Hi, I just wondered if there are any known issues relating to battery drain on 2003 Fabias. I have recently stopped using the car so much and noticed that the battery goes completely flat within 3 weeks. I bought a new battery but the problem is still there. I do not know much about cars but people have given me different advice. One garage said that this is normal and another said that the battery should hold its charge for a couple of months??? A friend told me to put a meter in line with the battery and pull the fuses to see what is causing the problem but I am not too comfortable doing this. Is this something a garage should be able to sort quickly or does it need to be looked at by somebody who specialises in electrics. I really would appreciate any advice. Thank you very much indeed. 

Its not something i've seen alot of on here I must say, but I'd suggest the obvious. 

 

Ensure all interior lights are in the off position when the car is left layed up, including the boot light. My mothers corolla will run flat if the boot light is left on. 

 

If you have any LED interior bulbs in, they all draw a small amount of current and could be the fault. 

 

Any aftermarket radio could also be to blame. 

 

If its none of these, i'm sure someone else will be able to help with their experiences. 

Hi, thank you for the info. I have checked the interior lights and the glove box light. I cannot find a light in the boot but I will check again. Thanks

sounds like car not going into sleep mode correctly, but is car used for short trips?

Due to design of alternator short trips mean car dosent charge sufficently.

An aftermarket stereo is usual cause as comfort control module will not shut down 

I'd get the drain measured as suggested by your friend. Without some diagnosis it's anyone's guess. Stereo is normally the first port of call though.

I've read a few stories of amps in the boot draining batteries.

I'm sure I read somewhere that if the interior lights are left on for more than 30 minutes they turn off automatically to prevent the battery flattening. I've left mine on a few times and it turned itself off.

Alternator load signal wire, it usually breaks and stops the battery charging below 2000rpm, it goes underneath the gearbox

I've read a few stories of amps in the boot draining batteries.

Amps usually drain batteries because they haven't been wired in properly. From my experience anyway.

They are supposed to be on a 'remote wire' if I remember rightly that effectively switches off the power to the amp when the key is taken out.

Unless the op has an amp that isn't wired in properly? Haha

I have a USB charger for the cigarette lighter and it has a single led on it to show it is connected. I do not use it often - only in times of 'bugger my phones nearly dead' moments, I noticed the other day however that the light stays on even after turning off the ignition and taking the key out. Not a huge drain I know but, 'every little helps' as it were.

JRJG

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Alternator load signal wire, it usually breaks and stops the battery charging below 2000rpm, it goes underneath the gearbox

 

Easy to spot as it normally kills the battery light.

3 weeks is about 500 hours, so it only needs one module to stay awake to cause this problem. As Tech1e suggests, you need to measure the current drain.

One thing you can check, is that the central locking (including the boot) is all working OK.

Many thanks to everybody for the advice. I do not have an amp, just a stereo that was installed about 4 years ago. Interesting you mention the central locking, I had the front motor changed a few months ago as the lock stopped opening but I have no idea whether the problem was there prior to this as I was using the car every day. I think I will have to it in to the garage and ask them to take a look. Thanks again.

When you turn the ignition before you start the car does the battery light come on?

Does anybody know how a broken Alternator load signal wire will affect the ECU and are there a measuring block that you can read out to indicate a faulty connection? 

I think I have a broken alternator but the battery charging light does not light up (but lights up normally on ignition on and goes out). This puzzles me as I'm measuring down to 11,9 V over the battery when I turn on everyting in the car, so I assume it must be broken? The battery dies aftes about 3 days of driving rather short trips.

i'd check the wire as a matter of course, mine started off as intermitten, but the wire had broken on both sides of the connector!

Edited 7 June, 201412 yr by SkUG

Not sure if ive got this problem.

bat died and wont charge on a 40 mile journey but on charger for ten mins ands ok

will have to look into it :/

 as previously stated you really need to have someone check with a test meter what the drain is on your battery, is it possible to disconnect you stereo system as many faults regarding battery going flat can be down to a faulty stereo, current drain on a normal car with ignition off is ( I think approx 30 mAmps ) on mine when I had this problem its was nearer 200 mAmps, apparently condensation had seeped into the radio system through the de-mist vents on the upper dash and shorted out some components inside the radio, auto electrician said this was  a common on cars in general ( mine was, whisper it. on a fiat ) but the principle is sound whatever the car, I disconnected the radio feed at the back of the set and hey presto discharging problem resolved....... hope this helps   

Not sure if ive got this problem.

bat died and wont charge on a 40 mile journey but on charger for ten mins ands ok

will have to look into it :/

You have a charging problem. The most likely cause is one of the two small wires to the alternator. Start at the alternator and work back.

If you are getting no charge at all, check the fuse at the battery that is fed by the large alternator cable.

I learned the hard way not to leave anything plugged into the cigarette lighter (even just a phone charger, will drain it when not used for a few weeks). This winter I had constant probs with battery draining low and lumbering on ignition, mechanic says, "Ah, cold weather will do that". In Dec I had to clean the terminals free of white powdery corrosion, should have known then. Eventually it died completely from not being used (couldn't drive from Jan to April 'cause of knee injury), even clock and central locking went. I put it on my trusty charger and 4 days later it still wasn't at 100% charge although the so-called magic eye said otherwise. Tested it with a voltmeter, it read bad. But it was enough charge to keep the car going on an 90 minute journey to attempt a recharge. 24 hours later, cactus. Lugged it down to Halfords who tested it, confirmed the worst and took home a new battery. No problems since.