Battery current drain

[Bowlerwell]

I've discovered that when the car is locked the current draw from the battery is 350mA. I still have to do the fuse test, but I believe it is common for a diode on the alternator to fail... does anyone have details on this, or a BTDT?

[driftin jo]

Did you give it a few minutes before taking the reading ?
Some systems, alarms, radios etc take a few minutes to go to sleep,
the wife's golf draws 250 mA for about 2 minutes then drops back to 30 mA.

[johne]

I believe it's very uncommon for an alternator diode to fail but either way it's easy to disconnect the alternator and see if the 350mA current draw you've got goes away.

John

[newsh]

There is a delay (maybe half a minute?) between switching off and locking the doors and the car going to sleep, you will hear the click when it does.

First thing I would do is disconnect the radio to see if it's that or have you wired it to the thin red wire on the ignition switch?

[Bowlerwell]

I waited about a minute and saw no change. Maybe I should wait longer.
It could well be the stereo Newsh, I haven't wired in the thin red wire yet...

[newsh]

Yes If you've got a modern stereo which has 2 power wires and you've wired them together then it will probably be that. Mine was doing it untill I did the thin red wire trick.

[Billman]

Yes If you've got a modern stereo which has 2 power wires and you've wired them together then it will probably be that. Mine was doing it untill I did the thin red wire trick.

What is this thin red wire?

[Bowlerwell]

It is the switched 12v supply from the ignition switch.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

[newsh]

Thin red wire.. Stays on untill you take the key out so you can use the radio with the engine not running

[Bowlerwell]

Nail on the head Newsh. Down to 30mA. Thanks!!

[newsh]

Good to hear it