Hello All,
My first post. Just to set expectations, my mechanical experience is limited to referencing Haynes manuals some 40 years ago. It was always cold and wet and I always lost skin on my knuckles.
I registered on this site some months back when I invested in a 2007 2.7d s type as a bit of a project car to work on in retirement. I experienced many of the issues flagged in this topic, such as the EML and EPB warning. Had Halfords fit a new battery and everything seemed fine. Bought the trickle charger (as recommended here) and kept the battery topped up continuously as I hardly use the car. A month or two later it came time for the MOT and it needed new sills (of course). The garage kept the car for 3-4 days and it transpired they also had to charge me for a new battery - it had gone dead whilst they had the car.
So I assumed I had some kind of drain. Bought a multi-meter and tested with the ignition off, doors and boot closed, and there is a 0.8 amp to 1 amp drain.
This afternoon I have been through all the blade fuses, one by one, in all three fuse boxes. I can't seem to be able to isolate the potential culprit.
My question is, was it a waste of time going through the fuses? Is it 'normal' for an s type to drain like this ? Maybe it is the passive security. Judging by the comments virtually everyone recommends a trickle charger. I was going to use the Jag for a road trip to the Highlands but I'm worried the battery will go flat if I don't keep it on charge for more than a day or two. I suppose I could just disconnect the battery every night but surely there is a better solution ?
Thanks,
Nick