Ford Focus - Battery still draining on ford focus 2004 | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

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Fri 3 Jan 2014 12:08

Ford Focus - Battery still draining on ford focus 2004 - MissLB

Good morning

Ford Focus (2004) is draining battery overnight. Two diagnostics (£90 each) - First one signalled problem with the radio which was disconnected. Low and behold next day battery was still dead. Second one pointed to a problem with the central locking system in the drivers door. Part purchased, installed and after much labour expense at two garages, the car seemed to be running fine. Radio reconnected with new fuse and was working fine for around one week. Not been started for a few days over Xmas and back to square one. It's had two new batteries in past 12 months and alternator testing fine.

The past two days it has been completely drained in the morning, despite being hooked up to a charger all of yesterday. The radio is flashing up with the code message when I get it in to the car which would usually only happen after reconnecting or installing a new battery. I don't know an awful lot but this would signal to me that there is a problem here which could be draining the battery. Before I take to the garage for even more investigation work, any ideas on what this could be? I'm tearing my hair out not knowing if car will start each morning!

Many thanks

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Fri 3 Jan 2014 12:18

Ford Focus - Battery still draining on ford focus 2004 - Galaxy

There is clearly something that's causing a permanent drain on the battery, even with the ignition switched off, and this needs to be further investigated. Check no unseen lamps are staying on, glovebox, for example.

I would be inclined to take your car to an auto-electrician rather than a garage. Try to find someone who knows what they're doing, suggest you ask around.

Many year ago I needlessly bought a new battery for one of my cars because, after leaving it for a few days, the battery was always flat and wouldn't start the car. Replaced the battery with a brand new one, few days later the same problem! Fault turned out to be a short inside one of the horns, which was drawing a sizeable current from the battery, even with the ignition switched off.

Edited by Galaxy on 03/01/2014 at 12:18

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Fri 3 Jan 2014 16:27

Ford Focus - Battery still draining on ford focus 2004 - MissLB

Thank you for the reply, I will try to locate an auto electrician locally - so frustrating that neither local garage or ford specialist can isolate the fault! No lamps I can find, nor can garages but hope that a specialist will be able to help! Do you think it's worth getting the radio disconnected?

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Fri 3 Jan 2014 16:54

Ford Focus - Battery still draining on ford focus 2004 - xtrailman

Why don't you buy one of these and attempt to locate the drain yourself? The meter is available in two fuse sizes so make sure you buy the correct one.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/400mm-automotive-current-tester-mini-n49cy

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Fri 3 Jan 2014 17:27

Ford Focus - Battery still draining on ford focus 2004 - Galaxy

You say the radio has previously been disconnected but the problem still remained, so I don't think there's any point in disconnecting the radio once again. From what you have already said it doesn't sound like the radio is the problem.

That Maplin tester is a good idea and OK for someone who's keen to sort out the problem themselves but, with no disrespect intended, are you really up do doing this work yourself? If not, there's no point in buying the tester.

Edit...............Just thought, what sort of battery have you had fitted? It must a a calcium type battery to suit Fords type of charging system; if it isn't then it could cause all sorts of problems.

Who tested the alternator? Are you absolutely certain that all aspects of the alternator are OK?

Edited by Galaxy on 03/01/2014 at 17:32

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Fri 3 Jan 2014 17:44

Ford Focus - Battery still draining on ford focus 2004 - elekie&a/c doctor

I have never seen a radio or central locking fault cause a battery drain on this model focus.Agree as above,get the battery and alternator system checked properly .Get a refund on the previous incompetent attempts at diagnosis.A focus of this age is not difficult to fix.hth

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Sat 4 Jan 2014 11:50

Ford Focus - Battery still draining on ford focus 2004 - MissLB

Thanks so much for the advice, I'll contact an auto electrician and try to get to the bottom of it before haggling with both seemingly incompetent garages. No, I'm definitely not up to fixing it myself unfortunately but want to as much investigation - even via a forum - before being spun a line by another garage. If anyone can recommend a decent auto electrician in Cambs/herts it would be much appreciated!

I'm going to check the battery now will let you know how I get on.

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Tue 22 Jan 2019 15:24

Ford Focus - Battery still draining on ford focus 2004 - Cornflour10

Hi did u find out the issue im having this now on a 59plate focus

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Tue 22 Jan 2019 19:10

Ford Focus - Battery still draining on ford focus 2004 - Galaxy

5 year old thread!

MissLB is very unlikely to reply now, I'm afraid.

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Tue 22 Jan 2019 22:54

Ford Focus - Battery still draining on ford focus 2004 - focussed