Flat battery

Jean · Post by **Jean** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:06 pm

I wonder if anyone else has ever had this problem? In the past with all my other 480s if the car was not been driven for a week or so the battery was always flat and it would not start. Not an old battery with any of them but it was a nuisance. In the end if we were going to be away for more than a few days we disconnected the battery and all was well. Any thougts as to why this would happen and if there is any other way of avoiding it in the future other than diconnectig

480_rocket · Post by **480_rocket** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:23 pm

Maybe it has a higher than normal drain on the battery, like the ECUs etc. 480 is full of electronics.

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:44 pm

Some people also have this problem, Leaking power when the car is off.

the forum has spoken about this before.

volvofox · Post by **volvofox** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 10:14 pm

you can even measure it with a "multimeter" But, you have to know what you are doing .... The drain has to be around 0,03 Ampere to be whithin OK zone... Remenmber also to keep all doors (even the hood) closed, radio of etc. also wait for timer relays to get build down.

Jean · Post by **Jean** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 5:20 am

wait for timer relays to get build down.

In my ignorance what do you mean by this?

Jean · Post by **Jean** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 5:23 am

wait for timer relays to get build down.

In my ignorance what do you mean by this?

bbf · Post by **bbf** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 6:05 am

i would say interior lights, locks lightening, aux water pump. just wait 5 minutes and you'll be fine!

Jean · Post by **Jean** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 1:24 pm

[quote]wait 5 minutes[/quote

Do you mean I should wait 5 minutes before switching off the engine?

Jean · Post by **Jean** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 1:26 pm

Sory I meant before you lock the car?! How do I retrieve a message and delete it if I realise it was not what I meant.

bbf · Post by **bbf** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 4:30 pm

delet it or edit it.

give 5 minutes for all timers to set down. so the car will go to lowest power drain. than check the current drain from batt. before you do this, open the engine compartment (bonnet) and stick something to the bonnet lock, where the switch for open signal is. dont' disconect the batt without ampermeter, the timers might start again..

pol · Post by **pol** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 5:01 pm

I think what is being said here is you need to check the battery connected to the car by having the hood open. But having the hood open is also opening a switch in the bonnet lock. So if you find a good way of checking for battery drain, open the bonnet, lock the doors, stick something in the bonnet catch to trick the switch into thinking the bonnet is closed, then connect your multimeters in whatever way you would to check this problem...

pol

Jean · Post by **Jean** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 6:13 pm

Oh Dear, I will have to get my Son in Law to decipher all that .I am a completely illiterate elderly female as regards the workings of a car. Thanks for all the advice anyway. I appreciate it.Where do you find the delete button when you have already sent the post? Fairly computer illiterate too.

Just posted this and low and behold there was the edit button on the afar righthand corner which took me straight back to the post box so now I know a little bit more