[mcgoocar]

Hello all, looks like I'll be spending a bit more time on here!

I hope someone can help me out here. A couple of days back I tried starting my 2001 147 selespeed and it didn't start. The only result was all the warning lights randomly flashing and a constant rhythmic clicking sound. The doors would not open with the remote, but the boot did. The battery was replaced only about 5-6 weeks ago, and the car was running fine. I have been getting warning signals for bulb failure (one brake light and one reversing light) but was going to fix that at the next rego check.

Having had temperamental electrical problems with alfa before, I left it overnight to see if it would 'fix itself' like it does sometimes, but now it is absolutely dead, nothing happens when try to start, no lights on dash absolutely nothing. Looks like the battery is now dead as well - 5/6 weeks old only!

I have read up here and suggestions are:

-ecu needs reset?
-crank sensor problem?
-battery charging?

If anyone can give me some sort of clue I would be immensely greatful, I am a complete noob when it comes to car diy (I get the feeling I will be getting more experience in the future!).

Any assistance please. I am calling the road service now but any other info would help me greatly. Right now I cannot afford much in terms of garages etc.

 

[mcgoocar]

Hello all, quick update and more questions... The roadservice just came by and checked battery which had been drained, and had only 2v left on it. This battery is new 5/6 weeks old, and is in working order. He reckons that something is draining the battery (i guessed that) but could not tell me what. Maybe a stuck relay.

Does anyone have any idea what could cause this kind of drain on a new battery? I am beginning to think that the same problem might have killed my last battery?

Also, I have a trickle charger / input 240v 50hz / output 6 and 12v / 1 amp which I am thinking of using to charge up battery in case this happens again. If I connect red and black leads before plugging in charger and switching on will this be ok? Any tips/clues on how not to fry my poor little car? Should I not use this charger?

As I said before I am not financially flushed right now so trips to garage are going to hurt alot! Any help pleease.

Thanks in advance.

 

[satanism]

a good electrician should be able to pinpoint the consumer...

 

[mcgoocar]

Thnx for reply Satanism. As I said unfortunately cost of service is a problem right now so trying to do as much as I can as an interim measure. Have you any advice on the charging if battery goes flat again?

I will try posting any other info as it comes to mind.

Thnx in advance to all.

 

[satanism]

Thnx for reply Satanism. As I said unfortunately cost of service is a problem right now so trying to do as much as I can as an interim measure. Have you any advice on the charging if battery goes flat again?

I will try posting any other info as it comes to mind.

Thnx in advance to all.

yes you can charge it as many times as you want...take it out of the car and charge it..
I would check if your alternator charges enough...you only need a voltmeter for that...
I would also check the light in the boot if it stays on when the boot is shut(do it from the back seats).
And I wouldn't drive the car with the battery having low charge. If the battey cannot supply correct voltages it could damage quite a few things...most of them very expensive...not to speak that it could really confuse all the sensors etc. relying on voltage etc...

 

[Monkey Dust]

To avoid frying your car the safest way to charge the battery would be to take it out.

It's possible you've been sold a faulty battery. I don't suppose you know anyone locally who's car uses the same battery as your car, who wouldn't mind you testing their battery in your car?

 

[Rockhopper]

If you buy something like an Optimate you can safely leave the battery connected to the car while it trickle charges it. It'll take forever to charge a flat battery though and you'd be far better off finding out why its going flat in the first place as lead acid batterys don't like regular deep discharge cycles.

 

[Captain Slow]

Sounds like the voltage regulator is up the swanny. You need to get a volt meter, and see what the charge and drain is like on the battery.

 

[mcgoocar]

Hello all thnx for the replies.

Satanism: I think I have an old meter somewhere from an IT course I did a few years back. I'll have to dig it out and relearn how to use it. I don't think I left the boot open so will check the boot light as you suggest and report back.
Also Monkey/Satanism: when you say take out the battery - is it ok to leave battery seated but just disconnect the terminals of battery and connect the charger?

Rockhopper: I'm not sure re optimate, I have a (Australia) Dick Smith trickle charger with details as in first post. It basically looks like a transformer with one red and one black wire coming off it with crocodile clips. Would that still be safe if I connected terminals before plugging charger in and switching on?

S10: any info as to how to go about this if I do manage to dig out my old meter?

Other info off the top of my head: Few months back had left hand door fixed up after a knock on the front left side, and the repairers didn't replace the window button on the door (theyre getting one in). Would this affect anything?
I also get bulb failure warnings when on the go - I think it's one brake and one reversing light? Sensor problems? Never had this exact problem until after the repairs for the knock, and since then have replaced battery after the last one went completely dead. The roadside assist today said the new battery was fine - just that it is being drained.

Once again thanks all. She's a beauty when she's not upset!

 

[mcgoocar]

Just checked the boot light from inside by moving back seat rest and can report that light is not on. One down!

 

[Guest]

1st thing I'd do is take the battery/car back to the garage you got it from and get it checked - its not unheard of to get a faulty battery.

2 other of the more obvious current drain problems are faulty radio head unit or aftermarket unit not wired correctly ?

First check with your multimeter is to get the car started and check the dc voltage across the battery terminals - should be around 13.9-14.5 ish.

To check for drain see here
How to Find a Parasitic Battery Drain - wikiHow

 

[mcgoocar]

Hello 147 thnx for response.
As I said the roadside assist guy came today (NRMA in Australia same as AA) and said battery was ok. He was same one who replaced the battery - NRMA run a battery replacement service, and showed me his manual for appropriate batteries for alfa 147 - so the battery should be ok. It was replaced 5/6 wks back and has 2 year warranty so he would have replaced it if there was a battery problem, no skin off his nose.

Radio is factory installed and have never had issues / reset problems with it before, still works fine.

Will do the multimeter thing if I ever find it. If not they're only a few dollars each aren't they?

Will report back with any new developments.

Thanks all!

 

[Captain Slow]

147Dav beat me to it, but you need to check the drain. Mine packed up, causing the alternator to overcharge the battery and killing it.

 

[mcgoocar]

Hello all,

well I have an update and some interesting news / observations of sorts.

I haven't found my meter yet so haven't done any measuring, but it is obvious that something has been draining the battery, I have not driven the car since sunday, and today (thursday) again the old dear did not start, with a flat battery. I attached a trickle charger, and left it for a couple of hours. When I went out in the evening (after dark) to check I had a walk around the car and noticed that one of the lights on the rear left side (red looks like the brake light) was faintly on. I opened the boot - no light. I opened the driver door to check indicators headlights handbrake, - nothing out of sorts. Closed door went back, rear light was off. Went back out after about half an hour, and the light was on again (still trickle charging on the battery). Looks like this is what has been draining the battery. I don't know why this is happening, it may be a wrongly connected cable to the light unit. I don't know why this would have suddenly happened. Any ideas? Can anyone point me to some wiring info for the rear light unit so I can check that it has been done properly?

I took a photo but don't seem to be able to create a gallery to upload the picture. Basically, in the rear left group of lights it is the red light furthest out from the centre.

Any ideas / help advice greatly appreciated.

Thnx all.

 

[Rockhopper]

You have a faulty body computer i'm afraid. Not uncommon on 147's. Do a search on here, its been talked about quite a bit.