Battery drains in about 2 days... Tracker?

Corranga

Member
Messages
1,219
My car is a 2004 4200 face lift.

I presume this is a tracker issue, the car came with 2 credit card sized Maserati branded things which I assume indicate a tracker is fitted.

Can someone private message me potential locations for the device so I can unplug it please?

I've checked what I believe is the most common place and it's not there...

Chris
 
Messages
1,117
The credit card sized plastic cards are the radio code and key code. Tracker (if fitted) usually has a black round/oval fob. It will be easiest to test the battery to find the level of drain. If a tracker is fitted the usual make is Vodafone - give them a ring and they will tell you if its fitted and if the subscription is active or dormant. I have no idea where it might be fitted. Vodafone can come out and remove it for a fee. Battery drain can also indicate a battery at the end of its life and not holding charge - rather than an excessive drain and demand on the battery.
 

Corranga

Member
Messages
1,219
Yep, my fobs are a bit different, I asked about them a couple of years back when I first got the car...

http://www.sportsmaserati.com/index...these-black-rectangular-plastic-things.21319/

Thanks for the messages yesterday, I took a few bits of the car apart yesterday and I'm now confident that the tracker isn't fitted anywhere in the rear of my car!

After 25 minutes waiting in a queue, Vodafone said there were no installation notes for my car, so they couldn't say where it is.

I'll go back to it another week and start taking bits apart at the front next I guess!

I'm better news, I topped up my brake fluid since the warning light thread, and it's been fine since.

Once the tracker (or other cause of the battery drain) is fixed, on to Airbag light and central locking...
 

Corranga

Member
Messages
1,219
...so did I so I replaced it with a new one 2 weeks ago (Exide Premium Type 096 77Ah, 760cca which is better in both specs than the Oldham that was in the car), I should have mentioned that. I think the original was probably ok too.
 
Messages
1,117
As you have ruled out the battery by confirming you fitted a nee Exide 096 two weeks ago, the only way forward seems to test the drain and isolate different electrical fuses - typically radio system, horn for alarm, and test alternator output. Seems a trip to a good indy is in order as electrical drains can be time-consuming to track down and requires a structured approach to get to the guilty component. Good luck....
 

masertel

Member
Messages
102
I had the same problem with my 05 Face Lift 4200. Battery was sucked dry in less than 2 days- searched everywhere for the tracker and eventually found it under the front dash. Its quite a chunky item as it incorporates a large battery pack. From memory is wasn't difficult the get at and remove just a bit fiddly and time consuming. Once I had the dash top loosened I was able to get my hand in the gap and rip it out so there was no need to take the whole dash off. It was sitting slightly off centre to the passenger side. After removal no more battery drain problems and with less weight just a smidgen quicker.
 

alfatwo

Member
Messages
5,517
Two weeks and there flat but not two days.. don't forget the locking systems, ICE memory and standard immobiliser are always active!

Dave
 

masertel

Member
Messages
102
Can confirm that when the battery in the tracker packs in and the car is left standing for 2 days the main car battery will not have enough charge to start the car in 2 days. Have had to rip the tracker out of 2 cars to date - the last one was parked up at the airport after two days and on my return the car wouldn't start and had to be jump started. Admittedly it was during the winter and very cold but the tracker does put a sizeable drain on the battery when it own battery packs in. After the trackers were removed in both instances the car batteries never gave any problems for many years.
 

Corranga

Member
Messages
1,219
OK. Found it!

Do I need any of this connected in the car? Everything seems to work OK with it removed.
What's the thing on the left?

Also, the car used to beep when you put the key in, and doesn't now, so I presume these things beep too...

Leather stuff is covering serials just in case.
 

Attachments

  • 8784D043-BCEF-433D-BA41-535C363A2DFF.jpeg
    8784D043-BCEF-433D-BA41-535C363A2DFF.jpeg
    297 KB · Views: 34

masertel

Member
Messages
102
OK. Found it!

Do I need any of this connected in the car? Everything seems to work OK with it removed.
What's the thing on the left?

Also, the car used to beep when you put the key in, and doesn't now, so I presume these things beep too...

Leather stuff is covering serials just in case.
Glad to here you found it - hopefully that's the end of your battery drain woes!!

After removal I never experienced any issues with the car and all was well with the battery. If there are any loose cables left behind best to tape them up and secure them.

From memory my duff trackers didn't have a beeper on them as yours has in the photo- one less thing beeping in the car isn't a bad thing :). The unit to the left as pointed out in the photo is most likely the GPS unit and no longer required. There are many aftermarket GPS units on the market now that are independent of the car battery and are not hard to fit and in some cases do not require a subscription. If the car goes missing you can track it with a smartphone app. I didn't bother as the car is hard to steal unless you have the key and its embedded code. I have however purchased a NUT transponder that is very small and attached it to my keys just in case I misplace them.

All the best,

Terry
 

Corranga

Member
Messages
1,219
Yep. I checked my red / amber / green CTEK battery indicator after leaving the car for 1 night off the conditioner and it was still flashing green. I'd expect amber by then. I left it off the conditioner again, so will check tonight, when I'd ordinarily expect red.

In 2 years of owning the car, I haven't had a tracker subscription, so the car is as it was but hopefully without the battery drain. It only just bothered me now as, in 2 years, it's never stayed away from home overnight until last month!

The transponder on your keys sounds like a nice idea too.
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,114
Removed mine over 3 years ago and left the UK nearly 4 years ago and my car is still on the battery that was in it when I bought her as a Project.
No flat batteries for me here in NZ.