Battery drain
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Joined: Jun 2011
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Battery drain
My battery keeps draining out. Can't be the alternator as it drains out just sitting in my garage. Initially thought it might be a light that did not turn off, but there is nothing (at least visual) that points to where the leak might be. Any idea's on how to start trouble shooting this would be super helpful.
It started about 2 weeks ago, no work done on the car at all of late.
-D
It started about 2 weeks ago, no work done on the car at all of late.
-D
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 86
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From: STERLING ALASKA
I had same problem. My interior lights would not time out so I removed the bulbs. It still drained the battery. Put the volt meter between the batteries pos terminal and the battery cable and it showed a draw of current, my courtsey light timer is located in the wiring bundle between the tach and speedo so I pulled the courtsey light fuse and installed a battery disconnect switch.
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 712
Likes: 4
From: caraquet N.B Canada
I had a problem like that and it was my headlight switch. It was draining my battery if the **** was all the way up. I had to turn the light in the instrument cluster off to avoid a dead battery the next day. Visualy no light was on but the current was leaking just enough to drain the battery.
Last edited by den(thevetteman)78; Apr 27, 2012 at 10:10 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 67
From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Knuckles, do you have a multimeter? If so, set the meter to read "current", put leads into appropriate holes on meter. Disconnect negative battery lead and place the meter between the negative battery terminal and the negative battery lead. With the meter turned on you will probably see a reading that shows a current draw (a 12v light bulb in place of the meter would also work - light on current/light off no current). Now the fun part.....start to pull a fuse, then shut the door and see if your meter reading goes to zero. If not, try another fuse. This process of elimination will eventually get you to the circuit that the drain is on......making it easier to isolate and troubleshoot.
Hope this helps
Brian
Hope this helps
Brian
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
Knuckles, do you have a multimeter? If so, set the meter to read "current", put leads into appropriate holes on meter. Disconnect negative battery lead and place the meter between the negative battery terminal and the negative battery lead. With the meter turned on you will probably see a reading that shows a current draw (a 12v light bulb in place of the meter would also work - light on current/light off no current). Now the fun part.....start to pull a fuse, then shut the door and see if your meter reading goes to zero. If not, try another fuse. This process of elimination will eventually get you to the circuit that the drain is on......making it easier to isolate and troubleshoot.
Hope this helps
Brian
Hope this helps
Brian
But make sure you close the door so the courtesy lights aren't causing the draw. The other thing that wasn't mentioned is that your battery could be going bad. I would have it tested.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 465
Likes: 18
From: NorthEast
Weird, I may be experiencing the same problem. I just got my car out of winter storage and the day I picked it up, it fired right up no problems. I went to drive it a few days later and ZERO. The battery is only a year old so I jumped it and the car fired right up. Now, it's at the shop and the mechanic keeps telling me the samething, he charges the battery and it starts right up, but if it sits, nothing.
I will pass this info along to him. Thanks guys.
I will pass this info along to him. Thanks guys.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 67
From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
Weird, I may be experiencing the same problem. I just got my car out of winter storage and the day I picked it up, it fired right up no problems. I went to drive it a few days later and ZERO. The battery is only a year old so I jumped it and the car fired right up. Now, it's at the shop and the mechanic keeps telling me the samething, he charges the battery and it starts right up, but if it sits, nothing.
I will pass this info along to him. Thanks guys.
I will pass this info along to him. Thanks guys.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 465
Likes: 18
From: NorthEast
Thought I was already to go, thought I had the "dead" battery issue solved. NOPE! Now going through the process of checking each fuse etc trying to find where the draw is coming from. I love my car, I love my car, I love my car. 
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Sorry, but you can't rule the alternator out like that. An alternator produces AC current that must be rectified to DC for your car's electrical system. To do this, every alternator has a bridge rectifier made up of a number of diodes, which are one-way electrical valves. If one of those diodes goes bad, and they do, electricity can leak in the wrong direction...and drain your battery.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 457
Likes: 1
From: Royal Oak Michigan
I had a battery drain last year. Turned out to be my starter- charge battery and was fine- let it sit over night and nothing- hook a jump starter to the vehicle and it would fire right up. One of my indicators also was that my vehicle after driving on a hot day- let it sit for 20mins and the vehicle would not start- the starter would not even turn over- hook jumper cables to it and bam0- starts right up. Replaced the starter and all is well
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Joined: Jun 2011
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71Vette - Got super busy at work and did not get a chance to update , I did not sell it and it did not burn down - although I have had a fire in the past!!
Not a battery drain problem
, I think this is a starter problem. The battery has a full charge, its a brand new optima. I can hear a click when I turn the ignition key. Ocassionally it would start up and then just stop working. Now its down for good!
Going to replace the starter next week and will update then.
-D
, I did not sell it and it did not burn down - although I have had a fire in the past!!Not a battery drain problem
, I think this is a starter problem. The battery has a full charge, its a brand new optima. I can hear a click when I turn the ignition key. Ocassionally it would start up and then just stop working. Now its down for good!Going to replace the starter next week and will update then.
-D