ASTRA COUPE BATTERY DRAIN PROBLEM

[jody barrett]

Hi, i have a 53 plate astra coupe bertone auto 2.2 which isn't holding any charge. I have to jump start the car everytime i drive it, can't bump start it as its auto. I took it for a 60 mile drive today without turning it off, then when i got to my destination, i turned it off. I thought i would see if it would start again, and the battery was dead, not even enough charge to turn it over. Im thinking it is either a battery problem or alternator problem. Not sure where to start, as i don't really want to spend the money replacing one and then it being the other. Please can anyone help?

[Drive Blind]

if your PAS is working OK then the alternator is OK.

[jody barrett]

Thank you very much for the reply. That is very handy to know as the pas is fine. Looks like a new battery it is then.

[callyman]

Drive Blind said:

if your PAS is working OK then the alternator is OK.

How would a duff alternator effect a pas pump?

[bazking69]

A simple battery test would confirm. You can buy the gizmos on ebay for a matter of pounds that can test the battery and the alternator.

[Drive Blind]

callyman said:

Drive Blind said:

if your PAS is working OK then the alternator is OK.

How would a duff alternator effect a pas pump?

cos the PAS pump gets its electrical power from the alternator.

If the alternator fails then the PAS pump would be an additional drain on the battery possibly leaving you stranded. So the system is designed that if the alternator dies the PAS gets disabled leaving you enough battery power to get you home. That's the theory anyway. Never tried it myself.

[jody barrett]

It just so happens i have put the theory to test for you today lol. I bought another battery a couple of days ago. All was fine, i haven't really driven it much, just been driving slowly with my jump leads in the boot just incase. Today on my way home, dash lights started to flicker and my headlights went dull. Then just before i got home, my pas died. It never did this before on the other battery. A friend of mine suggested that it may be because i was only driving slow and not letting the car rev very high, and that could cause the battery to get no charge or little charge. Any more theorys on this?

[callyman]

Drive Blind said:

callyman said:

Drive Blind said:

if your PAS is working OK then the alternator is OK.

How would a duff alternator effect a pas pump?

cos the PAS pump gets its electrical power from the alternator.

If the alternator fails then the PAS pump would be an additional drain on the battery possibly leaving you stranded. So the system is designed that if the alternator dies the PAS gets disabled leaving you enough battery power to get you home. That's the theory anyway. Never tried it myself.

Wasn't thinking electric pump. Interesting.