563
Joined: 02 Apr 2005, 16:11
Location: Charmouth,Dorset
My Cars: Currently:

C5 X7 VTR + Satnav Hdi estate Silver
C5 X7 VTR + Hdi Estate 2008 Red

In the past: 3, CX td Safaris and about 7, XM td estates. Lovely cars.
x 1199

Post by Peter.N. »

If the battery goes flat in less than an hour say, the glow plug relay or something energising it could be the problem. Anything other than that would produce a great deal of heat probably resulting in smoke (if not flames) To check if it is the relay, connect a voltmeter between the glowplug terminals and earth with the battery disconnected, then connect the battery, if you havn't touched anything else there should be no voltage present, if there is around 11 volts the plugs are turned on. If nothing, try turning the ingnition switch to the glow plug position, you should then have a reading of about 11 volts, turn the switch off and the voltage should dissapear, if it doesn't, either the relay is sticking or the ignition switch faulty.

Peter.N.
meexi
Posts: 273
Joined: 24 Apr 2002, 04:33
Location: Letham,Angus
My Cars:

Post by meexi »

quick update car has been starting fine for 4 days then one night flat battery i have resorted to disconnecting the battery every time i park it.

one thing i have noticed is that when i have been driving it the battery terminal is so hot that i burned my finger with it tonight that cant be right can it?
2004 C3 XTR HDI 16V 92bhp
2004 Xsara Picasso Exclusive HDI 16V 110bhp
1989 Peugeot J5 Hymer B694 2.5td intercooled 8v 96bhp
Peter.N.
Moderating Team
Posts: 11563
Joined: 02 Apr 2005, 16:11
Location: Charmouth,Dorset
My Cars: Currently:

C5 X7 VTR + Satnav Hdi estate Silver
C5 X7 VTR + Hdi Estate 2008 Red

In the past: 3, CX td Safaris and about 7, XM td estates. Lovely cars.
x 1199

Post by Peter.N. »

That would seem to indicate that there is a lot of current flowing into the battery, which would be the case if it had been run flat. Check that the connections are good - mind you they should be if you have been taking them on and off. How long have you been driving when you notice the hot terminals?
meexi
Posts: 273
Joined: 24 Apr 2002, 04:33
Location: Letham,Angus
My Cars:

Post by meexi »

just been driving it for two days looks like i will have to check the battery wiring
2004 C3 XTR HDI 16V 92bhp
2004 Xsara Picasso Exclusive HDI 16V 110bhp
1989 Peugeot J5 Hymer B694 2.5td intercooled 8v 96bhp
Peter.N.
Moderating Team
Posts: 11563
Joined: 02 Apr 2005, 16:11
Location: Charmouth,Dorset
My Cars: Currently:

C5 X7 VTR + Satnav Hdi estate Silver
C5 X7 VTR + Hdi Estate 2008 Red

In the past: 3, CX td Safaris and about 7, XM td estates. Lovely cars.
x 1199

Post by Peter.N. »

I meant, how long had the battery been charging when you noticed that the terminals were hot? Just on that trip.
meexi
Posts: 273
Joined: 24 Apr 2002, 04:33
Location: Letham,Angus
My Cars:

Post by meexi »

7 miles from work to home
2004 C3 XTR HDI 16V 92bhp
2004 Xsara Picasso Exclusive HDI 16V 110bhp
1989 Peugeot J5 Hymer B694 2.5td intercooled 8v 96bhp
Peter.N.
Moderating Team
Posts: 11563
Joined: 02 Apr 2005, 16:11
Location: Charmouth,Dorset
My Cars: Currently:

C5 X7 VTR + Satnav Hdi estate Silver
C5 X7 VTR + Hdi Estate 2008 Red

In the past: 3, CX td Safaris and about 7, XM td estates. Lovely cars.
x 1199

Post by Peter.N. »

That could be due to the alternator replacing the energy that was drained when it was left standing, if the battery was nearly flat it would be charging initially at about 80 amps and would drop to about 10 or 15. If you have a multimeter, a cheap one will do if its accurate, connect it to a 12 volt supply inside the car so that you can monitor it.. You should have around 14 volts when the engine is running, and if nothing is draining it when you stop, it should be just over 12 volts. If you see it drop below 12v, or say 13v when you are driving, something will be draining the battery. Try that and let us know the results.
Post Reply