Unexplained Intermittent Battery Drain

[chrisfoulds]

Wondering if you guys could help figure something out the garage can't.

 

My 2013 Galaxy randomly has complete battery drain, this can be anywhere between 2 days and 3-4 months and is regardless of the amount of use.

Latest incident was this morning it was completely flat, yet did 80 miles yesterday and the start/stop was even kicking in indicating the battery was good.

I have had the battery tested, all good, replaced the battery even - still happens.

I have had it sit in the garage for two days with a amp clamp, no real drain.

I am convinced it might be something getting 'stuck on' occasionally after turning it off and locking up like a relay or something but have no idea where to start.

 

Any pointers appreciated.

[chrisfoulds]

Extra info, it's a titanium X model 1.6 TDi with start/stop.

[BrianH]

Its a Mk3 you've got then, a post in that section might get you more luck finding an answer.

 

I've known on some vehicles if the cooling fan keeps going (or starts up randomly when it shouldn't) that can cause the battery to go flat. But you'd expect to hear it if that was the case. That would usually be down to a faulty fan switch/sensor.

[Scorpiorefugee]

Mine has had this tendency at times but never gone completely flat and it sometimes sits in the garage for a month or more.

 

I have had one of the internal lights left on which is not noticed in daylight.

 

I have had an unlatched door causing it to sit there unlocked with the side lights on - not noticed when locked or later 'cos it's in the garage.

 

Do you have a security camera you can point at it?

 

These things are to smart for their own good these days and I shouldn't trust mine to be left to it's own devices for too long but I can't offer any more suggestions.

[chrisfoulds]

Ok follow up on this, took it to the ford garage and like me could not detect any drain. 

But we then got talking and the mechanic had a theory based on previous cars that have had similar issues.

Bluetooth - the bluetooth module in the car remains on as long as your phone is still connected, I park at the side of the house and the phone will often be within connection range.

So we disabled bluetooth and in two weeks and counting not had an issue and I wasn't going more than a week or so recently, this is no drain even with all the snow, ice etc. so fingers crossed it is this.

BTW. I did test the theory, connected phone to car, opened bonnet, turned car off, left phone in range and left car for 45 mins. Drain was at 0.4 !!!

[BrianH]

Ok follow up on this, took it to the ford garage and like me could not detect any drain. 

But we then got talking and the mechanic had a theory based on previous cars that have had similar issues.

Bluetooth - the bluetooth module in the car remains on as long as your phone is still connected, I park at the side of the house and the phone will often be within connection range.

So we disabled bluetooth and in two weeks and counting not had an issue and I wasn't going more than a week or so recently, this is no drain even with all the snow, ice etc. so fingers crossed it is this.

BTW. I did test the theory, connected phone to car, opened bonnet, turned car off, left phone in range and left car for 45 mins. Drain was at 0.4 !!!

Sounds like you nailed it. Does sound like a software bug though as you'd expect it to kill the connection on switching off the ignition (or at least locking the doors as if you've locked the car you clearly won't want to have the car using the bluetooth connection at that point)