Forum:
My missus has van for her deli business but after a couple of days use the battery is flat. I have replaced the alternator (used item but checked ok) and a brand new battery. I have been to local battery specialist who says that alternator and battery are ok. Something is draining it. Any ideas? 
DISCHARGING BATTERY
I HAVE ONE INCCURABLE PROBLEM WHICH DRAINS MY BATTERY AND THAT IS A WIFE WHO AFTER 12 YEARS WITH THE SAME SPORTRAK STILL CAN'T SHUT THE DOOR LEAVING THE INTERIOR LIGHT ON, ALWAYS HAS AN EXCUSE AS WELL ( DON'T THEY ALL BLESS THEM). SERIOUSLY, LOOK AT THE EARTH STRAP FROM THE BATTERY TO THE BODY. IF IT IS RUSTY OR CORRODED THEN THIS CAN CAUSE A BATTERY TO DRAIN.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS
oldminiman
M J Young
Battery drain.
Its a case of, is it the battery shorting, being drained by something left on or the alternator not charging it up??
If its the alternator, check the battery voltage with the engine off (over 12v under 13v), then again with the engine running around (13.5v)you should get a difference in volts - more when running.
Maybe best to take to an alternator recon shop and let them test it.
Watch them test or they might just try to sell you a new one.
Try cleaning up the earth strap or fit a new one.
To test if anythings shorting on the body etc, remove the neg from the battery and use some cable to make a connection between the battery and the earth strap clamp with a low volt bulb (6v-12v).
Just dab it on the battery terminal and you should see a bulb flash or glow if there is a short circuit. Make sure the ignition is off. Its hard to do this test if your radio has permanent live feed for memory or your alarm etc, you would have to isolate these first. Trouble is it could be one of the isolated things thats shorting and causing the drain?
Then again isolate them for a day or two and see if there is an improvement.
Also is your new battery maintenance free and are you using an automatic charger for M-free batteries, they need to be charged slowly or they ruin and wont hold the charge well otherwise.
All the best,
Dave.
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Current- 04 Silver YRV TURBO / 91 Black Charade GTti.
Past- 89 White Charade GTti / 1998 White 1.3 Hi-Jet.
A friend in need is a friend in deed, a friend always in need, an Effin nuisance!!
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Current- 04 Silver YRV TURBO
Past- 91 Charade GTti, 89 Charade GTti, 98 1.3 Hi-Jet.
A friend in need is a friend indeed, a friend always in need, an Effin nuisance
Battery Drain
Despite a new battery, my Hijet drains the battery over a few days too if it isn't used. Have to remove the battery and fully charge it up every 2 weeks or so. Have removed the earth battery lead and refitted making sure good contact, but no cure. Will renew the battery clamps and also the earth lead and let you know if this works...
check your leads,
i have a transit tipper and it was draining the battery got to the point it did not even have enough power to tip, i fiddled with the earth lead and its fine, very simliar thing happened with my fourtrak, put a little nail in the negative terminal and its all sorted