OK another probably simple question but one I'm trying to understand.

When I bought Dr Livingston a few months ago the guy said he had been having trouble with the battery going flat but had not found the cause. He had another car which he prefered to drive so Dr L was left to sit for a couple of weeks at a time.

I'd had no problems until 2 mths ago when he would not start due to the battery being dead flat and stuffed. I had been driving him around and had left him at the statiion for the day. I had a brand new heavy duty battery put in.

He may have been sitting for two weeks max before today but he had been turned over and driven out into the street while I was having work done here.

Today he was dead flat and had to have RACV start me. Bel is 6 volt so can't jump start using her. Guy tested the specific gravity in the battery, it was fine just dead flat.

If I'm not driving him often should I let him run for x amount of time each week. I should try and take him out more. He had a good run today.

Any ideas?

Jen

I had a similar problem in my 12volt 55 bug.
(Provided that you are running a generator)
If the genny is charging fine at the 14.3 volts have a look at the voltage regulator.
This was my problem.

Cheers Damian

Hi,
Not really fixing the problem, but you could always get one of those solar chargers that sit on the dash.
I think they usually plug into your cigarette lighter and I from memory(?) I dont think Dr L. has one but I dont see why you could wire it direct to your battery.

It does sound as though there is a short somewhere that is draining your battery but they can be a bugger to trace.

No he doesn't have a cigarette lighter. Maybe he should they sound useful?

Damian thanks for the tip. I'll have him looked at. Hmm, am I running a generator?

Yep you would be generator. Alternators were like 74 onwards.
My bet would be a dodgy regulator

Does the car have a clock or radio with a clock?
As these items get old the tend to suck more power from your battery thus making it flat.
I found that the clock in my car made my battery flat over 3-4 days of sitting.
Take it to an auto elec and ask for a voltage drop test on the battery with the car turned off. You my just be surprized.:o

Sorry guys, just remembered to tell you, Dr L is a 1970 type 3 sqback 1200.

He does have a clock, and a radio with a clock that is running all the time. I do make sure the radio is off. I had his clock reconnected after I got him, but I think I had our first flat battery before I did this.

Will get his electrics checked ASAP, & regulator etc.

Gee these cars keep you busy, never been solely responsible before :o

I know I should have got that test light when I was getting my tool box together. Do they come with instructions?

*Jen now wishes her parents had sent her to a tech school*

You could also check to see if the generator is making enough Volts/Amps. I had a buggered genny once which gave me the same problem.:jesus

Test lights are easy .... :thumb
just stick the clip to a ground


then poke away at whatever you want to see if there is a circuit / active power:bounce:bounce

But do they come with instructions? I've seen Col use one but should have been paying more attention.

I'll read my manual maybe to find out what I ground on:o

Stop :bounce ing around you are making me nervous

[Edited on 10-12-2002 by jenz58]

The suggestion of a solar booster reminded me of a problem. What can happen is the genny loses it's residual magnetism (I thought of it, because using an auxiliary charger, such as solar, can create this problem,) so never charges the battery properly. The fix is to close one of the relays in the reglulator by hand for three seconds, with the ignition switch in the "run" position. I'm sorry, it's been a while and I can't quite remember which one (but, when I was a student I simply did it to both with a full battery [the wrong one produces a nasty spark] and it worked,) but if you're stuck, I still haven't packed my manuals and I'll work it out again. Of course, I'm assuming you've checked to see nothing is drawing power with the ignition off!

The clock and the radio clock would be drawing power

S!!t just remembered I've left Dr L idling since I got home at 1.45 pm. Hmmm, think I might have charged him enough!!:o

He started first time this afternoon but being second car in the drive got left home this a.m.

He was still ticking over, I had totally forgot about him:jesus

[Edited on 11-12-2002 by jenz58]

Lucky you didn`t cook him!
They can over heat to you know.

I hope I haven't hurt him. Can't believe I did that

jenz
im having these problems with my bug. the battery drains dead all the time, sometimes it charges though, sometimes not. ive found that the new regulator was faulty, it charges sometimes and other times does not. the transistor on the back (its a bosch mechanical type) is broken and is allowing the points inside to overheat and causes a build up on the points.if i use sand paper to clean the points it works perfectly but before long goes back to having problems.
anyway, i got to replace my regulator.

Yes Jenz.... the battery wouldn't be overcharged with an idling engine.... better to have it at half throttle for 5 mins.... or drive around for 5-10 minutes...
the easiest thing to do to check leakage from the Battery Jenz... is take a battery terminal off the battery..... put a 12 volt bulb thru the centre of the terminal and touch the bottom of the bulb on top of the battery terminal.... this is best done with a blinker bulb, or stop tail lamp bulb.. as they are long... if something is leaking , the bulb should light up... it may be dim or bright.... depending on the size of the current leaking... if the bulb doesn't light up at all... put the parking lamps on and then try it.... and the light bulb will certainly light up then... if You don't have an electrical leak... then its probably Your Regulator.... either under the rear seat on the passenger side or on the Generator itself.... Hope this helps Jenz....:o