Interior light coming on, draining battery

[Marwood]

Looking forward to a run tomorrow when I get a call from the lady who's garage I rent for the GS. Alarm going off. By the time I get there, it's dead, doors won't unlock etc.

Either someone bumped it (they say not), or there's a glitch. They said they saw an interior light on in the week...which I can't recall putting or seeing on etc. if there's a gremlin and the interior lights did pop on by themselves, what might cause it?

It Spent the previous week parked outside in wet, cold and windy Yorkshire with no issues, before coming back south to a warm and dry garage.

Puzzled. And battery changeless.

And it's sunny tomorrow.

Sigh.

M

 

[CC4200]

My interior light came on after my wife used the vanity mirror light, wouldn't go off, ended up taking the bulb out. Autoshield fittied a new unit, wasn't expensive

 

[Fran]

check the light of course, a quick fix. A warning on batteries. These cars need a lot of energy and batteries can die prematurely. Many people thinks they have a electricity drainage but it is just a bad battery. Disconnecting old trackers is something to be done, my 4200 had an old tracker with big old style batteries. but when I encountered this problem the way to fix was to replace the battery even if the one installed was less than 24 months old from a big brand, Exige.

I tend to save on things but not on car batteries. This is one of the few things where paying more is 100% worth it. I recommend the biggest battery you can fit. In my experience Bosch batteries are the best. I have a Bosch S5 77ah. This size is the biggest you can fit in the 4200 battery compartment.

F

 

[hodroyd]

Totally agree on the battery, make sure it is spot on, or you will have troubles..!! Interior Light on and alarm going off, sounds like interior movement sensor maybe..??

 

[Marwood]

Thanks for the tips chaps. The current battery is a Duracell 72ah, meant to be a recent fit by the co I bought the car from (!) six months back. No one has admitted bumping into it so I guess it's...

A. Kid turned on the back light and I didn't notice (though would one light alone be enough to kill the battery?)
B. Battery is past it's best...que conversation with dealer
C. Italianate glitch to help occupy free time and provide opportunties to meet new people

Battery been on charge since this morning. Not stirring back into life yet...(and what a lovely day to miss. Bah.)

M

 

[hodroyd]

If you can check the battery, see if it has fluid covering all the cells, if it's not accepting charge...ditch it..!!

 

[Marwood]

Hi hotroyd, its a sealed for life hobby so can't tell about the cells. Will give it overnight on the Optimate.

Just checked the sales paperwork though - dealer did say they put a new battery in (and the car is still in warranty..just). So - if its not a numpty episode, a possible recourse route.

Still don't see that one small light should be enough to kill this hefty battery in a week. The again, I know nowt about electrics so happy to learn!

M

 

[Ambient69]

You would be lucky to get a week.
1W bulb (12V 1A) with 72Ah Battery roughly 3-6 days will leave battery with little power to power the alarm.

With regards to movement inside being activated. In Yorkshire there are some big spiders, moving inside to nicer environments. What could be nicer than a GS. May be you have an extra hairy passenger now resident down south.

 

[hodroyd]

I've had mice inside cars before today, little beggars can get through the smallest gaps..!! Big hairy monsters we have plenty of here, they chase the cats all over the house..!! I thought 12v x 12w = 1a and interior lamps are maybe 3-5w, otherwise you would hardly see anything, am I right, or not..??

 

[Marwood]

Mice and Yorkshire-grade spiders? Strewth. Will lock small son in there for a couple of days armed with a fly swat, torch and Kit Kat for sustenance (no crumbs now Son. And good luck).

Valiant little Optimate still spooning power into the battery...I hope. if its not charged after 48 hrs I guess it may be knackered for good?

M

 

[Marwood]

Hi chums,

Having recharged the battery its ready to go back in the car. Is there anything special to know about resetting? Will the throttle etc have to 'relearn' and all that stuff?

M