Symptoms:  Fiesta battery runs down in less than a week when car is unused.

On checking the fuses I find that the current drawn on F18 is 540mA which is enough to run the battery down in 4 -5 days.

Removing the fuse fixes the issue but this cuts off the radio (a problem, as it is used for handsfree as well), and disables the headlight adjustment motors (that's not really a problem).

Can anyone throw light on what might be causing this?  I can hear a relay clicking when I disconnect the fuse so am guessing it is perhaps getting stuck on.  But which relay?  Anyone have a circuit diagram?

Regards

Andrew

Assuming this is a 2002-08 Fiesta, headlamp levelling is fed from F40, and this is only powered with the ignition on, and levelling only works with the headlights on,  so a bit suspicious.  F18 is the main supply to the radio, which I think should only draw significant current if the radio is powered.

Paul

Many thanks for responding.  I too am suspicious about the symptoms and the apparent wiring of two unrelated circuits, but I replaced F18 temporarily with a multimeter and got 540mA with everything in the car switched off, then about 750mA when I turned on the ignition and used the headlamp leveller.

Is there a relay involved in this circuit at all?  Could I disconnect the leveller somewhere to test if it is that circuit that is putting on the load?

One point to note is the Fiesta had a replacement engine fitted by a local garage so it is not impossible that some wires got  crossed!

Can you suggest anywhere I could find a circuit diagram to try and track this mysterious fault down?

Best regards

Andrew

A very common fault with this model is the 'Bluetooth' module. It is located on top of the glovebox (if I remember correctly). The modules often go faulty and don't fully shut down 10 minutes after the ignition is turned off like they are supposed to do.

Removing the radio fuse also cuts the supply to the Bluetooth module as you have already found. Find the module and unplug it and see if your parasitic load reduces to less than 30mA

I use "Haynes" as my primary source of information, indeed I have a bookshelf full of them, and for previous cars I have some Ford Workshop manuals.  And just to show what sort of nerd (or is it Nurd?) I am, I even have "dirty" (as in greasy!) copies in the garage that I have put into ring binders!  As for an accurate circuit diagram, I don't think the workshop manuals keep up with changes in production.

Only place I can suggest for disconnecting the levellers is on the headlamp connector itself.  You could also try the plug on the headlamp switch.

These sort of strange electrical issues are usually caused by water getting into the fusebox.
I would suggest you detach the fusebox and give it a light spray of silicone grease over the wiring and use a cotton bud to work the grease between the wiring.

There was a post a while back for a MK6 that the headlamps came on when it rained.

Thanks for all the helpful posts guys.  A quick update:-

Unofix: This (2007) model year Fiesta does not seem to have Bluetooth - in fact we had to add an FM adapter to get Bluetooth working and that hangs off F44.  But if you are right what exactly does it look like?

For some reason F18 current no longer seems to be affected by moving the leveller, which actually does run off F17.  But from further reading on YouTube videos I found out that:-

1. Parasitic current measured at the battery starts out at 240mA then within a minute drops to 160mA

2. After a further 4 - 5 minutes it actually drops to 0!  The car "goes to sleep" at that point so long as the CD/Radio fuse F18 is removed, so problem temporarily averted.  But that means the Radio, and the added Bluetooth adapter, no longer work so no hands-free and navigation instructions 😞

3. F18 is actually drawing 540 mA more than the base 160 mA when plugged in.  That seems a high current for a (working) radio - unless the CD player is stuck in some way?

I got a Haynes manual for the car to see if there was a (potentially stuck) relay in line with the radio but it show only that there are two supplies to it.  One is always live, from F18, the other runs from the ignition switch to toggle it on when the ignition is on or in the intermediate position.

Grateful for any other ideas resulting from the above.

BTW the Follow Topic button does not seem to be notifying me of your posts even though it is switch on...  Anyone know why?

Regards

Andrew

 

 

 

Radio - is it the Visteon, or the Sony ?

Hi Paul

It is a Ford 6000CD Radio but I am not sure who makes that.

And the Haynes manual does not mention the existence of Bluetooth in this model year.

 

Visteon is the grey one.

We have Fiesta of that ilk, with the Visteon, and I don't think blue tooth was an option.

The Sony in the Focus often loses time/date settings, so you wonder what is going on, but touch wood no battery drain problems.

No more suggstions I'm afraid, I do attach a diagram of the DC distribution, with a few mods appended for my car which might be of some help. 

In the past I have got an indication of current drain by measuring the voltage drop across the earth/Battery -ve lead.  Only mV, but you can calibrate it by just opening the boot, so a 5W load, ie  an increase of about 400mA and the increase in measured volts indicates that level of current. a 

Thanks Paul.  Your circuit diagram is slightly clearer so I can see now how it works with the ignition on through F44.

I have pasted a picture of the radio which is dark grey.  Is that Visteon?

Is there any chance the CD player might be stuck with teh motor stalled to cause all that current draw?

Hello Andrew,

Your car might not have the factory fitted Bluetooth module that was an option, but I can clearly see in the photo you posted that your radio did have the capability to have the bluetooth added.

The module which if you do have it, is normally found just above the glovebox. You do have to fully remove the glovebox to reach it. Just do a search on eBay and you will find quite a number of them for sale.

Have you tried disconnecting your 'Add On' FM/Bluetooth adapter ?

There is me thinking all this does is mute the audio....

I have the 6 CD version of this, thankfully it does not play MP3 files, so audio is pretty good !

But what is the 197905 ?

V-197905 is the serial number of your radio

Sorry guys I should have made clear that that is a stock photo of an identical radio model as I don't have my Son's Fiesta here atmo.

But I did wonder what that "Phone" button was for - it just seemed to mute the Audio as Paul says.  

>Have you tried disconnecting your 'Add On' FM/Bluetooth adapter 

Yes.  It is not much use without the radio!

>Just do a search on eBay and you will find quite a number of them for sale

Excellent idea!  I now know what it looks like and will make a point of hunting for it when I have access to the car.

On cars 'without' or with 'none working' bluetooth the phone button does just 'Mute' the radio.

Cars that have working bluetooth pressing the phone button allows calls to be answered. Back when these systems were made they only provided very basic phone use, you could not use the radio buttons to dial a number (it only has buttons 1-6).