Hi All

I'm new to the forum and need help.

My daughter has a y reg polo 1.4 with a battery drain problem, if she does not drive it every day the battery goes flat.

I've replaced the battery for a new one and the starter motor as this was knackered but still have the problem and cleaned all the earths.

I've put a meter on the battery when its running and i get 14.2 volts so is charging. I did a drain test and i've got a drain of about 50-70 milliamps.

I've removed all fuses one by one with no change to the draw and disconnected the alternator still no change.

I removed the wires from the battery connecter and the draw is on the red wire.

I've ran out of ideas as to where to go next, HELP PLEASE!!!!

First Welcome to the forum

Have a look at this http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=335902as it sounds like it is draining via the alternator

Thanks for the reply.

I'll try all that tomorrow. I did remove a wire from the alternator and still had the draw?

50mA is bugger all, even at 12v.

How long is it being left standing for? Could be worth having the battery drop tested, as it sounds like it's past its best.

As Yeti says, 50mA should take ages to flatten the battery.

Suggest that you leave the battery disconnected for as long as it normally takes for the battery to go flat, re-connect it and immediately check what the voltage across the battery drops to when the starter is being operated - It should NOT fall below about 9.5 volts whilst the engine is cranking.

If the battery won't turn the engine after being left to stand disconnected and/or the cranking voltage falls much below 9.5volts, then you need to get that new battery replaces under its guarantee.

What did you disconnect on the alternator? If it was the small wire, that is fed to the alternator via the ignition warning light and will be live only when the ignition is switched 'on'.

Any drain via the main (output) terminal of the alternator would indicate one or more faulty rectifier diode(s), but as you get 14.2 volts out of it, that should be OK ( You can check it under load if you like, with the head lights switched on)

Regards

I think that I have the same problem. Woke up the other day that my car doesn't start. And I mean It doesn't have the bare minimum power to turn on the clusters before I turn the ignition. Will buy a new battery and after that test the alternator. Will see what's gonna happen next....

I have a similar problem. My battery keeps draining.alternator checked out fine but even with battery negative disconected I'm getting 0.3a surge drain.cant figure it out.everything I can think is disconected. ( amp,cd,lights etc)