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What's causing my Ford Focus' battery to go flat?
I purchased my Ford Focus 1.6 EcoBoost in April 2012. Since then the battery has gone flat on three occasions. The first time was three weeks after purchase. The second, on 16 August 2012. The battery was replaced in October 2012. All went well until 2 June 2013 when the battery went flat again. On all three occasions the car was parked outside our caravan at Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire. On the last occasion the AA technician asked where I kept the key fob. I told him it was around 20 feet away. He said it could be sending a signal and causing something to operate in the car. No fault has been found on all three occasions, despite the car spending seven days in the Ford Dealership in Rotherham. I have since moved the key fob to the rear of the caravan. I have become very frustrated with the problem. The car is great apart from this.
Asked on 19 October 2013 by BL, via email
Answered by
Honest John
The AA diagnosis might be correct. But what can happen is that the interior light self-dimmer remains open circuit and drains the battery. It seems to switch off the light, so you think it's working, but in fact it remains live. Try switching the interior lights off completely.
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