Disconnect battery to stop drain

[Boringfrog]

A car I've acquired has had a battery drain problem for years, the battery will go flat within a week if not used, if I disconnect the positive terminal will this stop the drain and can anyone see any problems with the battery lead disconnected? Thanks folks.

 

[jezport]

No alarm, plus modern canbus systems can cause issues if powered down wrongly of if spiked on reconnection

 

[phillipsheila]

cant start it

 

[AJM2]

Have you got the code to the radio, just in case it requires it when power back on?

 

[Bessy765]

Where possible disconnect the negative Rather than the positive. If using a spanner to release the positive terminal there is a danger of the end of the spanner touching something on the body causing a short!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Odd-no-more]

Amazon product ASIN B07J34S5DHBetter to fit one of these

 

[Boringfrog]

Amazon product ASIN B07J34S5DHBetter to fit one of these

I've looked at these but read bad reviews.

 

[Odd-no-more]

I've looked at these but read bad reviews.

I had one ony Bongo, it had the same problem of power drain, I fitted one.of these and it worked fine.

 

[Boringfrog]

I had one ony Bongo, it had the same problem of power drain, I fitted one.of these and it worked fine.

You've sold it to me, I'll buy one and give it a go.

 

[andy63]

A car I've acquired has had a battery drain problem for years, the battery will go flat within a week if not used, if I disconnect the positive terminal will this stop the drain and can anyone see any problems with the battery lead disconnected? Thanks folks.

I'd rather spend a bit of time finding out what the drain was and then trying to sort that..
Have you tried?..
Andy

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[PaulandChrissy]

A car I've acquired has had a battery drain problem for years, the battery will go flat within a week if not used, if I disconnect the positive terminal will this stop the drain and can anyone see any problems with the battery lead disconnected? Thanks folks.

What car and year is it.

 

[PaulandChrissy]

Hi. What car and year is it.

 

[Boringfrog]

I'd rather spend a bit of time finding out what the drain was and then trying to sort that..
Have you tried?..
Andy

The lad whose car it was has had it 11 years and it's always had the problem as far as I can remember, he took it back to Seat a couple of times and they updated some software on it but still had the drain, if you drive it every day it's fine, if you leave it for 3/4 days it'll be flat. I've done a couple of checks recommend since I got it, i.e a diode on the alternator can fail, but if tested fine. I don't want to spend any money on it at this moment.

 

[Boringfrog]

Hi. What car and year is it.

Seat Leon 1.6 petrol, 2009.

 

[TheBig1]

The failed diode on the alternator issue will often flatten the battery overnight. I had that recently on a car but the alternator tested fine. I changed it anyway and cured the issue

If the battery has been repeatedly flattened, it will no longer hold a full charge

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Boringfrog]

The failed diode on the alternator issue will often flatten the battery overnight. I had that recently on a car but the alternator tested fine. I changed it anyway and cured the issue

If the battery has been repeatedly flattened, it will no longer hold a full charge

I know, I thought the battery might have had it's time, did you replace the diode pack or the full alternator?

 

[Richard n Ann]

Not a cure but if you stick one of these on it you can keep an eye on battery level. Extremely easy to fit, then you can check the battery on your phone

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=283996492393

 

[TheBig1]

I know, I thought the battery might have had it's time, did you replace the diode pack or the full alternator?

It was quicker and not much dearer to change to a compatible alternator. I had the old one on the bench planning to strip and refurb, but not worth the hassle

 

[Boringfrog]

It was quicker and not much dearer to change to a compatible alternator. I had the old one on the bench planning to strip and refurb, but not worth the hassle

The alternator looks quite easy to replace on the Seat too, no lying under the car, accessible from the top.

 

[PaulandChrissy]

The only way to trace the problem is to connect an amp meter between the battery and the disconnected lead. Measure the drain and then remove fuses one by one until the drain disappears. The max drain should be around 0.03 amps. Any other method is guess work.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}