Battery Keeps Dying

[FOSHO94]

Got a problem here I can't figure out, awhile back my car sat for awhile because the thermostat was broken, and I didn't have time to fix it, so it sat for like a month. After I fixed the thermostat we jumped the car and it ran fine, since that, the battery would not hold a charge, it would need to be jumped every time. I installed a new battery thinking that was the problem and it was fine for about 2 weeks. Now the new battery is dead again...... When the car is running it runs no electrical problems what so ever. Prior to the car sitting for a month and us jumping it there were no problems of this kind what so ever. The alternator seems fine on the car. There were records of the previous owner replacing the negative battery cable I dunno if that has anything to do with it.

 

[rangerj]

You need to do an "AMP DRAW TEST". You are drawing current from somewhere. Is the glove box light on? How about the light in the trunk? Is the light under the hood going out when you close the hood? Is something metal stuck in the cigarette lighter? Diid you add some sort of sound equipment and wire it "hot", and is something, say the amp, staying ON?

There are several threads on how to do an amp draw test. You will need an amp meter capable of reading mili-amps. I say this because whatever it is that is drawing current it is drawing very small amounts if it takes two weeks to killl the battery.

A second thought is to check your charging system. If you jump started the car and used the alternator to charge the battery you may have ruined the alternator. rangerj

 

[93SHO'nOFF]

You should check if there is a current draw on the battery and what it is charging at.Use a volt meter and check what it is charging at while car is running.Should be at least 13.8v to 14.5v running with accessories on. To check for a current draw you can use a Test Light but the meter is better.the test lead's in series with the NEG. battery cable & post,Should have no more than 50MA(milli amps)if it does have more than 50 something is draining it so start unplugging fuses to find out what.
Later

 

[Porkchop]

Im betting that you alternator is bad. Your first battery was dead because it wasn't hooked up to a trickle charger and wasn't started for a month while being hooked up to the car. Take it to advance auto if there is one near you and have them test it. Im betting that your diode's are bad

 

[FOSHO94]

yea, i fixed the problem but i'm too embarassed to say what it was

 

[oh_SHO]

Something to keep in mind is that alternators are to maintain a charge. When you have a dead battery and let the alternator charge it instead of a regular battery charger it puts a large strain on it. It might affect the life of the alternator.

 

[Porkchop]

yea, i fixed the problem but i'm too embarassed to say what it was

forgot to connect the positive cable to the alternator?

 

[voogru]

yea, i fixed the problem but i'm too embarassed to say what it was

You should just say it anyways, we all make stupid mistakes.

That way if someone else has the problem, they might have made the same stupid mistake.

 

[FOSHO94]

yea, it appears what happened was the battery harness was loose, which caused the positive cable to come loose enough where it didn't have a connection

 

[rangerj]

Been there, done that! Did you clean the cables and battery posts? Connections, connections, connections. Charge the battery?

When we stop making mistakes it is time to shovel dirt over US.
rangerj

 

[FOSHO94]

yea, i did that, even located the plastic caps to go over the terminals to prevent corosion

 

[1black89mtx]

this may sound weird but when i first got my SHO it had been sitting for a while. The guy said that the battery kept going dead so I figured it was the alt.. but I had it check and was ok. I'd charge it and it'd start right up..let it sit all night and in the morning nothing...I did that about 4 times before I decided that it might be my starter (I dont know why). I changed the starter out and havent had a problem since...I thought was weird because i didnt think the starter had anything to do with the battery charge...so if you're desperate try that...not saying it would work...also my connections were a little loose on the terminal...may have been some of the problem...

 

[SASHO91]

it was probably the terminal on the starter, had that happen to me on my torino and i just moved the cable around just to half way fix it until i could get home