Flat battery

[illy]

Just got into my 96 mav and the battery's flat, now I've just noticed that the heater fan hasn't turned off with the ignition. Is this normal on these coz turning off the ignition should turn every thing off, shouldn't it :?:

Tony

 

[robobone]

normally when you turn off the key it shuts down all electic i would get that checked out as you are lucky that you didnt have real fire effect in the motor. :lol:

 

[iandouglas]

hi. illy.
my t2 runs wipers,heater,radio all on first possision of switch.
rgds.iandouglas

 

[mav]

I do belive that the brake lights work with the ignition turned off.

Mav.

 

[theduck]

just athought but was it REALLY turned off because I have discovered that I can remove the ignition key when it is any position.....including when the engine is running, could this have happened to you :?: you may have thought it was off completly when it wasn't.

Regards

Dave the Duck

Quack Quack :smile:

 

[robobone]

I do belive that the brake lights work with the ignition turned off.

Mav.

mav you are correct in that they do work when eveything else is off why i dont know :!:

 

[illy]

Right then, spoke to an auto electrician today, he says if he remembers correctly there is a relay at the back of the alternator which could be the problem. So hes going to come take a look a week Saturday. I'll keep you posted. :?

Tony

 

[illy]

Just solved the problem, it was a 1 1/2 amp drain caused by the Richard Cranium that fitted the radio. The power wire and the memory power wire had been twisted together and in turn been connected to a wire under the dash. Don't no how this works but it caused other equipment to be left live, hence the 1 1/2 amp drain. :?

Tony

 

[rustic]

Just solved the problem, it was a 1 1/2 amp drain caused by the Richard Cranium that fitted the radio. The power wire and the memory power wire had been twisted together and in turn been connected to a wire under the dash. Don't no how this works but it caused other equipment to be left live, hence the 1 1/2 amp drain. :?

Tony

The problem was caused by the supply to the radio back feeding the system as the supply to the memory is live all the time.
At best it would cause a fuse to go, at worst, you could have burnt out cables and caused a fire, especially if fuses were blowing and people then put bigger fuses in. The weakest link will then be the wire it's self.
As a precaution, I would check the values of all other fuses in your fuse box, just in case. I think you have had a lucky escape, and I wouldn't use that same radio fitter again.

A quick way to detect a power drain like this is to disconnect the battery and fit an ammeter in series with the lead, say set to 10 Amps, then remove fuses one by one.
The problem with this is that you will loose the radio code, engine settings and may interfere with the alarm/imobiliser etc.
Also you may cause a short circuit if you are unsure of what you are doing. So CAUTION.
I used this method on my daughter's Fiesta and located the fault to the alternator and then the diode block within it.
Hope this helps and is a caution to other owners to check their vehicles for added wiring and fuse "upgrades".
Best regards, Rustic

 

[CHASTER]

Dave the Duck says that he can remove his ignition key in any position including when the engine is running. Is this not dangerous? Couldn't the key be removed "in flight" leaving the steering lock liable to operate whilst driving?
I seem to remember that (many years ago) there was a similar situation with the first MINIs which caused a few accidents.
I can't remove my ignition key in any position other than OFF and I wouldn't expect to either. Is my bus wierd or have you got a problem Dave ?

 

[Deleted Member S]

My 1st car (mk1 fiesta)I could slide the keys out of the ignition with the engine running & the steering lock would'nt come on as it was stuck in postion 2 :smile: so at times I used to scare everyone in my car by throwing the keys into the back of the car :lol: :lol: :lol: yes i've now sort of grown up