Battery keeps going flat

[Russ]

Hi guys,

my '32 battery only seems to last about 4 days on the driveway if I don't drive it. The battery has been tested and is sound, the problem is I have at least a 100mA drain on the batt at all times, sometimes up to 200mA. That's WITHOUT the alarm on and it never used to do this.

I've recently installed a new sound system which is the obvious culprit, however removing the live feed for my install didn't drop the drain. I haven't yet tried removing the new (old) head unit though, so that maybe responsible.

Are there any obvious points on the 300 that fail and cause this?

What is the typical draw on a battery when the car is off? Presumably there is some.

Thanks v much

 

[grolls]

Hi guys,

my '32 battery only seems to last about 4 days on the driveway if I don't drive it.What is the typical draw on a battery when the car is off? Presumably there is some.

Thanks v much

Yup there is, leave the meter connected and remove each fuse one by one, remember to leave the car at rest for a min or two before testing, interior light timers etc. There should be no drain what so ever, accept the allarm of course but this should settle down after a few mins to almost nothing if its a sencing type.

 

[Coopers-swb]

Russ

You might waht to try posting this on the 300zx-club forum

I am sure someone will know the answer.

Darrell

 

[Gio]

What series is it Russ? Some of the JDMs have a rear power amp and it might be that while wiring in the new gramophone, it's "on" relay is getting voltage from somewhere.

.... this made me finish the diagram I amended from someone else's original last December!

I'd stripped out a JDM stereo and plugged in the proper ISO connector but no way could I get the rear speakers to work. Worked out there were to extra wires on the Nissan harness connector not connected to the ISO. Had a play and discovered that 12v on the green-with-silver-band would switch on the rear OEM amp which made the speakers work! Haven't worked out what the extra gray wire does though.

So maybe if somehow you've got one of these wires and have inadvertently put 12v on it, the rear power amp is drawing current? Probably a red herring but just in case...

 

[Russ]

Thank you guys.

I'll try the fuse by fuse approach tomorrow, good thinking and thanks for hints grolls

I have a 98 JDM car, the old head unit I had in it never caused a problem, but I swapped it for a fancy pre-amp which is probably my first port of call. It came with a kind of ISO adapter which I think was fitted in Japan before it came over.

I'll get stuck in tomorrow and see how I get on, thanks again.

 

[murt]

Thank you guys.

I'll try the fuse by fuse approach tomorrow, good thinking and thanks for hints grolls

I have a 98 JDM car, the old head unit I had in it never caused a problem, but I swapped it for a fancy pre-amp which is probably my first port of call. It came with a kind of ISO adapter which I think was fitted in Japan before it came over.

I'll get stuck in tomorrow and see how I get on, thanks again.

Well if you ever answered your phone or replied to texts i would glady help!

 

[grolls]

Well if you ever answered your phone or replied to texts i would glady help!

sounds just like my wifes mobile, but I guess thats a differnt thread....

 

[Russ]

Oh mate I'm always disappointed when I get a text from you, it's usually "Fancy a meet this evening in Bristol?" and I've already got plans or am mid doing a job on my house. One day I will get my car finished and roll up to a meet

 

[murt]

Oh mate I'm always disappointed when I get a text from you, it's usually "Fancy a meet this evening in Bristol?" and I've already got plans or am mid doing a job on my house. One day I will get my car finished and roll up to a meet

you could atleast reply to my texts

 

[zpuppy]

Hi Russ Just a thought mate,,but get the diodes in the alternator checked,, if they go it will allow current to flow from battery to alternator slowly killing said battery. I know mine has this setup as it happened last week, but its a Z31,, not sure about the newer models,,maybe Grolls can shed some light? I owe him a keg or 2 of beer anyhoo :lol:See you all in Nottingham !!

 

[STEVE BURNS]

See you all in Nottingham !!

If you do it will mean we are all at the wrong place:lol:

 

[Russ]

you could atleast reply to my texts

Sorry mate just thought I was one of fifty on a big list and it'd be more of a pain you getting "can't make it, can't make it, can't make it" from me all the time. Thought you probably had forgotten I was on the list in fact. Will reply in future

 

[Russ]

Hi Russ Just a thought mate,,but get the diodes in the alternator checked,, if they go it will allow current to flow from battery to alternator slowly killing said battery. I know mine has this setup as it happened last week, but its a Z31,, not sure about the newer models,,maybe Grolls can shed some light? I owe him a keg or 2 of beer anyhoo :lol:See you all in Nottingham !!

Another good idea thanks. I haven't *seemed* to have the problem this week which is odd, no idea what is different? Busy doing other bits on it at the moment trying to get it ready for Zedfest!!!

 

[grolls]

Hi Russ Just a thought mate,,but get the diodes in the alternator checked,, if they go it will allow current to flow from battery to alternator slowly killing said battery. I know mine has this setup as it happened last week, but its a Z31,, not sure about the newer models,,maybe Grolls can shed some light? I owe him a keg or 2 of beer anyhoo :lol:See you all in Nottingham !!

If this happens, as a general rule you will have either the battery light or alternater light on when the car turned off. Ford got round this issue so to speak as a diode in the wiring loom. CVH engined escort would shed some light as in what is commonly called a " bannana diode".....SO THERE YA HAVE IT.

 

[zpuppy]

ahem,,,see you all at the scout camp