93 facelift 6 cyl manual battery keeps draining and dying!

[555ttg]

My 1993 Facelift 4.0 manual, keeps 'killing' batteries!
I think it has something to do with the factory fitted alarm system, but can't be sure. I have immobilised the alarm, and yet the drain continues. Has anybody else experienced this, and if so what can be done to stop the drain? I have noticed that there are 2 relays that 'click' periodically when the drain is occurring,and this led me to think that it is to do with the alarm system, perhaps, re-energizing itself?????
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Phil

[almcl]

While it could easily be the alarm, there are several other things that can do it as well.

Do you have a test meter? (If not, Maplin do quite reasonable ones from as little as £5.) If you do, what is the current draw, key out of the ignition, all doors and the boot lid closed ? (Difficult on a '93 with the battery in the boot, I know. ) Does it change when the alarm is activated?

Do you have any after market devices fitted (radios, CD changers, phones &c.?)

If it's 'no' to all those, pulling fuses, one by one, until you find one that drops the current draw is the way to go, but you have to have doors, bonnet and boot closed, or pull all the courtesy light bulbs...

[555ttg]

Hi
Thanks for the reply, I have gone through all those checks and balances last year, and narrowed it down to the alarm system, then. I disconnected both the main battery, and the alarm system back up battery, as advised by other members on the BB, this apparently reset the alarm, and no trouble for months, but then since I have put the car away for the winter, the problem has recurred. I have removed the 2 'clicking' relays,(the purple ones, from the nearside relay block), but the alarm indicator light,(the little flashing led mounted on the top of the indicator binnacle), still flashes, and so that indicates to me that the alarm, has reactivated itself. Ideally, I would like to totally immobilize the alarm, but it is so intertwined with the other systems throughout the car, that I had been told it was not possible. I was also told that the factory systems cannot be removed, because it is so integral to other systems throughout the car! Frustrating is an understatement!!!
Phil

[almcl]

I can feel your frustration!

The factory alarm is, as you say, indeed integral to the system. and much more difficult to eliminate.

Can you find someone with a working JDS? Pretty rare these days, I know, but Dave Marks did have one when I needed my key fobs reprogrammed a couple of years back. This can interrogate the system and report on the health of parts and also change options within the system.

There is another (way-out) possibility. The security system also interfaces with the multifunction module (the one that provides the chimes for seat belts, door-open-with-key-in-the-ignition, lights &c) It's just conceivable that an element on this is at fault. There is a diagnostic procedure for this system although at the moment I can't remember where it is. If it turns up I'll post a reference, unless someone else can help out?

[MARKPEARSON]

Hello Phil

I posted a while ago relating to batteries draning.It may be of some help water ingress into the electric ariel motor casing is a common problem.

I took a few basic readings from my own car when all was well as a future reference point.

I have cut and pasted the post for you hope it is of some help.

Any advice given without seeing the car will only be a suggestion but as you said the electric ariel is not working properly that is where I would start.

As mr ian says these can keep the power on if they think they are not fully retracted so I would disconnect ariel and then see what the power drain is.

If that does not cure it then it is a case of pulling fuses out one at a time checking power drain each time untill you find what is causing the drain.

As you are measuring the power drain with the boot up you will also have the two boot internal lights on and this will give a false reading as these will draw current from battery remove the bulbs to get accurate reading.

I took a few readings from my 1993 4.0 the car is totally standard no modifications and the car will stand over three weeks and start without being on trickle charger.

1, Nothing on boot lights off .2A (200MA).
2, Boot open boot lights on .64A(640mA).
3, Door open all internal lights on and boot 3.2A.
4, Electric ariel 13A to lift 2A to retract.

Hope this is of some help.

Best Regards Mark.

[Brakebuster]

as a point of interest,

i have fully removed the factory fitted alarm system , and as stated is fully integrated with the original wiring, but does have its own loom you have to ' de-splice' from key systems,

the main ones being the inertia fuel cut off switch and the courtesy light switches, the rest is independent of the main car

BB

[555ttg]

Thanks everybody for the suggestions, I will try and see if disconnecting the aerial from the power does anything, but I doubt it will, it is a new factory replacement item. (I hadn't said it wasn't working had I???)
I much prefer BBs suggestion of doing away with the factory alarm altogether! BB, have you any diagrams showing how you did it?
Phil

[Brakebuster]

sorry , no directions , but i tackled it one step at a time, ensuring the car still wanted to work after each step

so , i de-spliced the wiring to the fuel cutout switch , and reinstated the original wiring, then tried the car, if the car works, i then moved onto the next step , one of the door switches , then the other door switch , you will find the wiring spliced behind the side kick panels , then possibly the boot light switch , so on and so forth , there is also a bonnet switch , usually mounted on the plate where the VIN is stamped under the windscreen ,

if all this is disconnected , and the original wiring reinstated and the car still starts , then your on a winner,

next is the security module , mine was also a remote locking module , so was also spliced into the door locking system ,

mine was fused from the passenger fusebox under the glovebox , yours might be in a different place, just remove the fuse to the module to start with , as the previous wiring removal should make it inert , and the car should still run , if not then there is still something in the system , like for the coil/coils , if it runs, then rip out the module ,

but as i say , take it one step at a time, and keep proving the car will work after each step
also be aware of any insurance issues with removing the alarm ,

before removal, ensure the boot light switch is working correctly , as leaving on the boot light will kill any battery within 24 hours..........just to be sure

BB

ps , my car has never killed a battery since removing the alarm ,

[PaulGover]

My '91/2 XJS has an aftermarket alarm, so this probably is of no use, but maybe ...
... The alarm's instructions say you can reduce the standby current by disabling the ultrasonic intrusion detectors. Holding the "enable" button for an extended period (something like 5 seconds) does it, and is signalled by a faint change in the flickering "alarmed" warning LED.

I tried it, and the battery still went dead in 3 weeks, so next time I just disconnected the battery - and it STILL went dead in 3 weeks - knackered battery! So I'm non the wiser as to if it works on my alarm, let alone on Phil's

[555ttg]

Hi, First of all, apologies to all for not replying sooner, the website locked me out for a week or more, finally got hold of Peter to sort it out, thanks Peter!
Back to my electrical problems. I have tried all of the above suggestions, with no success, I have found that when the battery drains to a certain level, the relays on the left hand side inner wing, start clicking, and briefly illuminate the side marker lights, literally a pulse. With removal of these 2 relays, the clicking and pulsing stops, but of course I would need to replace the relays before driving the car as they operate the lights, flashers and God knows what else!
At present, that's all the time I want to spend on the XJS as I have other cars that are demanding my attention, now the good weather is here.
Thanks to everyone for all your suggestions and if a cure becomes apparent, I will let you know.
Phil