Is my TomTom making my car battery go flat?!

MarkHewitt

I have a TomTom ONE v2 and a 2004 Ford Fiesta.

On two occasions over the past couple of months I've driven my car on a long journey, parked overnight, and then when I've returned to the car the next morning, it won't start, flat battery.

Since I never have any problems with starting the car at home I had to think of what happened on those trips which would have drained the battery, and the only thing I can come up with is that on both occasions I'd used my TomTom for the entire journey.

Could the TomTom be preventing the battery from charging, or even draining the battery as I drive? Has anyone else ever encountered this problem?

I've little doubt it's the car and not the satnav at fault, but I need to trace the cause before I take it to the garage (cos they ain't so bright)

Cheers

DennisN · Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:54 am Post subject:

I don't drive anywhere without both my TTGOs mounted, connected and switched on - out of over 50,000 miles on the clock, I doubt whether much more than 1,000 have been without the Tom Tom running.

I'd be willing to consider the TT at fault if you have it hard-wired to run off car battery permanently (i.e not disconnecting when you switch off ignition) AND left it connected during break stops AND overnight. But I don't suppose you're doing all that.
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

davideo0 · Lifetime Member Joined: Oct 17, 2005 Posts: 20

It's pretty certain you need a new battery-your existing one isn't holding a charge.
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David
TTG 700, Firmware ver 6.520 (7690/061002),GPS v1.21, Boot 4.86, OS:1387,Map: Western Europe v660 , Tripmaster 1.6d, Offroad Navigator v1.5a, External antenna, External microphone, Motorola V3, Orange PAYG

trog100 · Regular Visitor Joined: Sep 15, 2006 Posts: 195

"It's pretty certain you need a new battery-your existing one isn't holding a charge"

yep.. sounds like it has less life in it than the battery in the tomtom.. he he

trog

MarkHewitt · Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:14 pm Post subject:

UncJ · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 20, 2006 Posts: 12

I think there are a few issues with the ONE v2 regarding battery in unit and charger tbh, the screen on mine went blank the other day when driving along followed by smoke coming from the SD card slot - very quickly unplugged it from the in-car charger let me tell you! Confused

First guy I spoke to @ TomTom support seemed to know exactly what the problem was when I described what had happened and arranged to send me a box for returning it for a replacement. He also said they would saend out a brand new in-car charger lead that day, when I asked did he want me to return the old one with the unit he said no need as they would not need to inspect it for faults. I've not had car battery drainage but as I never leave my TomTom in the car I doubt that I would.

Speaking to someone who fits ICE he said it was a well known fault with the ONE v2 and that when the unit's battery is full there is a conflict between the ongoing charge and the unit's battery.

trog100 · Regular Visitor Joined: Sep 15, 2006 Posts: 195

i think the charger units can go faulty and feed a full 12 volts to the unit instead of 5 volts as should be..

but if the small drain from a tomtom is flattening your battery its on its last legs.. in other words kn-ckered..

two seperate issues..

trog

UncJ · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 20, 2006 Posts: 12

thebinman · Banned Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 770

Oh no!

Not the same problem they had all that time ago with the Classic car charger surely?

thebinman · Banned Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 770

Irrespective of the charger problem, the Fiesta cig lighter must be live all the time.

Rewire it to switch off with the ignition.

trog100 · Regular Visitor Joined: Sep 15, 2006 Posts: 195

folks seem to be missing the flat battery poiint.. even if the tomtom is left on all the time it should not cause problems with a decent condition car battery..

only with one thats well past its sell by date and needs replacing..

while the engine is running assuming the cars alternator to be functioning as it should be its impossible for it to cause problems with the car battery..

the flat battery problem isnt with the tomtom its with the car..

trog

zogman · Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:27 am Post subject:

i agree with trog, the every low amperage taken by the tomtom will not affect a healthy charged battery..
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Andy_P · Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 4:03 am Post subject:

And I wouldn't be at all suprised if the "there's a known problem with the charger" is just a folk-memory from the small faulty batch of Go 'Classic' chargers.

iancjc · Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:45 pm Post subject:

I left my tomtom ONE v2 in my wifes car plugged all over Christmas - car was in a garage and I forgot to take it out - lighter socket is live in her car all the time and the car started without any problem after 6 days - the car and battery are both 4 years old.

The ONE was plugged in but turned off - A fully charged GO unit will take next to nothing out of a car battery.

If this happens after the car had completed a long journey there is another fault with the car - probably the battery or alternator isn't doing it's job - expecially is the lights etc were on when the car was running. Other things to look for are the courtesy lights staying on and especially those in the boot.
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TyTn II (WM6.1) / tomtom one v2
TTN6.03 tomtom 7.xx (one)

MaFt · Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:43 pm Post subject:

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