Hawkeye electrics issue - HELP!!

[burble]

Hi,

My Hawkeye has developed an electrical fault recently. If I don't use it for 1 week the battery goes completely flat.

The alternator is working fine (battery voltage measuring approx. 14.3 volts with the engine running), and I have checked that all internal lights turn off when doors are closed etc.

Load/drain on the battery with the car shut and alarmed is only 0.3 amps. This leads me to think that an internal battery eg in the alarm sounder may be responsible. When I bought the car two years ago no paperwork regarding installation of a tracker was included but I wonder if I do have one and the internal battery has failed, drawing power from the car battery?

I would really appreciate some help from someone how understands impreza electrics...

1. Where is the alarm sounder located in a hawkeye?
2. What's the best way of determining if my car has a tracker installed?
3. If I do have a tracker installed, where are they normally fitted?
4. Can anyone recommend a good auto electrician that could sort this for me, if I can't do it myself?

Cheers,
Mike

[Mortster]

How old is the battery?

[Scooby_Greg]

Sounds like a dodgy battery as mortster is suggesting

[Red Baron]

I've got a new battery and even I struggle sometimes if its been sat for a while.
300mA on standby sounds about right, ECU, alarm, clock, stereo backup etc. will draw that.

Shane

[Banstead Stig]

Had this trouble on my wife's blob wagon. Turned out one of the cells in the battery had blown. That only needed to be left over the weekend to fail!

Could be worth checking the battery first then investigate further if it's healthy.

I can't answer any of your specific questions I'm afraid.

Based on Shane's response, maybe a trickle charger might help.

[Red Baron]

Scrap that, looks like most cars draw about 40-50mA with the ignition off. Easiest way to find what's drawing the current is to stick a multi meter in series with the battery and go around the fuses and relays pulling one at a time to see which is the culprit circuit.

Most trackers draw current for a while and then go into a low power mode so may not be immediately obvious.

Shane

[C. J.]

Have a all but new battery in the garage if you need one
I'm also in Horsham

[Lucky]

Used to have exactly the same with my hawk. New batteries never sorted it for long either. I was told it was the tracker on mine though I know someone with a blob and no tracker who had exactly the same problem. They just seem to kill batteries. A trickle charger solved it for me. There is also a thought that driving it with the side lights on also helps the battery. That was a fairly well known thing a few years back but whether it really helped I don't know.

Steve.

[burble]

Thanks for all your replies so far, particularly Steve me Red Baron. I'm on hol with roaming turned off and only just had a chance to reply.

When the problem occurred 5 weeks ago I replaced the battery for a high spec Numax battery (once I'd determined the alternator was working fine). I thought it was simply the battery since it had had a hard life for two years.

However with my hawk sat on the drive for just one week the new battery ran flat again!! I have had the new battery on trickle charge since. But with the car parked outside the garage, it's a pain in the butt having to connect and disconnect every time I want to use the car. I wouldn't be confident to take the car on holiday.

So I still think it may be an internal battery that is the cause. So...

1. does anyone know where the sounder is located on a hawk?
2. does anyone know where the trackers are normally installed on a hawk?
3. Can anyone recommend an auto-electrician with a proven reputation?

Thanks
Mike