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spikelet Gate Opener
Joined: 02 Jul 2008 Odometer: 37
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Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 9:49 am Post subject: Flat battery again..and again..and again..etc.
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Hi - my '06 Grand Cherokee 3.0crd keeps getting a flat battery. Cutting a long story short, it's intermittant (two or three times in a week, then months of behaving perfectly). Been checked plenty of times - not battery (healthy, holding charge), not alternator (charges ok), not blower relay, no abnormal off-key drain etc. Now, when I try to charge it, I can keep the charger plugged in for five, ten, twenty, even thirty hours and not even one of the led indicators on the charger goes out. Also, the charger gets very hot (more than is usual, I think). No appreciable difference to state of charge in battery. I boost start it, take it for a run and it's fine - for about 24 hrs, then repeat the above. Best answer I can get from anybody is that it's 'just a Jeep thing'!
Any ideas not already covered here? Many thanks.
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TheClunk Off-Road Guru
Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Odometer: 1159 Location: Chippenham
1997 Vauxhall Frontera
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Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 12:09 pm Post subject:
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First, I would replace the battery then see if it happens again. Until you do this, you cannot rule out the battery.
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CHEROKEECH Gate Opener
Joined: 14 Aug 2011 Odometer: 43 Location: Stanley, county Durham
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Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 12:32 pm Post subject:
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I agree if there is a problem charging the battery from the mains definitely points to a fault in the battery
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scotty wong Just got MTs
Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Odometer: 472 Location: kent
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Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 2:06 pm Post subject:
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Sounds like iffy battery but check ya earths anyway.
__________________________________ if the truth can be told so as to understood it will be believed. jeep xj |
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spikelet Gate Opener
Joined: 02 Jul 2008 Odometer: 37
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Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 9:29 am Post subject:
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Thanks for that - it would seem logical but the only reason I haven't replaced the battery yet is that I've 'been there before' with an older 4.0 Cherokee with exactly the same problem. With that one, I changed the battery TWICE but it still didn't cure it. The thing is, when I first turn on the car, if it's going to 'misbehave', the air blower starts up on 'full' for a second, then goes back to its normal setting. I've already tried replacing the resistor but to no avail.
I'll certainly try to get the battery checked again, as the continued deep cycle charging can't be doing any good. Meantime, do you think a trickle charger/conditioner would tell me anything? I was thinking of getting one anyway, just to be able to sleep at night without the fear of the charge suddenly dropping and setting off the alarm at 3.00am! Many thanks again for the input.
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( Gray ) Articulating
Joined: 15 Apr 2012 Odometer: 597
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Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 10:18 am Post subject:
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If, as you say it only happens when the air blower plays up, remove the fuse for the air blower (bit of a pain in hot weather)
Then see if that solves the problem over a few weeks, then you know the problem lies in that circuit, draining the battery overnight.
Alternatively, remove the earth lead from your battery.
Connect a multimeter (set to 10amp scale) between the earth lead and the earth terminal.
You should have a reading of 0.2-0.3 amps (all the things like radio, clock, alarm which needs a constant supply are drawing current to save their settings)
Much more than 0.3 amps and you'll need to start pulling fuses out. Do them one at a time, and replace it if the reading does not drop. When it does, that's the circuit which is causing the battery drain.
You could use a 3-5w bulb instead of the ammeter - it should glow very dimmly. If it glows bright, then something is drawing too much current and again you can check by pulling fuses.
Do you have any fitments (alarm, radio/cd changer etc) with re-chargable batteries?
If a battery has become duff, it could be constantly trying to recharge itself, draining the main battery.
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spikelet Gate Opener
Joined: 02 Jul 2008 Odometer: 37
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Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 1:03 pm Post subject:
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Hmm, well I did get the ignition-off draw checked earlier and there was nothing unusual. But then again, that wasn't on a day when it was playing up. No rechargeable items that I know of but interesting thought anyway.
Might have a look on e-bay for a multimeter, though - I may yet end up
pulling fuses!
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Toseland Mud Obsessed
Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Odometer: 3209 Location: cardiff
1999 Suzuki Vitara
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Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 3:16 pm Post subject:
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can get a nice sealey one for about £15
__________________________________ I live by 2 sayings:
1. The beatings will continue until morale improves
2. Pain is just Weakness leaving the body..
The feeling you get when you first smash your shaft out, is one you will never forget.. especially if you do it in front of 10 guys. |
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scotty wong Just got MTs
Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Odometer: 472 Location: kent
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Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 9:47 am Post subject:
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As the fans are messing around check if the drain happens after you have moved the direction of the fans ie from windscreen to vents etc or from recycled air.etc.it could be the blend doors.more common on the wj model before yours but its possible.the motors can try to open/close the doorsand not be turned of by the limiting switchs.that or i did have this with my xj which turned out to be a sticky central locking mech which caused a 4amp drain that cycled every 10seconds and killed a optima iver night more than once. Also check the heated seats maybe remove fuse as hey can break wires and short or just cause a drain if damaged and can be intermitent.
__________________________________ if the truth can be told so as to understood it will be believed. jeep xj |
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john1961 Gate Opener
Joined: 19 Jan 2013 Odometer: 33
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 10:31 pm Post subject:
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CHECK WATER LEVEL IN BATTERY first ???
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ROCKPILE Winch Assistant
Joined: 15 Dec 2007 Odometer: 52 Location: Bury Lancs
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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:26 pm Post subject:
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Buy a solar charger ( about £12), plug in to cigarette lighter and leave it on dash .Used on both the boat & Jeep if notused for a while and never a prob.
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weasel Just got MTs
Joined: 29 Dec 2012 Odometer: 167
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Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 10:43 am Post subject:
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I had this problem with my x reg XJ 4ltr drove me mad new battery auto electricions all to no avail untill in the end I invested just a few pounds in a Battery cut out switch when you park up every night just switch it off.
In the morning you switch it back on its a pain but no more starting problems in the morning the only problem is you have to put in the radio code every day but you soon remember it and its not a problem to tap it in.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords...d_sl_2u5vypbyrb_b
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