Can anyone confirm the current draw (ideally on a diesel)? If I connect the battery it spikes to about 0.5A and after about 5seconds drops to 0.07A.

This seems reasonable to me. voltage across battery when engine is running is just between 14.1 and 14.5v (iirc).

It seems like my battery isn't retaining charge, as I need to charger it most evenings (draws about 2.5A for 10 hours or so.

It is a new battery (4 months old) from ECP. Bosch with a 5 year warranty on it.

have currently disconnected battery from the car to see if it goes flat then which I am expecting it will...

Has the battery started to do this recently or has this been a problem from new (4 months ago)?

Only seems to have come on recently (last 2 weeks). I should say the car pretty much only ever does long (60+ mile trips).

Car is pretty much much standard (no amps, etc). I do have a Parrot kit, but that was been fitted for the last 18 months or so, and a BlackVue (I have tried leaving the car with the BlackVue disconnected and it still seems to have the issue).

I'd swap it out for a replacement ASAP

Bosch batteries just don't have consistent quality

I only buy Varta these days

It is a PITA to get to ECP, but it looks that what I will be doing just need to confirm the battery is at fault, as apparently ECP will test it before they give me a replacement, so I don't want to have a wasted trip.

Plus as my mate bought the battery for me (as my car would not start), we need to find the invoice (I know we used the BRISK25 discount though).

Thinking about it, when the battery was new, I had to charge it up before I stuck it on the car (no idea if new batteries are meant to come fully charged or not?)

If they do test it, they are going against the no quibble warranty that Bosch state

The fact you had to charge it sounds like it was duff to start with - they (Bosch) state the batteries come fully charged and ready to go.

Can anyone confirm the current draw (ideally on a diesel)? If I connect the battery it spikes to about 0.5A and after about 5seconds drops to 0.07A.

This seems reasonable to me. voltage across battery when engine is running is just between 14.1 and 14.5v (iirc).

It seems like my battery isn't retaining charge, as I need to charger it most evenings (draws about 2.5A for 10 hours or so.

It is a new battery (4 months old) from ECP. Bosch with a 5 year warranty on it.

have currently disconnected battery from the car to see if it goes flat then which I am expecting it will...

Hi

What you need to do is call in a car accessory shop that advertises free battery checks, and get them to do a drop test (no I don't

mean drop it from a certain height ) (not sure if Halfords do it nowadays)

And they will tell you if it is shot

Radiotwo

What you need to do is call in a car accessory shop that advertises free battery checks, and get them to do a drop test (no I don't

mean drop it from a certain height ) (not sure if Halfords do it nowadays)

Shame I am not allowed into the battery bay at work anymore, as they could do drop tests. This thing is so frigging heavy I am surprised I didn't drop it when lifting it into the car ;-) I am quite busy this weekend, but there is an ECP near to work (new branch), so I might try and pop into there. If they won't place nicely then I might try and find a local Bosch Service Centre and get them to deal with it.

Shame I am not allowed into the battery bay at work anymore, as they could do drop tests. This thing is so frigging heavy I am surprised I didn't drop it when lifting it into the car ;-) I am quite busy this weekend, but there is an ECP near to work (new branch), so I might try and pop into there. If they won't place nicely then I might try and find a local Bosch Service Centre and get them to deal with it.

The idea of going to a accessory shop was to get a 2nd opinion, before going back to the supplier !

Radiotwo

My replacement silver S5 Bosch came fully charged, sounds like you had an old/duff one?

Found the receipt for it, bought on 05/09/2012, so I guess I'll be heading off to ECP next week.... In the mean time I'll keep charging the fecker up!

Sadly most of the local car shops have ceased trading :-(

At least ECP have opened a branch in Salisbury, so I can pop there one lunch time rather having to make a special trip to Poole.

At least ECP have opened a branch in Salisbury,

Ooh, where is it?

I have access to a battery tester if you're in Salisbury over the weekend.

Salisbury Branch: http://www.eurocarparts.com/salisbury.html, it is in Churchfields Industrial Estate (I always get lost when looking for companies in that place!)

I should hopefully be car-sharing (as a passenger) to work next week, so probably won't be taking the car to work until the following week... Thanks for the battery test offer though :-)

As you won't be using the car for a few days, take the battery out and recharge it. Then leave it a couple of days or more before putting it back. A good battery will hold its charge so if the car restarts like it has a freshly recharged battery this indicates you have a constant discharge on the car. If it won't restart, it proves for sure that the battery is faulty.

I am following this with interest as I bought the same battery from the same company three months after you!

Mike

Edited 30 March, 201313 yr by pikpilot

Just realised there is now a ECP in Yeovil, and I shall be passing through there shortly so I might pop in.

I disconnected the battery on Thursday and fully charged it. Apart from my current tests, it hasn't been attached to the car, so has had 24+ hours to slowly drain.

I have always noticed the car starts a fraction quicker after I have charged the battery overnight, than say 12 hours later when I start the car to come home from work. Lets what ECP customer service is like.... I don't want to get cold fingers tinkering with the car in their carpark!!

Popped into ECP in Yeovil. No batteries in stock, and they said they needed to test it before they would consider swapping it. I am passing back through on Monday, so hopefully I will have better luck then.

Updated: As it was nice and sunny, I have investigated a bit further and I think my BlackVue unit is the culprit, it seems to be drawing about 0.32A on top of the cars normal 0.07A, giving a total current draw of 0.4A when the car is locked.

I have started a new thread in the TechShed.

Out of interest, what specific type of Bosch is it ?

- eg S6, S5, S4 or S3 or older "Silverline" type

Pretty sure it is an S5