main battery going flat

Have you checked for current draw when the vehicle is turned off

Regards Don

Maybe it is a similar problem that we had on the Rangie a while ago where some radio device is telling the remote receiver in the vehicle to turn on the computer (or whatever) in the vehicle and it is spending all its time waiting for a code from the remote and flattening the battery.

Disconnect the battery, put an ammeter in series with it and see what current it is drawing. You may need to leave it for 5 or 10 mins if the current is high to allow devices in the vehicle to time out. If the current is around say 50mA or less, you should be OK. If it is higher than 100mA, you have a problem.

Now take the vehicle away from any potential source of RF - off road is good, now try the same again. If you are drawing say 500mA (0.5A) like our Rangie at home and 20mA in the bush, it is most probably a RF interference problem from some wireless device in or close to the garage/house. Our probem was the wireless energy moniter located in the switch board of the house, right next to the garage.

If it is not that, let the other Experts on the forum have a go.

Good Luck, it took me 3 days to get the Rangie sussed.

Stevesub

After a reasonable drive (to charge the battery) disconnect both battery cables, check the 'rested' Voltage and leave for the same or similar time frame (5 days) with both battery cables disconnected and again recheck the Voltage.
As the battery would have had no cables attached it should be in the same charged condition as measured earlier - if not it's a battery fault.

While still under warranty, if the battery gives you the same Voltage loss as your experiencing presently, have it checked out by the retailer, tell him of your test results and * insist * on a replacement battery.

Maîneÿ . . .

You can also try pulling fuses while measuring the current from the battery. This did not really work on the Rangie as there is a computer that runs everything incl the door lights but you never know.

Stevesub