Battery Battery drain and related question

[darkchild101]

1. What would caus sparks whenever I touch the terminals with a spanner when battery is connected? Is it sign of a short?


2. Chrysler Grand Voyager 2.5 CRD drains battery flat over 2 days. When I switch off ignition and pull key out, the trip computer stays lit even after closing and l8cking doors



Thanks

 

[Richard Burns]

1. Which terminals are you touching with a spanner? (and why?!)
2. Your accessory relay may have welded closed?

 

[darkchild101]

1. Which terminals are you touching with a spanner? (and why?!)
2. Your accessory relay may have welded closed?

It was when i was connecting battery after charging it. Unitentinally touched one of the terminals and it sparked. Did it again same thing. Also forgot to say positive terminal is rusty

What is an accessory relay and where is it?


My other question are solar trickle chargers any good to maintain the battery and counter the slow drain? Also considering a battery protectorsupposedly they automatically disconnect battery when voltage drops to a certain point

 

[telectrix]

you will get a small spark when you connect the battery. this is because something is drawing current. all modern cars draw a bit when switched off - ecu, clock, etc. what you need is a d.c. clamp meter to measure the current draw. anything over 0.25A needs investigating. also a check to see if the alternator is charging with engine running. any small garage would test this for you FOC.

 

[darkchild101]

Had the AA come out once when the battery drain issue started and he tested the alternator and said it was charging battery fine

 

[Richard Burns]

This should be (though I could be wrong) the layout of the relays under the bonnet.

I believe (though I am not experienced in this area) that the accessory relay should switch off when the ignition is switched off, you should hear a click from the relay, and you may be able to feel a slight tremor if you are touching it, when it disengages.
If it does not operate then it may be that I am wrong and it does not switch off with the ignition or that it is not operational.

However I would try and get more detailed information, and try Tel's suggestion above before starting to swap out parts.

 

[darkchild101]

Is this little device any good for diagnosing battery drain?

TEN01046 - TENMA - CURRENT TESTER, AUTOMOTIVE | CPC

 

[telectrix]

Is this little device any good for diagnosing battery drain?

TEN01046 - TENMA - CURRENT TESTER, AUTOMOTIVE | CPC[/QUOTE.

with that, you take out a fuse and insert the probe in it's place. then it will read the current for that circuit only.

 

[darkchild101]

So are solar chargers or battery protectors any good

 

[Richard Burns]

solar trickle chargers are really just to prevent loss of charge on long standing and most would not be able to keep up with a constant draw.
I am not sure about battery protectors.
You need to find out what is still running and why and make sure it switches off.

 

[jimmymac]

How old is the battery? If it's over 4/5 years then it's likely that you need to replace it