Electrical black box, engine bay - running out of battery charge

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Thought I'd go for something quite simple for a first post - errr.

Own a Fourtrak independant. P reg (97). Done 140k miles. Has now started an issue with starting. I've got jump leads on and starts, Alternators kicking out in excess of 13V (13.8 was highest reading). Battery takes charge. Will start and run (once battery charged up again). Leave it over night and struggles to start in the morning - now at the point it will only start on jump leads.

There is this little box on the bulk head. No writing as to what it does and looks like an after thought. Not sure if this is even the cause but none the less it's something that's broken, want to replace but no idea of what to even ask for at the garage other then black box on bulk head - has some wires coming out!

Green cable is feed (+ve), earth kinda obvious. Mauve cable goes to voltage regulator on p/s wing. Red and Green cables go into cab - unknown what they do. Pictures below. As you can see it's seen better days but any ideas as to what it even is.

Tried searching the net but even without a name - can't find anything.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5096222437_b1b360ef27_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/5096222425_f7fc58b759_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4091/5096222413_e21449839c_b.jpg

that is one f%*#+@ relay

best guess that is for working the imobiliser maybe or spot lights if you have them, anyway its a relay and its f******.

Full of ideas but no time to do them!!

www.bloodredoffroad.com
www.milneroffroad.com
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Take quote "F@****@ed" is the

Take quote "F@****@ed" is the technical answer then!

Thought it could be a relay but what does it do / control in order to locate a replacement. Normal relays although have 5 pins would normally only use 4. +ve, Earth, Switch line and feed (what it's switching) Either normally open or normally closed. Don't normally have 5 pins connected as this one once did.

I'm still looking and locating. For the moment a replacement battery seems to have cured the issue but think this little box may have been the cause.

Any other ideas greatly welcome.

a 4x4 is meant to go offroad. School buses are perfectly capable of taking kids to school on the other hand!

If it killed the battery and

If it killed the battery and everything works ok without the relay I would just junk it mate

cheers

Rob

It sounds like a battery

It sounds like a battery problem, or a component problem which is draining the battery.

You will need a multimeter with current reading to check. Remove the battery + lead and set the meter to current setting. Put one end to the battery post, the other to the removed + cable, and ensure everything electrical is switched off.

Ensure the ignition is also switched off.

You should have a very low current/amp reading, and it depends slightly on what you have fitted to your vehicle. Normal items are clocks and immobilisers which work irrespective of the ignition.

If you have a small reading, les than 0.25 amps then all is well, and it is not a component drain fault, it is the battery.