Renault Espace (2002 - ) - 2005 3.5 Flat battery

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Sun 1 Feb 2009 11:35
2005 3.5 Flat battery - Paul531
I've had my 2005, 55 , Renault Espace for 9 months or so. I cycle to work, so it seldom gets used apart from @ holidays and if we go out in at the weekends. These last few weeks been cold & icy so not been out in it much at all. For the 2nd time in 9 months it needed a jump start from my trusty old 1991 Volvo 940 Estate. We've left the Volvo for 5 weeks in the past without using it, then it still started first time.

It appears that with the Esapce, with all its security SYSTEMS and key less entry, this must drain the battery and so after a few weeks the BATTERY is all but flat. Once its been on a run for a hour or so, its fine and starts no prob. The alternator is charging at 14.5 V.

Does anyone else have sim probs with 'modern' cars with all of these fancy electronic systems draining the battery ?

I think if i bought a new battery {£120 + I bet !!} it would still be the same? So nowt wrong with my battery ? Cheers.
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Sun 1 Feb 2009 14:05
2005 3.5 Flat battery - Simon
It is to be expected with a modern vehicle (up to a point at least). You have basically identified the 'problem' - All of these electronic features and the security systems consume battery power even when the vehicle is not in use and the battery will only hold out so long before going flat. Modern vehicles are not designed to stand idle for weeks at a time and I think you have a useage of that car issue rather than an actual fault. My advice would be to just make sure than once every week or two at the most, you start it up and give it a run round for ten minutes or so.
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Sun 1 Feb 2009 18:44
2005 3.5 Flat battery - kiss (keep it simple)
Can you connect a battery a charger to it easily? If so put it on the lowest charge rate overnight once a fortnight and you should be fine. A bit "greener" than running the engine. If your battery has been flattened completely a couple of times it will have been weakened so getting a new one may be prudent.
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Mon 2 Feb 2009 13:17
2005 3.5 Flat battery - Tim Allcott
Alternative (greener still) would be a solar panel. depends whether you have to connect it directly to the battery, or, if cigar lighter remains live when ignition off, you can feed through that. Anyone used one successfully to manage this?
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Mon 2 Feb 2009 22:37
2005 3.5 Flat battery - Paul531


Excellent advice. Thanks.

It's been OK since.

I did a 70 mile trip at the w'end and a 60 miles 2nite.

No probs.

I do not exepect to use the car again until Saturday.

On my bike tomorrow and all week.

I think I'll measure the batt voltage {DVM} each night this week and see if it drops at all.

I think the kids left have left some of the lights on in row 3 for a few days too.

Hard to see when they do, as all windows on apart from the windscreen and front doors are heavily tinted.
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