Help!! Battery dead again.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 516
Likes: 6
From: Spartanburg South Carolina
Help!! Battery dead again.
This has happened to me a few times, and was wondering if I could get some input. I travel alot, and don't get to drive my car too often.
But it seems that if I don't start the car and let it sit for about 3 days, it won't start at all. The last time this happened, I replaced the battery, and then tested the alternator and charging system. Everything checked out fine. If I start the car for a few minutes every day or even every other day, it's fine.
Today, I went out to start it up after about 3 days, and it's completely dead. The security light doesn't flash, no lights inside, and the car doesn't even try to turn over. I never even hear the starter try to engage.
Last time, I looked over everything to the best of my ability, but couldn't see anything obvious that would be that much of a draw on the battery.
Anybody have any suggestions or tips?
Thanks!
But it seems that if I don't start the car and let it sit for about 3 days, it won't start at all. The last time this happened, I replaced the battery, and then tested the alternator and charging system. Everything checked out fine. If I start the car for a few minutes every day or even every other day, it's fine.
Today, I went out to start it up after about 3 days, and it's completely dead. The security light doesn't flash, no lights inside, and the car doesn't even try to turn over. I never even hear the starter try to engage.
Last time, I looked over everything to the best of my ability, but couldn't see anything obvious that would be that much of a draw on the battery.
Anybody have any suggestions or tips?
Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 4
From: North Port Fl
Is your car completely stock as far as the electrical is concerened? (Do you have any aftermarket things such as aftermarket alarms, amplifiers, CB radio, XM, GPS's MP3 adapters, cell phone chargers ect. )
If you do these could be running your battery down. If your car is stock or you don't have anything aftermarket that is drawing current when the key is off, then something is not functioning correctly.
The first thing to do is check the DIC to see if there are any codes, if not then start checking out the current draw.
You need to connect a meter in series with a circuit, and test the current draw after the key is shut off and all the doors have been closed and the underhood light is out and 20 minutes has passed since you have done any thing that has drawn current. Once you have waited the appropriate time, if you have a draw of over 20 or 25 miliamps there is something that is drawing more current than it is supposed to. With your meter still still connected start pulling fuses to see if you can isolate which circuit is drawing to much, but remember to wait 20 minutes each time you open a door, disturb the hood light ect.
If you do these could be running your battery down. If your car is stock or you don't have anything aftermarket that is drawing current when the key is off, then something is not functioning correctly.
The first thing to do is check the DIC to see if there are any codes, if not then start checking out the current draw.
You need to connect a meter in series with a circuit, and test the current draw after the key is shut off and all the doors have been closed and the underhood light is out and 20 minutes has passed since you have done any thing that has drawn current. Once you have waited the appropriate time, if you have a draw of over 20 or 25 miliamps there is something that is drawing more current than it is supposed to. With your meter still still connected start pulling fuses to see if you can isolate which circuit is drawing to much, but remember to wait 20 minutes each time you open a door, disturb the hood light ect.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 516
Likes: 6
From: Spartanburg South Carolina
Is your car completely stock as far as the electrical is concerened? (Do you have any aftermarket things such as aftermarket alarms, amplifiers, CB radio, XM, GPS's MP3 adapters, cell phone chargers ect. )
If you do these could be running your battery down. If your car is stock or you don't have anything aftermarket that is drawing current when the key is off, then something is not functioning correctly.
The first thing to do is check the DIC to see if there are any codes, if not then start checking out the current draw.
You need to connect a meter in series with a circuit, and test the current draw after the key is shut off and all the doors have been closed and the underhood light is out and 20 minutes has passed since you have done any thing that has drawn current. Once you have waited the appropriate time, if you have a draw of over 20 or 25 miliamps there is something that is drawing more current than it is supposed to. With your meter still still connected start pulling fuses to see if you can isolate which circuit is drawing to much, but remember to wait 20 minutes each time you open a door, disturb the hood light ect.
If you do these could be running your battery down. If your car is stock or you don't have anything aftermarket that is drawing current when the key is off, then something is not functioning correctly.
The first thing to do is check the DIC to see if there are any codes, if not then start checking out the current draw.
You need to connect a meter in series with a circuit, and test the current draw after the key is shut off and all the doors have been closed and the underhood light is out and 20 minutes has passed since you have done any thing that has drawn current. Once you have waited the appropriate time, if you have a draw of over 20 or 25 miliamps there is something that is drawing more current than it is supposed to. With your meter still still connected start pulling fuses to see if you can isolate which circuit is drawing to much, but remember to wait 20 minutes each time you open a door, disturb the hood light ect.
As far as the electrical system goes, everything is stock. Only mods to the car have been to the engine.
As far as testing circuits, is this done at the fuse box? I would assume so.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
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Starting the car every day or every few days and letting it run for a few minutes is most likely the problem. You are short charging the battery and it is left with insufficient power to sustain it for prolonged sitting. You need to drive it for a sufficiently long time, like up on the highway, to fully charge the battery. Once you get it to a full state of charge a battery tender would probably serve you well for those periods of prolonged sitting.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Conduct the battery current draw test. Without that, your going to be wasting a lot of time and money. Look in my electrical stickey and some where in there, it explains the procedure.