Battery drain

From CEM to VEM, from LED to lightbulb and more. If you have an electrical problem, like a broken info-centre, search for answers in this category. This is also the place to be when you expect the problem to be of an electrical nature...

Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel

Ade
Can tell where the 480 was built
Posts: 337
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2012 3:25 pm
Location: Northants

Re: Battery drain

Post by Ade » Sun Jan 15, 2017 8:16 pm

Just checked, you can actually see the whole picture if you click on that.
O.C. 480 D.

Rachel
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1567
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:21 pm
Location: Bucks

Re: Battery drain

Post by Rachel » Tue Jan 17, 2017 3:44 pm

I can see it, thank you so much, that helps loads. :D
'95 Storm Grey 323 Manual Turbo, Richmod
----------------------------------------------------------
'95 Flame Red Celeb, Nos.191, 2 litre, LPG, used to be Adams ;) SOLD
'95 Vase Green Turbo~ Vanessa~ 'Serendipity' manual, Richmod. RIP
'90 Light Blue 480 Turbo auto....RIP
'68 VW Type 3 1.6 auto Lotus White,Swedish import. SOLD
Audi 80 coupe Gold...pimp my ride! RIP
'76 Bug, Ocean Blue, lowered, Empi wheels.RIP
'72 Bay window VW Camper 1600 twinport. Sold

jifflemon
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2464
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2016 11:03 am

Re: Battery drain

Post by jifflemon » Tue Jan 17, 2017 9:12 pm

Any update? How many amps/milli-amps are you pulling?

nicklee
480 Newbie
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:23 am
Location: London

Re: Battery drain

Post by nicklee » Sat Jan 28, 2017 2:26 pm

One other thing to rule out - and which was draining my battery overnight until i figured it out - is wear in the brake pedal mechanism which causes the pedal to drop slightly, activating the brake light switch. I had no idea what was going in with my car until one day I glanced back at it after parking to see my brake lights come on of their own accord.

Best way to check this is to lightly press your brake pedal with your hand whilst someone watches the lights at the back of the car. If the lights come on with almost no pedal movement (and if there appears to be some play in the pedal) this could be the answer. It's an easy fix too, you just sit upside down in the driver's seat with your head under the pedals :D and adjust the brake light switch. If I remember correctly it's a little white push switch which can be turned anti-clockwise to extend the part of the switch which makes contact with the brake pedal when it is not depressed and therefore keeps the brake lights off.

Bit of a long-shot perhaps, but worth ruling out. Tormented me for months!
1992 Paris Blue 480 ES

Rachel
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1567
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:21 pm
Location: Bucks

Re: Battery drain

Post by Rachel » Tue Jan 31, 2017 2:52 pm

nicklee wrote:One other thing to rule out - and which was draining my battery overnight until i figured it out - is wear in the brake pedal mechanism which causes the pedal to drop slightly, activating the brake light switch. I had no idea what was going in with my car until one day I glanced back at it after parking to see my brake lights come on of their own accord.

Best way to check this is to lightly press your brake pedal with your hand whilst someone watches the lights at the back of the car. If the lights come on with almost no pedal movement (and if there appears to be some play in the pedal) this could be the answer. It's an easy fix too, you just sit upside down in the driver's seat with your head under the pedals :D and adjust the brake light switch. If I remember correctly it's a little white push switch which can be turned anti-clockwise to extend the part of the switch which makes contact with the brake pedal when it is not depressed and therefore keeps the brake lights off.

Bit of a long-shot perhaps, but worth ruling out. Tormented me for months!
thanks for that. I will check but pretty sure my brakes lights don't come on when parked up, well worth check though ;)
'95 Storm Grey 323 Manual Turbo, Richmod
----------------------------------------------------------
'95 Flame Red Celeb, Nos.191, 2 litre, LPG, used to be Adams ;) SOLD
'95 Vase Green Turbo~ Vanessa~ 'Serendipity' manual, Richmod. RIP
'90 Light Blue 480 Turbo auto....RIP
'68 VW Type 3 1.6 auto Lotus White,Swedish import. SOLD
Audi 80 coupe Gold...pimp my ride! RIP
'76 Bug, Ocean Blue, lowered, Empi wheels.RIP
'72 Bay window VW Camper 1600 twinport. Sold

Rachel
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1567
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:21 pm
Location: Bucks

Re: Battery drain

Post by Rachel » Tue Jan 31, 2017 2:56 pm

jifflemon wrote:Any update? How many amps/milli-amps are you pulling?
Alas, no update. The return of my beloved 480 has been hampered by very slow sorting of the garage. I need to empty the garage which has become a dumping ground of builders 'stuff' and seal and paint the floor before she comes home from here holiday in Oxford. I am hoping this will be done in the next few weeks, and then I can get to work in finding the problem. Any news and I will report straight back.

Thank you :D
'95 Storm Grey 323 Manual Turbo, Richmod
----------------------------------------------------------
'95 Flame Red Celeb, Nos.191, 2 litre, LPG, used to be Adams ;) SOLD
'95 Vase Green Turbo~ Vanessa~ 'Serendipity' manual, Richmod. RIP
'90 Light Blue 480 Turbo auto....RIP
'68 VW Type 3 1.6 auto Lotus White,Swedish import. SOLD
Audi 80 coupe Gold...pimp my ride! RIP
'76 Bug, Ocean Blue, lowered, Empi wheels.RIP
'72 Bay window VW Camper 1600 twinport. Sold

Post Reply