Flat battery

julian · **January 28, 2010, 11:55:29**

My i30 had been standing on the drive for a few days and when I went to start it this morning the battery was completely dead. When I got inside using the key I noticed that the lights were in the sidelight or parking light position. I am surprised that neither I nor any neighbour noticed the lights were on, but there you go.

My previous car would beep a warning if you switched off the ignition while the lights were on. Is this an option on the i30 or is there some third party thing that would do this which I could ask the dealer to fit when it goes in for its first service in a few days time?

Shambles · **Reply #1: January 28, 2010, 12:08:57**

Hi Julian, good to see you back.

When I remove the key and get out of mine, all the lights extinguish, whatever position the switch was left in. Mine's a Premium model... not sure if that feature carries all through the UK range

julian · **Reply #2: January 28, 2010, 12:34:02**

That's funny. I could have sworn that I have never seen the lights on mine when I remove the key. It's something I'll check when the battery is charged back up.

One thing that might have something to do with it - the hatch was not properly shut. It couldn't be opened, it was on the safety catch or something but it was not firmly shut. I thought perhaps a lock had released due to the battery dying but perhaps there was a warning light on or something and because it was like that since Sunday perhaps that was enough to drain the battery?

StarSeeker · **Reply #3: January 28, 2010, 12:41:25**

My i30 is from the UK Comfort range and I have no warning alarm if I leave my lights on, but when I have forgot to switch them off, they do switch themselves off automatically.

If your hatch was not shut properly, maybe the light inside it remained on, causing your battery to drain

julian · **Reply #4: January 28, 2010, 12:47:10**

Yes it's possible, if the microswitch is that sensitive.

I'm charging it now using my Halfords charger, which I expect will take a couple of days. Some websites say a car battery will be irreparably damaged by allowing it to completely discharge (and it was completely discharged, I couldn't open the car with the remote and nothing happened on the panel when I turned the key.) Will it be necessary to replace the battery?

Shambles · **Reply #5: January 28, 2010, 12:56:51**

Hey Julian,

Batteries are warrantied too you know! It's not your fault that after a couple of days sitting around, the battery decided to drain itself when no lights were on and no accessory was running.

That's what I'd tell the dealership if the battery doesn't hold this charge.

StarSeeker · **Reply #6: January 28, 2010, 13:04:20**

I would charge it back up slowly with a trickle charge.

I would also be very surprised if it had caused any permanent damage to the battery, especially a newish one, I'm sure it will be fine when correctly charged.

eye30 · **Reply #7: January 28, 2010, 13:04:54**

Quote from: Shambles on January 28, 2010, 12:08:57

When I remove the key and get out of mine, all the lights extinguish, whatever position the switch was left in.

As above Comfort model

eye30 · **Reply #8: January 28, 2010, 13:09:17**

Quote from: StarSeeker on January 28, 2010, 12:41:25

If your hatch was not shut properly, maybe the light inside it remained on, causing your battery to drain

If this happened then the car would not lock with the remote.

So when J went to the car the door would be unlocked, which it wasn't.

On another site a similar thing happened as a car was parked up while away on hols.
There has been a leakage within the electrical system and has only appeared because it has been left for a few days.

StarSeeker · **Reply #9: January 28, 2010, 13:25:38**

Hi eye30

Not sure this is 100% true

.

I'm sure I've heard in the past, where the doors can be locked, with one of them not fully closed.

Lorian · **Reply #10: January 28, 2010, 13:30:25**

When I got my car the hatch wouldn't shut properly all the time, it would just catch (bumps stops too high) and the car definitely didn't lock when it was like that.

If it's parked for a long time you can "half-pull" the standby fuses, it takes but a few seconds, but you have to reset the radio preferences afterwards (there is no code).

I would think day to charge it would be fine - it doesn't need to be completely full - at what rate are you charging it?

julian · **Reply #11: January 28, 2010, 14:21:51**

I don't know what charging rate, there is no meter on the charger just a couple of leds for charging and OK.

If it wasn't the lights and it wasn't the hatch then I don't know what caused the battery to drain. It was fine when we last drove it a few days ago and in the past it has been left for two weeks at an airport and started with no trouble at all on our return.

Lorian · **Reply #12: January 28, 2010, 14:27:08**

Quote from: julian on January 28, 2010, 14:21:51

I don't know what charging rate, there is no meter on the charger just a couple of leds for charging and OK.

If it wasn't the lights and it wasn't the hatch then I don't know what caused the battery to drain. It was fine when we last drove it a few days ago and in the past it has been left for two weeks at an airport and started with no trouble at all on our return.

It probably says on a sticker on the back/underneath then.

When you do plug the battery back in, check for interior lights on etc.

Nick Riffed · **Reply #13: January 28, 2010, 14:39:07**

Quote from: eye30 on January 28, 2010, 13:04:54

Quote from: Shambles on January 28, 2010, 12:08:57
When I remove the key and get out of mine, all the lights extinguish, whatever position the switch was left in.

As above Comfort model

Likewise.

bumpkin · **Reply #14: January 28, 2010, 19:38:18**

Quote from: StarSeeker on January 28, 2010, 13:25:38

Hi eye30

Not sure this is 100% true .

I'm sure I've heard in the past, where the doors can be locked, with one of them not fully closed.

In my experience the doors will lock even if one is not properly closed but the alarm will not arm.

Dazzler · **Reply #15: January 28, 2010, 19:52:38**

I think it is a feature of most Hyundais these days and almost certainly all i30's the lights go off when the ignition key is pulled and the drivers door opened but if the hatch is left slightly ajar (I think without checking) all inside lights stay on which would be enough to flatten the battery after a couple of days...

I would also be very surprised if the battery will not recover....

eye30 · **Reply #16: January 28, 2010, 20:06:00**

Hi Julian,

I take it you removed the battery from the car or at least removed the leads before you charged up.

When you removed the leads did you notice if 1 or even both leads were loose?

If so, this would have prevented the battery from recharging whilst in motion as there wasn't a "good" contact.

bumpkin · **Reply #17: January 28, 2010, 22:18:07**

Quote from: Dazzler on January 28, 2010, 19:52:38

I think it is a feature of most Hyundais these days and almost certainly all i30's the lights go off when the ignition key is pulled and the drivers door opened but if the hatch is left slightly ajar (I think without checking) all inside lights stay on which would be enough to flatten the battery after a couple of days...

I would also be very surprised if the battery will not recover....

I don't think the hatch being opened would leave all the internal lights on Dazz, only the boot "candle". I aint checking tonight either, it's bloody snowing again.

Shambles · **Reply #18: January 28, 2010, 22:39:07**

Well it ain't snowing here so I removed the parcel shelf and semi-closed Fergie's ass cover. Yep the boot light did stay lit.

Can't see how a 3W (?) bulb would drain the battery tho

andrew · **Reply #19: January 28, 2010, 23:16:38**

A couple of days ago, when I pulled my key out and opened the door, the lights on the dashboard didn't turn off automatically. They were still on even when I locked my car. I have to turn off the lights manually. All doors were shut properly. It is for sure.

Dazzler · **Reply #20: January 29, 2010, 03:14:02**

Quote from: andrew on January 28, 2010, 23:16:38

A couple of days ago, when I pulled my key out and opened the door, the lights on the dashboard didn't turn off automatically. They were still on even when I locked my car. I have to turn off the lights manually. All doors were shut properly. It is for sure.

If you turn the engine off then turn the light on (even just the park lights) then open the door they don't go off... but if you pull up with the lights on and the engine running turn off the ignition remove the key and open the drivers door they should go off .. If not I suggest you get the dealer to look at it at the next service...

andrew · **Reply #21: January 29, 2010, 08:23:47**

Quote from: Dazzler on January 29, 2010, 03:14:02

Quote from: andrew on January 28, 2010, 23:16:38
A couple of days ago, when I pulled my key out and opened the door, the lights on the dashboard didn't turn off automatically. They were still on even when I locked my car. I have to turn off the lights manually. All doors were shut properly. It is for sure.

If you turn the engine off then turn the light on (even just the park lights) then open the door they don't go off... but if you pull up with the lights on and the engine running turn off the ignition remove the key and open the drivers door they should go off .. If not I suggest you get the dealer to look at it at the next service...

I am pretty sure that I turned off the engine while the lights are on. Because I was driving at the night and I didn't touch the lights after I stopped. It only happened once so far.

I also experienced several times that I can't lock the car after getting out. The lock system just didn't respond to the remote key. Now I change my pattern of pulling out the key. Basically, I just don't turn and pull the key in one quick and non-stop action. Instead, I pause between turning off the engine and pulling out the key. Now the lock problem never happened.

So I am guessing there are probably some bugs in their electronic systems that cause such problems.

**Reply #22: January 29, 2010, 08:43:43**

Quote from: andrew on January 28, 2010, 23:16:38

A couple of days ago, when I pulled my key out and opened the door, the lights on the dashboard didn't turn off automatically...

To clarify the problem: When you say "the lights on the dashboard" do you mean the radio display and/or the lights in the speedo binacle etc, or the headlights?

I think you mean the headlights but it's not what you said.

julian · **Reply #23: January 29, 2010, 08:48:53**

Quote from: eye30 on January 28, 2010, 20:06:00

Hi Julian,

I take it you removed the battery from the car or at least removed the leads before you charged up.

When you removed the leads did you notice if 1 or even both leads were loose?

If so, this would have prevented the battery from recharging whilst in motion as there wasn't a "good" contact.

No I just charged it in situ. The charger "charged" light came on after about 11 hours.

julian · **Reply #24: January 29, 2010, 08:54:42**

Quote from: Shambles on January 28, 2010, 22:39:07

Well it ain't snowing here so I removed the parcel shelf and semi-closed Fergie's ass cover. Yep the boot light did stay lit.

Can't see how a 3W (?) bulb would drain the battery tho

If it is a 3W bulb it would take 0.25A / hour. So in a day 6 Amp / hours. I don't know what the capacity of the i30 battery is but if it was 60 Amp / hours then that bulb would drain the battery for 10 days.

My car was only left for 5 days. But perhaps the bulb is more than 3W. And perhaps there are other circuits associated with the open door warning system that were also taking current.

SRT Metro · **Reply #25: January 29, 2010, 10:09:38**

Hi!
The capacity of the battery is for the Petrol 60 Amp and for the diesel 90 Amp...

julian · **Reply #26: January 29, 2010, 12:24:46**

A friend of mine who worked at a BMW dealership came up this morning and I mentioned the problem and he said on the BMWs if a door wasn't fully closed it would be enough to leave some systems active that would take about 2A from the battery. So if the battery is 60AH it would be drained in little more than a day.

I notice now that a light is on that says "EMS OFF" or "ESP OFF" or something like that. It wasn't on before.

QSR · **Reply #27: January 29, 2010, 12:59:36**

Take your car for a drive - about 5kms and you will notice the light will go off - if it doesn't, switch car off and then re-start it - the light will be off

Shambles · **Reply #28: January 29, 2010, 13:00:04**

Quote from: julian on January 29, 2010, 12:24:46

I notice now that a light is on that says "EMS OFF" or "ESP OFF" or something like that. It wasn't on before.

That always happens when I've reconnected my battery. Start the car then stop it. Light should go out.

eye30 · **Reply #29: January 29, 2010, 15:13:40**

Quote from: julian on January 29, 2010, 08:48:53

Quote from: eye30 on January 28, 2010, 20:06:00
Hi Julian,

I take it you removed the battery from the car or at least removed the leads before you charged up.

When you removed the leads did you notice if 1 or even both leads were loose?

If so, this would have prevented the battery from recharging whilst in motion as there wasn't a "good" contact.

No I just charged it in situ. The charger "charged" light came on after about 11 hours.

May be worth having a check on the tightness of the 2 leads.