Battery Keeps Dying
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Battery Keeps Dying
Please any help...My battery keeps slowly dying after every 3 or four times I start the car. I can drive for a while the Volt Meter Gauge reads almost 18v...everything seems fine but after three of four times of turning on and off..my battery seems to get weaker until finally on the 4th or 5th time...it's dead.
Any help or ideas?
Any help or ideas?
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 221
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
If you haven’t already tried this.
Test the battery with a battery tester. It works the same as a coolant tester by checking the specific gravity of the solution in the cell.
That will tell you if you have a bad cell.
Maybe time for a new battery.
Test the battery with a battery tester. It works the same as a coolant tester by checking the specific gravity of the solution in the cell.
That will tell you if you have a bad cell.
Maybe time for a new battery.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,557
Likes: 0
From: Ridgeway VA
ALso - double check your battery posts to make sure the connections are tight. Check the alternator perhaps it is not charging the battery. If you have a glove box in back with a light make sure it turns off - or take the light off. Check for other drains - keep radio off, are other lights on when you close the door. If you need a new battery get a good one with plenty of cranking and storage amps - about $75.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
battery
Thanks for the advice. I just checked the entire car...nothing is on...but I did notice the battery doesn't have "Green" in the little view hole
What's the best battery you suggest to buy for the 82 CE
Thanks.
What's the best battery you suggest to buy for the 82 CE
Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 1
From: Ansonia/NYC CT
If it turns out to NOT be the battery, simply unplug the battery after you are done driving it for the day.....at least until you find the draw.
I drove my car for half a year like that, till I FINALLY found what was causing it...
I drove my car for half a year like that, till I FINALLY found what was causing it...
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,682
Likes: 3
From: League City TX
Please any help...My battery keeps slowly dying after every 3 or four times I start the car. I can drive for a while the Volt Meter Gauge reads almost 18v...everything seems fine but after three of four times of turning on and off..my battery seems to get weaker until finally on the 4th or 5th time...it's dead.
Any help or ideas?
Any help or ideas?
Have you measure the voltage at the battery with a volt meter to verify that voltage?
If its really charging at 18 volts a new battery might not last long either.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
best way to check the condition of battery is to do a load test... most places that sell batteries have a tester to do this..... battery has to be fully charged .. i prefer to leave battery off charger over night after charging before doing the load test... if battery past this test its good and you have to look elsewhere for problem ..... hope this helps... regards Oram
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 281
From: Dyersburg TN
Corvettes eat battries
At least mine have. If I had as many Vettes as I have had batteries in them my house would look like a car lot.
Invest in a cut-off switch for your car until you track it down. Also most parts stores have a battery load tester and will test for free.
If the battery is good and you have a draw, hook a meter between cable and battery and pull fuses (remember where they go) until you see the draw stop to find the circuit. Then you can trouble shoot from there.
Invest in a cut-off switch for your car until you track it down. Also most parts stores have a battery load tester and will test for free.
If the battery is good and you have a draw, hook a meter between cable and battery and pull fuses (remember where they go) until you see the draw stop to find the circuit. Then you can trouble shoot from there.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 0
From: Sebastian Florida
I think we need a list of everything people have found that was killing their battery. Kind of a 'look here first' list.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
If you have 18 volts and the "view hole" on the battery isn't green then you might be boiling off the water in the battery. You can pull the caps even on a so called sealed battery and check the water level. If it's low you can add water and it may help the battery hold a charge longer. I'd also check the alternator output with a separate volt meter. If you're really putting out 18 volts you'll need to fix that.
Racer
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 476
Likes: 1
From: Gilroy CA
You have a bunch of helpful info in this post but I will share my fix for this same issue... The wire connector on the top of the alternator had a poor connections with the red charge lead. New battery, Alternator checked out and just by chance when I was trying to resolve this I moved the wire just enough to see inside the connector the pin was only connected to a few wire strands... Fix the connector and no issues since... System was fine just could not charge the battery with only a few strands...
Just one more item to check.... Hope you solve the mystery.
Just one more item to check.... Hope you solve the mystery.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,419
Likes: 1,555
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Welcome to the forum!
You got some good advice here. Testing the specific gravity is a good way to find a dead cell in your battery but a volt meter will help also, so buy or borrow one. A good battery should read at least 12.2 volts at the battery terminals, then start the motor and and you should see the voltage jump to about 13.8. If the voltage goes to 18.0 then the voltage regulator in the alternator is bad. Most auto parts stores will test both the battery and the alternator for free. If you want to save a few bucks you can replace the voltage regulator in the alternator yourself, here's how- www.4wheelnoffroad.com/alter.html
I just replaced a NAPA battery that was in my car for 8 years and 4 months and still worked, I just figured I was on borrowed time so I got a new one, #7578, PG.
I just replaced a NAPA battery that was in my car for 8 years and 4 months and still worked, I just figured I was on borrowed time so I got a new one, #7578, PG.
