Dead, Dead.... Electrical Problem
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 91
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From: North Andover MA
Dead, Dead.... Electrical Problem
It's sooooo dead. I put in a new Optima battery this weekend (saturday). Started the car right up, turn off, started back up, turned off, started back up. Then ran the car for 45+ minutes. Turned off, went in for dinner. (gotta eat).
Went back Monday night, put the key in and not even a click. It's so dead that that its a very large paperweight.:banghead:
Where do I start? What could drain a new battery in less than 48 hours? What are the top five things to look for?
TIA
Went back Monday night, put the key in and not even a click. It's so dead that that its a very large paperweight.:banghead:
Where do I start? What could drain a new battery in less than 48 hours? What are the top five things to look for?
TIA
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
From: NE PA PA
Re: Dead, Dead.... Electrical Problem (greenice)
Were you having a problem before you installed the new battery? Or did this major electrical drain start when you put the new one in? We need a little more info. :cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Re: Dead, Dead.... Electrical Problem (greenice)
Hey Paul ... If you don't have any (good) luck with it, you can stop by some evening and I will try chasing it with you at work (Burlington).
Let's start with clock ... courtesy/interior lights ... any aftermarket electronics ?
I would put an ammeter in series (multimeter on Amps setting) - then start pulling
fuses until you see the current drop to (nearly) nothing. That should narrow it
down to a couple fuses at the most.
:seeya
Let's start with clock ... courtesy/interior lights ... any aftermarket electronics ?
I would put an ammeter in series (multimeter on Amps setting) - then start pulling
fuses until you see the current drop to (nearly) nothing. That should narrow it
down to a couple fuses at the most.
:seeya
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: North Andover MA
Re: Dead, Dead.... Electrical Problem (NHvette)
Hey Paul ... If you don't have any (good) luck with it, you can stop by some evening and I will try chasing it with you at work (Burlington).
Let's start with clock ... courtesy/interior lights ... any aftermarket electronics ?
I would put an ammeter in series (multimeter on Amps setting) - then start pulling
fuses until you see the current drop to (nearly) nothing. That should narrow it
down to a couple fuses at the most.
:seeya
Let's start with clock ... courtesy/interior lights ... any aftermarket electronics ?
I would put an ammeter in series (multimeter on Amps setting) - then start pulling
fuses until you see the current drop to (nearly) nothing. That should narrow it
down to a couple fuses at the most.
:seeya
Thanks for the offer. I'm going to try this weekend to get it running. I'll keep you posted on the outcome. If it doesn't work, I'll be over (if it doesn't rain/snow) :cry
No after market stuff, just the clock and radio.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Re: Dead, Dead.... Electrical Problem (greenice)
Did you drive the car or let it idle for 45 minutes?
Alternators produce enough power to run the electrical system at idle, but not enough to charge the battery. To charge the battery the engine must be running above an idle.
Alternators produce enough power to run the electrical system at idle, but not enough to charge the battery. To charge the battery the engine must be running above an idle.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,541
Likes: 448
From: Central Pennsylvania
Re: Dead, Dead.... Electrical Problem (Ak. Mal)
Alternators produce enough power to run the electrical system at idle, but not enough to charge the battery. To charge the battery the engine must be running above an idle.
Wow! I didn't know this! Thanks.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 91
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From: North Andover MA
Re: Dead, Dead.... Electrical Problem (JBR)
I thought the last battery died of natural causes but with this issue that may be incorrect. Last fall, I took the engine out for new paint and stuff. Put it back in and everything was happy. Then the cold came and the snow so I didn't get a full chance to test the system. Just thought the old battery didn't like the cold and died. I'm going to charge the new battery back up and start chasing wires. I'm hoping its something big to draw the battery down that quick. Oh well, its about time I learn some electrical work.
Thanks
Thanks
