Van Battery Drain Solved by Vehicle Electrical Diagnostics
Battery keeps dying? Don’t wait. Here’s what can happen
One of the most overlooked issues we see in our vehicle electrical diagnostics service is repeat battery failure caused by hidden devices still drawing power—even when the engine is off. This van had already eaten up one new battery and £200, but when it kept dying, the customer finally brought it in for a proper diagnostic.
Ever had that gut feeling something’s draining your battery—but no idea what it is? That’s exactly where this customer was stuck. After replacing the battery and still finding themselves stranded, they knew it was time to stop guessing. Our diagnostics revealed something no scan tool would catch alone: a covert GPS tracker wired behind the clocks, pulling current 24/7.
What We Found (and Why It Matters)
We ran a full vehicle electrical diagnostics service, including parasitic draw testing and interior component isolation. Eventually, we had to remove parts of the dashboard to trace the source—and there it was. A GPS tracker, silently drawing power and slowly flattening the battery day and night.
The customer had no idea it was even there. It wasn’t factory-fitted, and it wasn’t part of their insurance or fleet system. Just a stealthy power leech, likely installed by a previous owner or third-party operator. The cost to find it? £120 + VAT. The cost of not finding it earlier? A ruined battery, wasted fuel on jump-starts, and a ton of stress.
Why Guessing Fails (and Diagnostics Win)
Replacing a flat battery without knowing the root cause is like mopping up a leak without fixing the pipe. By the time this customer reached us, they were already nearly £400 down—and needed another new battery. All of it could’ve been avoided with proper diagnostics from the start.
Modern vehicles are complex, and electrical faults often hide behind panels, modules, or third-party hardware. That’s why we go beyond surface-level scans. Whether it means stripping the dash, tracing wires, or measuring power draw over time, we make sure the issue is found and resolved—properly.
Why This Job Stood Out
This wasn’t just about finding a tracker—it was a reminder of why methodical diagnostics matter. No scan tool flagged it. No warning light was on. But the battery kept failing. Only by combining experience, real-world testing, and proper disassembly did we find the cause. That’s the difference between swapping parts and solving problems.
Waiting While We Work?
Jobs like these can take a couple of hours, especially when interior trims need to come off carefully. While we were tracing the fault, the customer relaxed in our waiting area with a hot drink and free Wi-Fi. Some even like watching from our viewing area—it’s a lot more interesting than daytime TV!
Thinking of Getting a Diagnostic Before Replacing Another Part?
If you’re in Redditch, Leeds, Nuneaton, Leicester, Manchester, or Edinburgh and your van keeps letting you down, it might not be the battery—it might be what’s hidden behind it. A proper vehicle electrical diagnostics service could save you hundreds in wasted parts and time.
📍 Professional Retrofits Limited
🏠 Unit 9, Station Rd, Higham on the Hill, Nuneaton, CV13 6AG
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