smart51
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| posted on 23/12/09 at 08:53 AM |
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Car battery problem
The Cappuccino has had a weak battery since I bought it in the summer so a couple of weeks I fitted a new one. I ran it around for a few days and it
started much more strongly. The car has been in the garage for a fortnight while I took out all the interior to inspect the floor pans - the floors
rust from the inside out. Mine is nice and clean  which is nice. However a couple of times I've been to start the engine to find the battery
is completely flat. Enough to fire the key on bleeper but not enough to engage the starter solenoid. 10 minutes with the charger was enough to let
the engine start and I left it idling for a while but a couple of days later it was completely flat again.
It was left with all the electrical things off and with the alarm deactivated. The doors were left open (because of the trims being removed) but the
interior light was switched off. I'm worried about killing my new battery. What could be the source of my power drain?
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MikeR
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| posted on 23/12/09 at 08:58 AM |
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not sure if there is an inherent problem with this idea but ....
put the battery back, run the multimeter over the fuse box measuring amps over each fuse - you'll then know which circuit is draining the power
or if you've got a duff battery.
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theconrodkid
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| posted on 23/12/09 at 09:01 AM |
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might be worth charging the battery for 24 hours,these new types dont like going flat
who cares who wins
pass the pork pies
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marcjagman
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| posted on 23/12/09 at 09:22 AM |
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Over the years I have found the most common fault for current drain to be a central door locking solenoid.
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dinosaurjuice
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| posted on 23/12/09 at 10:57 AM |
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some clever cars have an ECU for stuff like interior lights and windows, which doesnt go into sleep mode until doors are shut.
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r1_pete
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| posted on 23/12/09 at 11:17 AM |
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Are you sure the alternator isn't overcharging and wrecking the battery?
With the engine running, check the battery voltage, anything over 14 - 14.5 could spell problems, usually they jump up into the high teens if the
regulator has gone.
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britishtrident
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| posted on 23/12/09 at 11:59 AM |
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Leaving the car with the engine running idle won't recharge the battery, it takes 20minutes actual driving to replace the charge lost in a
single dead cold start.
Body Ecu's generally only go into sleep mode if everything is closed and switched off.
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smart51
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| posted on 23/12/09 at 04:34 PM |
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Problem sorted now. Thanks guys.
The Cappuccino was designed to be a Japanese market only car. It was redesigned for the UK and part of this was to add a fog light.
"Cleverly", when the fog light switch was added, power to the coil of the relay, through the switch, was taken from permanent 12V. Power
for the bulb and the warning LED in the switch comes from the headlight switch. If you switch off the headlights or the ignition, the fog light goes
off and the warning lamp on the switch goes off. If the switch is still pressed, however, the relay is still energised. In stripping out the
interior, I must have knocked the switch. Thank goodness for owners club websites.
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 23/12/09 at 07:27 PM |
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Thats an interesting one!
At least its an easy fix
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McLannahan
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| posted on 23/12/09 at 07:29 PM |
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S51 - Are these RWD? Always wondered!
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smart51
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| posted on 24/12/09 at 10:42 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by McLannahan
S51 - Are these RWD? Always wondered!
Yep. Front mid engined, rear wheel drive. 77 BHP 657cc 3 cylinder turbo. 700kg kerb weight and a removable hard top that fits in the boot. 0-62 in
9 seconds isn't fast but its is whole lot more reliable than the vortx and you don't get wet when it rains.
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McLannahan
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| posted on 24/12/09 at 11:11 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by smart51
quote:
Originally posted by McLannahan
S51 - Are these RWD? Always wondered!
Yep. Front mid engined, rear wheel drive. 77 BHP 657cc 3 cylinder turbo. 700kg kerb weight and a removable hard top that fits in the boot. 0-62 in
9 seconds isn't fast but its is whole lot more reliable than the vortx and you don't get wet when it rains.
Thanks for that! What are the common upgrades for the engine? Will any other Suz engine wedge in?
Seems such a great little car and they seem to hold their value well on EBay too!
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smart51
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| posted on 26/12/09 at 01:50 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by McLannahan
What are the common upgrades for the engine? Will any other Suz engine wedge in?
Seems such a great little car and they seem to hold their value well on EBay too!
Mods to the std engine are the next size up hitachi turbo, injectors from a Toyota starlet and a boost controller. 105 BHP is possible. Hyabusa
conversions are popular too.
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