Thread: 2.4 PUMA FLATTENS BATTERY WHEN NOT USED FOR A WEEK

Hi Chenz, how often do you drive your Puma and when you drive, how long is each trip?

Hi,
I had a similar problem. The cause was a crook VSR box that allowed current through to the run circuit even when the vehicle was switched off.
The vsr was an add-on, with the draining ocurring via the sensing circuits, but there was no current showing at the vehicle fuses.
If you have a second battery.... Just a thought.

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Hi Chenz, how often do you drive your Puma and when you drive, how long is each trip?

Not very often but I do a trip of about 350 klms return about once a month

Originally Posted by rovers4

Hi,
I had a similar problem. The cause was a crook VSR box that allowed current through to the run circuit even when the vehicle was switched off.
The vsr was an add-on, with the draining ocurring via the sensing circuits, but there was no current showing at the vehicle fuses.
If you have a second battery.... Just a thought.

I do have a second battery (which I had as an auxiliary to run fridges radios compressor etc) and when the crank battery is low I can link them and use the two to get it started.

your battery losing charge and my wallet losing money has alot in common.

my suggestion was install a shunt on the negative cable but that will only tell you how much, not where. The only thing the how much could inform you is the possible sources that need that amount of draw.

Originally Posted by Chenz

Not very often but I do a trip of about 350 klms return about once a month

Hi again Chenz and unfortunately you are your own worst enemy.

Because you do such little amount of driving, my guess is your battery (S) is probably badly sulphated.

Because your cranking battery is new, the problem is reversible.

Have a read of the two links below and this should sort your problem out.

Scroll down the page till you get to “LOAD TEST”
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/the-verandah/246755-line-auto-electrical-info-10.html


Scroll down the page till you get to “Battery Maintenance”
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/the-verandah/246755-line-auto-electrical-info-8.html

Sounds like you need to charge the batteries regularly with a good charger.
I have to do this with ours as sometimes it will sit around for a good few weeks.
With two batteries you need a much longer drive to keep them both charged properly,350Km once a month won't do it.
I find doing one run of 700Km a month,then shorter runs in between, won't keep ours at 100% charged.

Both our batteries,start and aux are almost 5yrs old,and still fine.

Try connecting the battery up to a solar ( on roof of shed) when not in use. I have had success doing this with aux battery fridge connected and running all the time in back of 110