rover 214si electric fault keeps loseing charge in battery (new battery does the same,) charges when running at about,1396+ on volt meter leave car for 2 hours battery dead,so its leaking at fast rate have checked usual suspects fuses,relays,taken 7 fuses out rear heated screen etc, any ideas cheers in advance ali.

alistair, December 2007

A heavy discharge like that Ali often means that the alternator diodes are leaking.....disconnect the alternator connections and see if the battery then holds its charge.

John, December 2007

Could be the diodes in your Alternator,if they fail the juice goes back through it,the volt meter is reading a good charge,start it up and when the volt meter is at usual reading switch everything you can on i.e blowers on full lights on main,the volt meter may drop so increase the revs a bit,if it still drops suspect the alternator,it should compensate for the extra load and stay at 13+.P.S. does your ignition warning light come on before you start the car as it should do then go out again on starting,if it is OFF when you turn ignition on it probably is the alternator.

Rich, December 2007