Battery drain 320CDI 210

[aa1]

I fitted a new battery 2 years ago and it has began giving problems. If the car sits for 7/10 days in reasonable weather starting is a little lazy, if it sits for 3/4 days in hard frost it will not start and has to be jumped. I have had the battery (varta) tested and the result is battery is OK. Any well known culprits. regards AA

 

[Cole@MBS]

There could be many things causing a drain, un-common for a 210, i wouldnt rule out battery, if the car was draining then the battery wouldnt last that long, the next thing to do is a drain test with a muti-meter!

 

[television]

As SAM who tested the battery

 

[rf065]

I fitted a new battery 2 years ago and it has began giving problems. If the car sits for 7/10 days in reasonable weather starting is a little lazy, if it sits for 3/4 days in hard frost it will not start and has to be jumped. I have had the battery (varta) tested and the result is battery is OK. Any well known culprits. regards AA

I had a works car like that, the battery would go flat & the AA would jump start it, test the battery & tell me it was done. The garage we used would test it & tell me it was OK and a few days later I would call out the AA again to start it. This went on for a few weeks until i went to another garage who replaced the battery & it never happened again.

Russ

 

[aa1]

As SAM who tested the battery

Battery was tested by Varta dealer. He used a new type tester on it and it said battery good. I will try and get it done somewhere else. regards AA

 

[aa1]

There could be many things causing a drain, un-common for a 210, i wouldnt rule out battery, if the car was draining then the battery wouldnt last that long, the next thing to do is a drain test with a muti-meter!

How do you do a drain test with a multimeter apart from checking the voltage periodically? regards AA

 

[television]

Battery was tested by Varta dealer. He used a new type tester on it and it said battery good. I will try and get it done somewhere else. regards AA

The only other thing to do is to join a ammeter is series with the battery lead and check how much current is flowing, and this is best done without breaking the circuit and losing the path of the drain if there is one.

If Varta dealer tested it it probably OK

 

[Cole@MBS]

Varta!!!! thats proberly the main fault!!

 

[dave.robbo]

If Varta dealer tested it it probably OK

Yeah, but they're not going to admit that one of their batteries is duff!

 

[television]

Yeah, but they're not going to admit that one of their batteries is duff!

I have found that good battery places are honest,,sure he could go to a Lucas/ Exide depot and get another view

 

[dave.robbo]

I think one problem these days is that tyre/battery places are no longer allowed to do a proper 'drop-test' on batteries.. Apparently, there were a few, ahem, explosions, so the use of the testers has been outlawed.

Not sure how the new test works!

 

[television]

I think one problem these days is that tyre/battery places are no longer allowed to do a proper 'drop-test' on batteries.. Apparently, there were a few, ahem, explosions, so the use of the testers has been outlawed.

Not sure how the new test works!

Putting a large load over the battery does not find things like cells that can go open circuit after a couple of days, the new ones can find this, How I wish that I knew too

 

[Cole@MBS]

Seen so many batterys blow up, yes the whole battery blow up, this was taken care off as a result of a po32 recall back in the day, nothing to do with the varta brand, but i have changed so many of them, they are a cheap brand and make and sell them selfs so cheap that all brands are now using them! i really have a thing about them! there a cheap brand which dont last!!!

 

[Xtractorfan]

I tend to find that batteries get overlooked on servicing these days, maybe due to the boot/under seat fitment, topping up every now and then with a drop of distilled water doesnt do any harm..and it can even rejuvinate a weak cell..

 

[television]

Seen so many batterys blow up, yes the whole battery blow up, this was taken care off as a result of a po32 recall back in the day, nothing to do with the varta brand, but i have changed so many of them, they are a cheap brand and make and sell them selfs so cheap that all brands are now using them! i really have a thing about them! there a cheap brand which dont last!!!

Don't you like Varta

 

[Cole@MBS]

Don't you like Varta

Do you need me to reply to that?????

 

[Cole@MBS]

Waiting for Jay to reply now!!!!

 

[television]

Do you need me to reply to that?????

No not really

 

[aa1]

I tend to find that batteries get overlooked on servicing these days, maybe due to the boot/under seat fitment, topping up every now and then with a drop of distilled water doesnt do any harm..and it can even rejuvinate a weak cell..

Are these modern batteries not sealed and topping up is not an option?? regards AA

 

[television]

Are these modern batteries not sealed and topping up is not an option?? regards AA

Some are and some are not,it depends on who makes them.

You are in a rotten position having to trust the honesty of these people. I have had battles over these things before