I HATE asking shit like this

**vifferman** · 18th February 2009, 13:42

Take the battery out - that'll stop it for sure.

**peasea** · 18th February 2009, 14:12

Originally Posted by marty

I have an imported '92 Telstar Ghia wagon - the same as a Mazda 626 (even has MAZDA on the rocker cover...)

It has started eating the battery over about a 4 hour period. There are no lights left on (all the interior bulbs are now taken out), the clock doesn't show with the key off, the stereo is sitting on the bench, yet it is still drawing about 0.5A. The battery is brand new, and doesn't drop away if it is not connected to the car.

ARRGGHHH help me please!

Possibly a diode in the alternator. I'm no auto sparky but these things (if I'm right) act like a wee elctrical one-way valve and when they fail, out leaks your power.

Disconnect the alternator and see if the draw stops. If it does, bingo, otherwise go through the fuses one at a time, pluck them out and see if THAT stops the draw. Most likely the alternator though.

**gatch** · 18th February 2009, 15:19

i reckon you should take off all the doors, jump start it, drive it around in small circles in reverse at maximum rpm, the centrifugal force should hopefully eject the nasty little ampere thief.

wunce hes gone make sure to back over him a few times..

**marty** · 18th February 2009, 17:52

my point exactly. i've tried the fuse thing. have to try it again.

**Crisis management** · 18th February 2009, 18:02

Originally Posted by peasea

Possibly a diode in the alternator. I'm no auto sparky but these things (if I'm right) act like a wee elctrical one-way valve and when they fail, out leaks your power.

Well worth investigating.....happened to me 6 months ago, eveything was fine until parked overnight, then dead battery; recharge battery, drive round and then overnight dead.
Admitedly, the alternator died fairly quickly after this started to occur, like just after the auto electrician diagnosed it.

I suppose to test it, disconnect the alternator and see what happens.

**McDuck** · 18th February 2009, 20:57

Originally Posted by marty

my point exactly. i've tried the fuse thing. have to try it again.

Then the problem is before the fuse box....

**Hinny** · 18th February 2009, 21:16

I have three vehicles that have had alternators crap out in the last six months.
Same symptoms as yours. All problems fixed with a reconditioned alternator.
Had to buy a new pair of batteries for the Safari as they don't like being completely discharged over and over again.
You need to sort it before you need to buy another new battery.
Telstars from memory have a pretty small battery but I would have thought a new one had enough capacity to sustain a 0.5amp drain for 4 hours.

**gammaguy** · 18th February 2009, 21:33

aaah,that will be the battery warning light draining the power,bet its stuck on.

strangely on those models it was located under the battery,and they go out when you remove the battery to check it......

**ducatilover** · 18th February 2009, 21:43

I would start with a nice simple voltage drop test across the obvious places where the amp eater is, light and starter motor, then run round and yoink fuses

**Virago** · 18th February 2009, 21:50

It don't add up.

Battery going down over 4 hours from a 0.5Amp draw? That's only 2 AH - the battery will be 40 to 50 AH if fully charged.

The alternator is the likely culprit - or the battery is faulty.

**ducatilover** · 18th February 2009, 21:54

Originally Posted by Virago

It don't add up.

Battery going down over 4 hours from a 0.5Amp draw? That's only 2 AH - the battery will be 40 to 50 AH if fully charged.

The alternator is the likely culprit - or the battery is faulty.

you have a very good point.

**Patrick** · 19th February 2009, 10:41

Blame the battery man, its his fault... coz ita always someone elses....

And if it isn't the battery, I think they will have a look for the problem and isolate/fix it for ya.....

**peasea** · 19th February 2009, 14:15

Originally Posted by Virago

It don't add up.

Battery going down over 4 hours from a 0.5Amp draw? That's only 2 AH - the battery will be 40 to 50 AH if fully charged.

The alternator is the likely culprit - or the battery is faulty.

Agreed. Most likely the alt' as a battery that is THAT faulty probably wouldn't charge up. A good s/h alt' could be bought for sfa from a wrecker, a cuppla bolts, job done. Time to pour a bourbon.

**marty** · 19th February 2009, 19:24

well i have been over and over it. the alternator doesn't appear to be the culprit - i ran the ammeter across the battery again and found that the current draw dropped from 0.3A to 0.01-0.00A when i took out the brake light 15A fuse - i must have missed it yesterday (it's in a line of 4 x 15A fuses). can't figure it out though - there's definately no lights on unless my foot is on the brake! i've disconnected the low brake fluid sensor, no difference. any clues?

if anyone has a 626/telstar like this one, http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-203279160.htm and could take a pic of the fuse box cover that is in english, it would be appreciated.