Date:         Tue, 23 Mar 1999 04:19:54 +0100
Reply-To:     Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Subject:      Re: Battery draining, or bad battery?
Comments: To: Ray Perry <perryale@FIDALGO.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Ray Perry wrote:

> I am having trouble keeping new batteries.  I am on my second "Die Hard"
> in 20 months and it is going dead on me after sitting a few nights
> without running it.  I suspect there is a power draw somewhere.  When
> checking the amp drain on the battery at rest  (nothing turned on except
> the clock) there is about .6 amp draw.  When I remove the # 3 fuse,
> there is no draw.  Is the .6 amp draw reasonable?  Is there a factory
> spec for this?  Anyone have a similar problem?
>
> Thanks for your input.
>
> Ray
> '90 Westy Syncro

What I suggest you do, is disconnect the wires on the back of your
alternator, and wrapping them in so they will not short out (not good). Keep
the battery connected, but you should disconnect it while un-hooking the
alternator. Then, you check the amp drain, or even letting the car sit for a
couple of days. If there is no drain, the alternators diodes could be shot.
These are not part of the brush holder/charge relay, but is located on a
plate inside the alternator. At least here in Europe, they are generally
available, and the local Flaps only stock 5-6 different to cover most Bosch
alternators.

PerL
88 Syncro