1. Today, my car battery (its new) ran flat after just 4 days of standing. The breakdown guy got it working and confirmed there is a big drain around 1.25(V?). It doesn't change whether the alarm is on or off.

2. Something else I noticed lately is that when I have my headlights on, when I touch the brake or indicate for a split second my light flickers.

3. Today was something else: after the car got running again, I took it for a long drive to recharge the battery. It ran well and got home. When I parked up and got out, everything was dead (eg. no door lights, power window switch inoperative, etc.). I pressed my alarm key and nothing. I then heard a really quiet alarm sound coming from the bonnet area. I opened bonnet, still everything dead (bonnet light didn't come on). I wiggled the big battery wire and alarm stopped, and lights back on.

Closed bonnet, locked up and exactly same thing happened! Three or four times!

Finally, I got the car locked up and alarm set, but am very worried there could be a dangerous fault, so will arrange for it to be transported to my mechanic tomorrow.

Anyone got any ideas? And what the hell is that small alarm sound - is it a Porsche thing?

 

Sounds like a loose connection where you wiggled that wire.

 

Mark, when you get the car started measure the voltage across the battery; it should be around 14-15v if it's recieving a charge.

 

The wiggling of earth strap stops the alarm.
The surge (and light dimming) still occurs with braking or indicator. Therefore sounds like a bad connection somewhere.
Now going to garage tomorrow. Hope to have news over next few days.....

 

Just a thought but you should never drive the car to charge a dead battery. Always use a trickle charger to get it mostly charged. Otherwise you will put excessive strain on the charging system causing it to fail prematurely. Check your battery voltage. You might have had enough to get it started and once started the alternator takes over. You do not need a battery to drive just to start the car.

 

UPDATE:
Corroded battery earth strap = 1 amp draw! Solution new strap fitted.
Faulty Cabin CCU = 0.5 amp draw. Replace at £1000+ or some specialised welding/modification = £200. I'm going for the latter.
Car back next week - phew!

 

Nice one

When's it booked in for the engine/turbo work? Is Bob Watson doing it?

 

Anthony,
Bob's da man!
I'm meeting him at silverstone tomorrow to discuss some details.
See you soon?
PS: Also meeting Phil (midnight blue) and Vince (white) - they are both loud now