Hi all group first timer here.
Im chewing my brains out, over this matter:
On both, a 2008 1.4hdi Citroen NEMO and a 2007 1.6hdi Citroen BERLINGO, I do have a (60mA) 0.06A read for battery drain.
On both scenarios Ive tested with two different multimeters and with the same results on both.
The Berlingo battery lasted because the van was driven regularly and is new and running without concerns.
The Demo is driven long distances but sometimes stopped for a month or so and the newly fitted battery goes flat.
So my questions are:
-What's the factory tolerances from Citroen for battery drain readings on these cars?
-Has anyone had the same issue with the NEMO
-Has anyone had the same readings for the battery parasitic drains on similar models?
Citroen Battery drain factory tolerances
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PaulC5
- Donor 2024
- Posts: 1264
- Joined: 06 Jun 2023, 15:26
- x 313
Re: Citroen Battery drain factory tolerances
60 mA does not sound too bad. If a car is not going to be used then keep charging the battery or disconnect it.
If you do disconnect the battery do not do it too quick so the car has time to shut down. Follow something like this procedure viewtopic.php?f=51&t=61997&p=601679#p601679
If you do disconnect the battery do not do it too quick so the car has time to shut down. Follow something like this procedure viewtopic.php?f=51&t=61997&p=601679#p601679
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wheeler
- Posts: 7587
- Joined: 21 Sep 2002, 19:07
- x 949
Re: Citroen Battery drain factory tolerances
0.06A don't sound to bad to me.
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ngocnhungplaza
- New User
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 08 Jun 2025, 08:12
- x 1
Re: Citroen Battery drain factory tolerances
Welcome to the forum!
A parasitic drain of around 60mA is on the higher side, but still within what some consider “acceptable” for older Citroen models. Ideally, after full shutdown and modules going to sleep (which can take up to 30 minutes), drain should be closer to 30-40mA.
The fact that your Berlingo is driven regularly helps mask the issue. For the Nemo, since it sometimes sits idle for weeks, even 60mA can drain the battery over time.
You might want to check if there's anything aftermarket (alarms, stereos, trackers) that could be drawing current. Also, glovebox or boot lights stuck on can be sneaky culprits.
Others have reported similar figures on the Nemo, so you're not alone. But if you can isolate and lower the draw closer to 30mA, you’ll likely see a big improvement.
A parasitic drain of around 60mA is on the higher side, but still within what some consider “acceptable” for older Citroen models. Ideally, after full shutdown and modules going to sleep (which can take up to 30 minutes), drain should be closer to 30-40mA.
The fact that your Berlingo is driven regularly helps mask the issue. For the Nemo, since it sometimes sits idle for weeks, even 60mA can drain the battery over time.
You might want to check if there's anything aftermarket (alarms, stereos, trackers) that could be drawing current. Also, glovebox or boot lights stuck on can be sneaky culprits.
Others have reported similar figures on the Nemo, so you're not alone. But if you can isolate and lower the draw closer to 30mA, you’ll likely see a big improvement.
Hello I'm NgocNhung.
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shtu
- Donor 2023
- Posts: 129
- Joined: 09 Dec 2023, 16:19
- x 28
Re: Citroen Battery drain factory tolerances
First things first - have the batteries been tested using a load tester? I'm assumong you're chasing a flat-battery problem, so start with checking the batteries are up to the job. You can buy an electronic load tester for about £15 now.
There's no harm in checking the state of terminals and earths, and it's free to do.
As mentioned above, you don't mention what state the car is in when you measure this draw. Try closing all the doors, bonnet etc, keys out, lock it and wait. What often happens is assorted modules will go to sleep after a few minutes, reducing the current drain. Close it, lock it up, leave it alone for an hour, see what the meter says after that.
The other option is to replace the battery with a larger one. As I was replacing it anyway, I changed from 027 to 096 in the Berlingo, moving from 60Ah to 74Ah, nearly 25% more capacity. The old battery tested as "just about OK" on a load tester, but the battery saver mode would kick in a lot, the warning would flash even opening up the van, and so on.
There's no harm in checking the state of terminals and earths, and it's free to do.
As mentioned above, you don't mention what state the car is in when you measure this draw. Try closing all the doors, bonnet etc, keys out, lock it and wait. What often happens is assorted modules will go to sleep after a few minutes, reducing the current drain. Close it, lock it up, leave it alone for an hour, see what the meter says after that.
The other option is to replace the battery with a larger one. As I was replacing it anyway, I changed from 027 to 096 in the Berlingo, moving from 60Ah to 74Ah, nearly 25% more capacity. The old battery tested as "just about OK" on a load tester, but the battery saver mode would kick in a lot, the warning would flash even opening up the van, and so on.