car battery constantly going flat

eoinf

Hi

Just looking for some advice.

Driving an 07 Focus. It has a problem that if the car is left idle for over 24hrs the battery goes completely flat.

I have checked all the usual, lights radio or anything else that can be turned off with no joy.

I had it in with a local "garage" who changed the battery and it was fine for a couple of weeks with pretty regular use , but with the better weather i have been cycling to work and the car might sit in the drive way for a day or two with no use.

I was just wondering is there an easy way of fault finding the problem?

failing that can anyone suggest somewhere around Dublin that might be able
to help out.

Thanks in advance.

Eoin

bazz26

The alternator was troublesome on that model Focus. You really need an auto electrician to look it over and see if he can check your alternator or trace if there is a drain on the battery itself.

valerossi

Do you have any add on speakers or gadgets in the car? Has the alternator been tested to see what charge its putting out? How often and long do you drive the car?

BArra

is the focus keyless entry?

also check that your glovebox light isnt staying on when it is closed

eoinf

Thanks for the replys.

I've added nothing to the car. It does have a lot of electronics on board to start with.

I'll get it checked out again but I think the local guy who swapped the battery also checked the alternator. I don't want to drop it back to him as I don't have a lot of confidence.

Any recommendations for somewhere in Dublin? Would a main Ford dealer be somewhere to go or are they going to be madly expensive?

eoinf

BArra wrote: »

is the focus keyless entry?

also check that your glovebox light isnt staying on when it is closed

Yes its the 1.6 zetec with all the bells and whistles that were available.

oregano

The ignition thinks the key is in when it isn't. Don't blame the battery, alternator or mechanic. At least not yet. Call fort in Walkinstown. I've bought a few new ignition sets for connection model focus over the years. About 200 euro iirc. Its a very common flaw.

CiniO

eoinf wrote: »

Hi

Just looking for some advice.

Driving an 07 Focus. It has a problem that if the car is left idle for over 24hrs the battery goes completely flat.

I have checked all the usual, lights radio or anything else that can be turned off with no joy.

I had it in with a local "garage" who changed the battery and it was fine for a couple of weeks with pretty regular use , but with the better weather i have been cycling to work and the car might sit in the drive way for a day or two with no use.

I was just wondering is there an easy way of fault finding the problem?

failing that can anyone suggest somewhere around Dublin that might be able
to help out.

Thanks in advance.

Eoin

My father had exactly the same problem with his corsa this winter.
We first though that just batter was gone (as it was already 7 years old) so we got the new one.
After a week or two, again - battery went flat.

We gave it to a garage, and they've checked it, said it was a problem with alternator and starter motor, reconditioned them and said problem was solved. They charged a good bit of money.
Unfortunately nothing was solved.

Eventually I plugged in multimeter to check what current is being drained (amperage). With car turned off, it was 0.92A which is way too much.
With this plugged in, I started to pull fuses from fuse box one by one, and that way eventually I found the culprit.

It was the bulb in the boot which was permanently on, but surely in your car it can be anything.

Anyway - I think that plugging in amperometer and pulling fuses one by one is the easiest way to find out where the problem is.

BArra

the keyless entry is known fault... its not letting the car sleep. its probably a relay thats not turning off when you switch the car off but its impossible to replace that.

it would need a new ignition block where they remove they keyless and revert you to the key system.

at night do you notice the clock on the radio staying lit and also the odometer staying lit up?

if you do then its a good indication that its the keyless ignition thats at fault

BArra

if i am right then you would be looking at around 370E for replacement, only main ford dealer will be able to do it for you

vr7

Perhaps there are bad cells in the battery!

If the battery has being jumped, then the car driven and brought to a garage for a diagnostic, the battery can give a FALSE reading.

Had a problem a few years back and it was only when I brought the car to advance the fault was spotted.

eoinf

Its a brand new battery.

Keyless entry has given me jip in the past. Not being able to get the steering lock off and constantly telling me the battery in the key fob is dead despite brand new batterys in it.

Ill get someone to have a look at it.

Any recommendations?

Im not looking forward to forking out big money.

congo_90

eoinf wrote: »

Its a brand new battery.

Keyless entry has given me jip in the past. Not being able to get the steering lock off and constantly telling me the battery in the key fob is dead despite brand new batterys in it.

Ill get someone to have a look at it.

Any recommendations?

Im not looking forward to forking out big money.

Check boot light. Also do check stereo. Having driven one before the stereo can be played without ignition thus always on standby.
I do know a mechanic ill have to dig out his number. Very competent. Also check lights arent set to parking lights being left on.
Id call the mechanic just to inform him the problem is persistant