Battery failure on Vito 110 2002

[GregVito110]

Hello
Here is my first post, one of many as my Vito is a rust bucket and my first Van so a lot to learn and not much cash, any ways I prefer to fix things on my own.

I just got my Vito few weeks ago and things start to go wrong.
Firstly I have trouble with battery, couple of times had to jump start it and now battery reads 7v so it has to go, tryed to charge it at home but it looks fully charged within 5 min so def is it gone...

A week ago I checked the draw between negative clamp and negative terminal meter read 0.9V thought that is too much, but after checking two fuse boxes (i know now there are 3) by taking out and replacing back fuses one by one, i couldn't see any difference.
Right now I'm off to get new battery and see if I can locate third fuse box and try the fuse test again.
I found that one of door switches is broken but would that draw as much power? All the lights and radio are off.

Can anyone suggest how can i try to locate the issue?
Where can i found fuse diagram for my van?

Many thanks
Greg

 

[Ted]

You don't check current drain with a voltmeter.
Check it with an ammeter and post back the results.

 

[GregVito110]

Thanks Ted,
what I actually did is, I used digital meter set on Amps
See picture for reading, is that correct?

You don't check current drain with a voltmeter.
Check it with an ammeter and post back the results.

 

[Ted]

That's better! 90mA.
Not sure what the 'official' drain current should be - looks a little high but I wouldn't be worrying too much about it.
That sort of current would drain a fully charged battery in good condition in around a month.
Does that meter say RS232 on it?

 

[GregVito110]

Thats precisely what happened, got a van a month or two ago, didn't used it much, just short trips around town and boom, battery dead.
I think acceptable drain current is about 50mA.
I was digging round radio today and found couple of loose cables.

Just got a new battery, will measure it again, and check over couple of days.

Anyone knows how much should I read Volts on battery terminals when engine is running?

Ted you mean Audi RS? that was precisely why I bought that meter
On the other note, would love a comfy seat, heard it is an easy swap from audi.

That's better! 90mA.
Not sure what the 'official' drain current should be - looks a little high but I wouldn't be worrying too much about it.
That sort of current would drain a fully charged battery in good condition in around a month.
Does that meter say RS232 on it?

 

[Ted]

Engine running around 13.8 to 14.4
The RS232 is an old interface/comms standard that sort of died out around 15 years ago

 

[GregVito110]

OK so new battery in, old radio, and extra cables removed and it did not change a thing.
Battery lost form 12.55v after one day reads 12.44 didn't used van just runned for couple of minutes to check and it does read 13.9 while engine running.

I can't find third box of fuses, bit lost how I can find a way to locate that current draw.
Managed to change pollen filter which was a pain...